One year after Burmese army killed 9 Sin Inn Gyi villagers, justice still eludes for victim families

One year back nine residents of Sin Inn Gyi village under Rakhine State’s Ponna Kyunt township, 16 miles north of State capital Sittwe, were killed by the junta forces on 10 November, but the victim families are still waiting for justice.

Those who were killed included a 92-year-old woman Daw Ma Gyi, U Kyaw Naing (65), Daw May Nu (54),  U Khin Maung (58, Daw May Nu's husband),  U Maung Kyaw Thein (62), U U Kyaw Zan (60),  U Mo Ni (45), U Maung Maung Thein (43) and U Maung San Hla (37).

On the fateful day, the junta soldiers from the 550th battalion based in Ponna Kyunt  entered nearby villages to Sin Inn Gyi, where the battle with Arakan Army members erupted, and later they set the village on fire. They also brutally shot dead these nine villagers.

A local lady, who lost both her father and mother, informed Narinjara News that she feels sad whenever remembers the horrible day.

“They even did not allow me to see my parent’s burials. All the victim villagers were dumped in a hole on the ground. The soldiers were so inhumane," she added.

Daw Nu Sein, whose husband was also killed, expressed anger about the incident.

“ 9 villagers were killed by the junta soldiers without any reason. Till date none comes to investigate the incident,” she added.

During the morning hours of 10 November 2022, the AA members attacked some military vehicles carrying food items on Yangon-Sittwe road between Sin Inn Gyi and Paday Tha villages.

By the evening, the 550th battalion arrived in Sin Inn Gyi village and terrorised the villagers by killing nine of them.

Even the army helicopters used to fire with heavy weapons near the residential areas. Many buffalos and other livestock were also killed and crops destroyed.

Rakhine State’s military council has not uttered a single word about the incident.

The current in-charge of Sin Inn Gyi village with more than 100 households informed Narinjara News that no compensation was paid to the bereaved families.

"There is neither any compensation nor an apology from the junta authority has been reported. Only a small donation from the ICRC was paid to the owners of destroyed houses by fire,” he added.

One day after the accident, the AA claimed that the Ponna Kyunt based LIB  (550) battalion committed the crime.

According to a list compiled by Narinjara News, between August and November of 2022, at least 46 Rakhine civilians were killed, 89 injured and nine houses burnt down in Rakhine conflicts.

Photo: The Photo of 9 villagers who were brutally killed by Burma army.