Myanmar junta forces killed five elderly civilians and almost entirely burned down three villages during a scorched-earth raid on a resistance stronghold area in Yesagyo Township, Magwe Region this week.
On March 2, around 200 regime forces from military battalions from Yesagyo and nearby Pakokku townships attacked and raided Myay Zon Taw Village in the Yay Lel Kyun Island area between the Chindwin and Irrawaddy rivers, according to local resistance groups.
The regime forces burned down houses for three days while taking up a position in the village from March 2 to 4.
During the raid, five elderly people including two women, aged from 60 to 86, were killed—some burned to death—by regime forces after they were left behind by fleeing villagers.
Local resistance groups found their bodies after the regime forces left the village.
“This is an inhumane act by the regime forces,” a resident told The Irrawaddy on Friday.
He added that almost all 300 of Myay Zon Taw’s homes were burned down by the regime forces. The military unit also burned down two more villages nearby after leaving Myay Zon Taw.
Local youth resistance group Myingyan Black Tiger stated on Thursday that it lost its headquarters in the area when the military unit raided their base with the support of airstrikes early on Wednesday morning.
Since Feb. 26, military units have raided the island area, sparking clashes with resistance groups.
The resistance groups defeated the military units in clashes on March 26, killing nine regime soldiers and arresting nine others. After being reinforced with more troops, the military unit resumed its raid on the island area on March 2.
During their raid, military bases in Yesagyo town shelled villages while junta warplanes bombed the area.
Approximately 20,000 residents from 12 villages on the island have been forced to evacuate, according to locals.
