Two Mrauk-U residents, kidnapped by soldiers, found dead with signs of sexual assaults

 Two individuals, out of three men abducted by junta soldiers to use as human shields, were killed in Mrauk-U of Rakhine State. Their dead bodies marked a number of signs relating to sexual assaults.

"Upon our initial sight of the bodies, we observed that their pants were pulled down. Furthermore, the presence of blood in the anus was also seen. The bodies were found with their hands tied behind backs,” revealed an individual who preferred not to be named.

On 9 January during the night hours, following a clash with the Arakan Army (AA), a column of the junta's 540th light infantry battalion re-entered the town and detained three pedestrians to use as human shields.

The victims have been identified as  U Tun Tun Oo (35 years old) and Ko Saw Tun Naing (28) were from Shauk Taw Su ward. Both were subjected to sexual assaults before their murders. The third victim is U San Shwe Kyaw (52) from Ah Lel Zay ward.

A social activist from Mrauk-U exclaimed that he has no words to speak about the junta atrocities.

“It is incredibly cruel. Once you are arrested by them, you are essentially considered dead. I am left with no words,” added the activist.

A Rakhine human rights activist insisted on initiatives by the international community to take decisive actions against the military junta for their cruelty towards the people.

"This is undeniably a war crime. Will the international community choose to ignore the military's actions? We strongly call for effective preventive measures while  applying pressure and decisive actions,” he added.

Over 50 soldiers from the 540th light infantry battalion based in Mrauk-U clashed against the AA members near Sakya Man Aung pagoda for a few minutes.

It resulted in the death of at least 15 junta soldiers. In the aftermath, the soldiers captured three local residents to use as human shields. After being taken to the battalion, all three innocent civilians were shot dead by the soldiers, confirmed by  the Three Brotherhood Alliance in a statement issued recently.