Regime troops are carrying out scorched-earth attacks in Magwe to secure a popular pagoda festival in central Myanmar, forcing more than 20,000 people to flee their homes in Salin and Pwintbyu townships.
Junta raids and clashes, which erupted in the second week of February, have caused residents from over 20 villages in Salin and Pwintbyu townships to seek refuge in unaffected settlements, monasteries, schools, farms and forests. Many are reportedly running short of food after being unable to return home.
Junta soldiers torched Pyaung Khin (North) and Pyaung Khin (South) villages over three days from Feb. 17-19, destroying dozens of houses.
“[Regime troops] fired shots as they entered our village from two directions. We fled in a hurry,” a resident of Pyaung Khin (North) village said. “This is the first time our houses have been set on fire. Our family includes elderly people and children and are struggling. We have been staying in makeshift huts on farms. Most of the victims are farmers, and cattle are also suffering.”
The raids involve junta troops from Salin, Pwintbyu, Sagu, Minbu and Chuak, supported by local Pyu Saw Htee militias. They are being ambushed by local resistance groups, resulting in clashes.
Fierce fighting is also taking place to the west along the Ann-Padan road, which links Rakhine with Magwe, where junta troops have reportedly abandoned some outposts, according to a Salin Township People’s Defense Force (PDF) member.
“The regime is concerned that clashes will spill over into Magwe. They are also holding the pagoda festival in Shwe Set Taw, so they are conducting raids [for security]. They stay in a village for at least two days after each raid, so villagers dare not go back,” the PDF member said.
On Feb. 25, seven junta soldiers were killed and 14 wounded during a clash with combined resistance groups in Salin Township. The following day, resistance groups attacked a junta outpost in Thit Kauk Taung village, inflicting casualties, according to the Minbu District People’s Defense Team. The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the junta casualties.
Resistance groups in Salin have urged residents to flee, warning that over 200 junta troops are raiding villages along the road between Sin Phyu Kyun and Tanyaung towns.
Military tensions are also running high in Yay Poke Gyi village in Pwintbyu Township, where the regime is reinforcing troops following clashes in February, according to the Pwintbyu People’s Defense Team.
Anti-regime groups have advised locals to avoid the roads from Salin to Pwintbyu, Thayet to Mindon, Pathein to Monywa, and Sanpya to Sedaw due to the presence of junta soldiers.
Regime forces remain in the area despite the absence of fighting, according to Ko Anyar Thar, spokesman for the Minbu District People’s Defense Team.
“They have brought in reinforcements and occupied villages to secure the Shwe Set Taw pagoda festival. However, few visitors are attending,” he said.
“Some routes to Shwe Set Taw are controlled by resistance forces, which is why the regime is conducting raids.”
The pagoda festival usually attracts tens of thousands of visitors and pilgrims.
The Irrawaddy reached out to Myo Myint, spokesman of the junta’s Magwe Region government, for comment on the raids but received no response.
The regime said the annual pagoda festival is being held from February 2 to April 17. Large numbers of junta troops are deployed near the pagoda, with security also tightened on surrounding roads.
