2 Buthidaung men found dead with their throats cut

The bodies of two young residents were recovered in Buthidaung of Rakhine State, which is still under the military junta administration, on 11 April.

The victims have been identified as  Ko Min Thein Zan (32) hailing from ward number 5 and Ko Tun Tun (32), an education department employee from ward number  3 in the township.

"Their bodies were recovered in  the morning hours with cuts on their necks and heels.  There is no clue who could have committed the crime," said a Buthidaung resident.

A  large number of Buthidaung residents have fled due to growing threats from the junta officials and military-trained Muslims.

"Everyone knows who killed those young men. There are some people who are inciting ethnic and religious conflicts. Hundreds of Muslims are being trained and used in the conflicts. The armed Muslims are breaking into Rakhine family houses during the night hours. They are supported by the soldiers from behind the scene,” said a Buthidaung resident who also fled from his village.

In the last two months, the junta soldiers and military-trained Muslims have collaborated to forcefully break into Rakhine houses and loot belongings in various parts of the town.

"They have also vandalised many houses belonging to the Rakhine families,” added the local resident.

Bodies of the two victims were recovered from ward number  6 in Buthidaung township and their burials were performed accordingly.

The incident where  two civilians were found with their  throats cut was first of its kind in the Rakhine region, where the conflict began on 23 November 2023.