October 11, 2022
The military council looted precious items and burned down public properties in Sinlikaungyar village in Namtu Township in northern Shan State.
Due to intense fighting between the military council and a combined force of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the People’s Defense Force (PDF) in Namtu Township in late September, locals fled to safer places.
The military destroyed the village and burned public properties.
They also killed and ate chicken, pigs and cows and sprayed herbicide into water wells, a local from Sinlikaungyar village told the KNG.
The junta soldiers set fire to two vehicles being used by the villagers, the goods on the vehicles and three motorbikes.
“Some men who returned to the village to see the situation shed tears when they saw the situation in the village. They no longer want to return to the village,” he added.
On September 24, the military council launched an offensive in Battalion-8 under Brigade-4 of the KIA.
The heavy shells fired by the military council’s strategic hill in Namtu landed and exploded in the village.
Following the heavy shelling, locals from Manjet, Sinlikaungyar and Konekayar villages have fled to nearby towns.
However, the Palaung IDPs from Konekayah village returned to the village in the previous week. The soldiers did not destroy the village.
As the military council troops are stationed in some villages along Namtu-Mongton road, local IDPs from Manjet village are unable to return to their village, a local from Sinlikaungyar village said.
“I understand this is due to the battles. However, I denounce human rights violations against innocent locals. I want to let the international community know about such human rights violations. I want to say that the military should avoid such acts in the future,” he added.
Sinlikaungyar village which is located about 18 miles from Namtu Township has more than 30 households. Only Kachin ethnics are living in the village.
Till date since the end of September, fighting has continued between the military council troops and the KIA in Namtu and Mongton Townships.
Sent by KNG