KNO urges UN to investigate Myanmar military's war crimes in Byine Phyu village

Narinjara News, 7 June 2024

Kachin National Organization (KNO) expressed profound grief over the brutal killing of civilians by the Myanmar military forces in Byine Phyu village under  Sittwe township of  Arakan State. They also urged the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) of the United Nations to conduct a thorough probe into the heinous war crimes committed by the junta forces.

The KNO mentioned it in a statement, issued on 3 June, over the Byine Phyu village massacre.

"We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident that took place on 29 May 2024 in Byine Phyu village, where 53 innocent civilians were brutally killed by the military junta. Our sincere condolences go to the bereaved families and Arakanese people,” stated the KNO.

It expressed steadfast solidarity with the Arakanese people in their quest for liberation from the oppressive grip of the junta. The KNO also commended the courage and determination of the Arakha Army (AA) fighters, who are bravely fighting for the freedom of Arakan State collaborating  with other resistance groups across Myanmar.

 "The Arakanese people deserve independence from decades long military dictatorship, where excessive oppressions are inflicted by the military junta," said Hkanhpa Tu Sadan, foreign secretary of the KNO.

It urged the IIMM of the UN to conduct a thorough investigation into the crimes and ensure that those responsible are held accountable for their actions.

Furthermore, it called upon the international community to identify the Myanmar military as a terrorist organization. It also urged for a decisive and unified response to the ongoing violence and unjust oppression perpetrated by the military junta in order to achieve justice and sustainable peace.

The KNO was founded in 1999 as a Kachin political organization. On 4 June, the United League of Arakan stated that the Myanmar forces committed the brutal crime at Set Yoe Kya ward (Byine Phyu village) and as of 2 June, the number of civilians killed increased to 76.