4 civilians killed, 10 injured on first day of renewed fighting in Rakhine State

On the first day of renewed fighting in Rakhine State on 13 November between the junta forces and Arakan Army (AA) members, four civilians were killed and 10 others were injured.

The casualties were reported from Mrauk U (2) and Kyauk Taw (2)  which are located in the northern part of Rakhine State.

The injured individuals hail from Mrauk U (4), Kyauk Taw (4), Maungdaw (1) and Minbya (1) townships.

The civilians died because of indiscriminate firing from the soldiers, said the villagers.

In Mrauk U, the shooting took place near to funeral office in Kyauk Rate Kay, where two civilians were killed and 4 seriously injured due to the soldiers’ unprovoked firing.

“The army personnel fired on a company car carrying four people hailing from Burma proper. The driver died on the spot. Another died at hospital and two individuals are now recovering,” said an eye witness.

In Apauk Wa village of Kyauk Taw, two villagers including a woman were killed and 4 were seriously injured when a shell fired by the LIB 539th based in Kansak village exploded in the evening hours of 13 November.

The army personnel were angry at the surrender of 26 policemen from Apauk Wa police station to the AA along with their arms and ammunition.

Those who died were identified as Daw Tha Htoo Mi and U Aung Kyaw Zaw from Apauk Wa village The wife and three sons of Aung Kyaw Zaw were also injured.

In Min Bya, a Chin national named U Kyaw Thein Phyu (over 50 years old) from Pethar Pyint village was seriously injured, when a shell exploded as he was harvesting paddy crops near his village. Later he was hospitalized at Min Bya hospital.

Also in Maungdaw, a Dainet minority girl (around 9 years old) hailing from Thinpaw Hla village was hit by a bullet fired by the soldiers. Now the child is undergoing treatment at Kyin Chaungh hospital. She may be shifted to Maungdaw district hospital in need.

The fighting in Rakhine State erupted on Sunday almost a year after an understanding for ceasefire between the junta forces and AA members which was agreed on 26 November 2022.