SAGAING DIVISION – The Kyunhla Activists Group and local sources have reported that junta troops burned down two villages in Kanbalu Township and one village in Taze Township in Sagaing Division on Monday morning, May 29th.
Around 170 junta forces, consisting of the junta’s Light Infantry Battalion (LIB-361) and the Pyu Saw Htee (junta-backed militia), were stationed in Koke Ko Kone Village on the night of May 28th. They proceeded to burn down the village on the following morning, May 29th, at approximately 7 a.m., after looting and ransacking valuable properties of the civilians. The junta forces then reportedly moved to Hlut Taik Village at around 7:50 a.m., firing indiscriminately and setting fire to the village.
An official from the Kyunhla Activists Group stated, “There were no reported civilian casualties. The extent of damage to civilian houses caused by the fires is yet to be confirmed.”
As a result of the arson attacks by the junta forces in Kyunhla and Kanbalu townships, an estimated 10,000 civilians from 13 villages in Kyunhla Township, including Taung Yar Seik, Ta Kone, Koke Ko Kone, Than Pu Yar Pin Su, Mya Bon Thar, Hlut Taik, Aung Tharyar, Ma Daung, Swea Hle, Tin Ngoke Gyi, Myin Thar Oo, Tha Yet Taw, and Aung Yankin, as well as 16 villages in Kanbalu Township, such as Nyaung Kone, Let Khoke Pin, and Aung Chan Thar Village from Kawlin Township, have been forced to flee their homes and seek safety.
Similarly, approximately 170 junta forces from Taze Township have set fire to Mon Taing Pin Village on the morning of May 29th, causing the residents to evacuate to safer locations, according to local sources.