Residents and People’s Defense Force (PDF) members reported that military council troops have burned down 13 villages in KhinU Township of Sagaing Region over the past week.
“Since September 2, a joint military column has been burning villages in the northern part of KhinU Township, according to local sources.”
A KhinU local said, “Currently, the military council is conducting raids and burning three villages in the northern part of KhinU.”
Residents said the military column consists of over 130 members, including many junta-backed Pyu Saw Htee members
On 10 September, the military column simultaneously burned down Pauk Thint Ton, Gya Poet and Si Poke Tayar villages, KhinU residents said.
Residents said that in addition to the military raids, the military council is conducting surveillance using Y-12 aircraft and drones.
The burned villages are surrounded by Ma Daung Hla village, which is home to Pyu Saw Htee members. PDF members believe that the military column is conducting raids and burning villages as part of an area clearance operation.
A PDF member said, “The junta has cut rations because the villages support the PDFs. They’ve been threatening this for the past two months. We didn’t expect them to follow through. This is a form of area clearance operation.”
The military column burned down Nga Kyaing, In Gyin Pin, Saw Gyi, Tha Nat Sein, Hpan Khar Kone, Pauk Taw, Hne Twin, Si Son Lay, Ma Daung Gyi and Shwe Kar villages. Now, the military column is burning three villages, the KhinU local said.
These villages are small villages with around 180 houses each. Residents and PDFs are unable to confirm how many houses have been burned down as the joint military column of soldiers and Pyu Saw Htee remains active.
Around 15,000 civilians from 15 villages, including those hit by arson and nearby areas, have fled to safer locations. The northern part of KhinU Township borders Kanbalu Township, where Pyu Saw Htee led by Monk U Warthawa are strong. Ma Daung Hla is home to Pyu Saw Htee members under Monk U Warthawa.
A member of PDF said: “Pyu Saw Htee members from Ma Daung Hla village are under the command of Monk U Warthawa. Kanbalu is close to Ma Daung Hla and KhinU. This is a strategic location.”
In the last week of August, before the military column raided villages in northern KhinU Township, PDF members attacked Ma Daung Hla village, home to Pyu Saw Htee members. The resistance forces retreated due to the military council’s air support.
According to Data For Myanmar, over 100,000 civilian homes have been destroyed by arson attacks from the military council and allied organizations in the more than three years since the coup, with Sagaing Region being the most affected area.
Sent by NMG