December 28th, 2021
The remains of those burned to death cannot be collected till December 27th as the junta troops are stationed near Moso village in Phruso Township in Karenni State, said U Banyar, Director of the Karenni Human Rights Group.
“We have collected 27 remains so far. But we cannot count the number of those killed on a medium-sized Dyna. The junta troops are stationed near the incident and are carrying out the frequent firing of heavy weapons near the incident at a time when we are trying to make an investigation into the case. Till tomorrow, fighting took place there,” he added.
The junta troops are firing shots at those who attempt to collect the burnt remains of those killed in the massacre. They are stationed there and trying to destroy the burnt bodies.
Eight locals from Loikaw, two staff from Save the Children, four from Lawjar village and one from Khoyarkhu village went missing near Moso village. The cars and motorbikes they took were burned.
A 25-year-old man from Lawjar village in Phruso went missing near the incident while fleeing to a safer place, in the west of Phruso.
“I heard the constant songs of gunfire. I phoned him frequently as I was concerned for his safety. He still held the line. He said he would call me back,” a family member said.
A total of 35 civilians including children and women were burnt alive. It is impossible to identify the burnt bodies. Three dumper trucks, three small vehicles and five tractors and five motorbikes were burnt, the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) confirmed.
“We previously planned to systematically collect the burnt remains of those killed and contact their families so as to hold funeral services according to their religions. But it is impossible to do it at present. But we have a plan to investigate the IDP families who may go missing or the family members of the IDPs. Based on it, we will continue to identify the victims and villages,” he continued.
In the afternoon of December 24th, the junta troops arrested and killed the fleeing IDPs and travellers. Four members of the Border Guard Force who were negotiating with the soldiers for the release of the detained civilians, were tied up and shot dead.
A total of 59 CSOs including the Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) issued a joint statement, denouncing the military council’s violence act and describing it as a gross human rights violation and inhumane act.
The 35 civilians were burnt to death by the troops of the Light Infantry Battalion-108 under the Division-66 of the military council, near Moso village.
Sent by Maw Oo Myar (Kantarawaddy Times)