Three civilians including a teenager were killed during junta raids on villages in Myaing Township, Magwe Region, according to local sources.
Maung Nay Htet Oo, 13, and Ko Tun Myint, 18, were gunned down by junta soldiers as they fled a raid in Sanpya Village in Myaing Township on Tuesday.
“They fled out of fear when they heard gunshots. The younger [boy] fled to the dam and was shot dead there. The older one was shot dead while fleeing in the village,” said a local resident. Ko Tun Myint’s body showed signs that he was beaten before his death, he added.
The third victim, 26, was burned alive along with a house, the villager said. Junta troops looted houses, and torched motorbikes and an ambulance in the village.
The junta’s military columns marched to the area on Monday, clashing with members of the People’s Defense Force along the way. Locals from several villages on the border of Myaing and Sagaing Region’s Pale Township have fled their homes following the junta raids.
“We ambush junta troops as they march from village to village. They arrive in villages and torch houses. As we can’t hold them in a place, we can only ambush and withdraw. As they have powerful weapons, they eventually reach their destination,” said the leader of the Pale Township People’s Defense Force.
The ongoing junta attack is the second in September. Three civilians died in fighting on Sept. 11.
“Shame on those wicked enough to call themselves the government while bullying the people. Their unscrupulous acts are quite rare in this world. Even terrorists are not as despicable as they are. It is a shame for our country that such an organization wants to rule the country,” said the Pale PDF leader.
A total of 1,093 people have been killed by the junta since Feb. 1 with 6,533 people under detention and 1,984 people fleeing arrest warrants, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.
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