Civilian search teams have recovered and buried around 70 bodies of people who were killed during the battle at Hseng Tawng village in Hpakant Township, Kachin State, according to local residents.
Residents say these bodies likely resulted from the clashes between the military junta forces and the joint forces of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) in September.
“Roughly, there were over 70 were killed throughout the battle. We had to pick up bodies from both sides. There were bodies near the Lucky Man Hotel. We also had to exhume bodies that they had buried near houses. Since they were buried next to homes, we had to dig them up and then cremate them at the cemetery,” said a local man.
Reportedly, the bodies and skulls were discovered during area clearance operations in the first week of November in Hseng Tawng village.
Local participants in the clearance operation say that individual identification of the bodies was not possible.
However, they say the recovered remains included civilians killed during the battle, the Lucky Man Hotel staff, military council soldiers, and members of the joint KIA-PDF forces.
Locals report that bodies of junta soldiers were often buried near residential houses close to the hotel, and these bodies also had to be located, exhumed, and cremated.
A Hseng Tawng elder said: “We found 14 bodies and skulls – some had been dragged away by dogs. Some were scattered around, and some were washed away in the stream. There might be some in Uyu Creek. Towards the end of the battle, about five bodies floated towards Uyu Creek.”
According to Hseng Tawng residents, approximately 400 homes were destroyed during the battle, including an elderly care facility that was burned down.
While locals are conducting self-organized area clearance operations following the battle, they say they cannot afford to rebuild their destroyed homes.
A local resident reported that some villagers are being forced to sell their land plots as a result.
“They’re facing difficulties with reconstruction. They can’t rebuild their houses anymore. Many are selling their land plots to reinvest in other businesses. Very few can manage to rebuild. Those who had clothing shops and home goods stores lost everything to the fires and can’t restart. Some are just staying in IDP camps and only coming to check on their land plots,” he explained.
Sources close to the situation say that during the Hseng Tawng battle, junta troops occupied Lucky Man Hotel, detained around 40 hotel staff and civilians, and tortured and killed some of them.
During the battle, junta troops also burned down civilian homes and conducted airstrikes on the village, residents say.
According to a ground source, joint KIA-PDF forces seized the Lucky Man Hotel and Hseng Tawng village on 8 October, forcing 22 junta soldiers and Shanni army members to surrender.
Sent by NMG.