Three Elderly Civilians Killed by Junta Soldiers in Southern Myanmar
By The Irrawaddy 27 June 2022
Myanmar regime troops brutally killed three elderly civilians on Sunday in southern Myanmar’s Tanintharyi Region, after they were accused of supporting anti-regime activists and attacking a junta vehicle.
Around 15 junta soldiers arrived in two vehicles in Gadatgyi Village, Launglon Township and killed two villagers, U Thaung Win, 61, and his wife Daw Win Aye, as well as raiding and destroying five houses. The soldiers looted cash, valuables and a motorbike from the couple’s home, according to the Democracy Movement Strike Committee-Dawei (DMSC-Dawei)
U Thaung Win was shot in his eye and stomach. His wife was shot in the head and the back. Both the victims had their hands tied behind their backs when they were shot. Before being killed, they were forced to lead the regime troops to the other five houses raided, a DMSC-Dawei spokesperson told The Irrawaddy.
“They had a good relationship with the youths who have been participating in anti-junta protests in the village. But other villagers support the youths as well. I think someone informed the regime forces that they were in contact with a local People’s Defense Force,” he added.
The couple had seven children, all migrant workers in Thailand. One of their children returned to Thailand on Sunday after a family visit.
A resident of Gadatgyi Village, which has almost 800 households, told The Irrawaddy that they heard the sound of gunfire and then found the couple’s dead bodies on the road after the soldiers had left the village.
“Their hands were tied behind their backs and they had been brutally shot. The scene was very bad,” said the villager.
The villagers now fear the return of regime forces, who have mounted frequent raids on villages in Launglon Township this month.
Gadatgyi is located six miles from Launglon Town and two miles from Godinn Village, where furniture maker U San Win, 50, was killed on Sunday night. He was shot dead in front of his house after junta forces arrived in Godinn Village following their raid on Gadatgyi. He leaves behind a wife and daughter.
Military regime soldiers had been searching for U San Win for eight months, following a mine attack on a junta vehicle near his house, according to DMSC-Dawei. After he was killed, the troops looted cash, valuables and a motorbike from his home.
Coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and his military council are responsible for killing such innocent civilians, the DMSC-Dawei spokesperson told The Irrawaddy.
A female resident of Godinn Village, which has 400 households, was shot dead on June 17 and her house torched. Two other civilians were shot near the village the same day, one of whom died.
Tanintharyi Region is a stronghold of armed resistance in southern Myanmar. Locals have staged anti-coup protests daily.
As of June 16, eight civilians have been killed and two seriously injured in Launglon Township by regime troops and pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militia, according to DMSC-Dawei.
