Myanmar junta column burns more than 60 homes in Taungtha Township

Mizzima

Local sources report that at least 64 houses were destroyed when a Myanmar junta column launched an attack and set fire to Pekhinkyaw village in Taungtha Township, Myingyan District, Mandalay Region.

According to residents, the arson attack occurred at around 11:40 am on 2 December, when a column of roughly 100 junta soldiers left Taungtha town and advanced into the village.

“They dropped bombs from drones before entering. The fire had already begun at that point. Once they reached the village, they went straight to torching houses. It lasted just over half an hour before they pulled back into town,” the source explained.

Residents say the junta’s command troops have been conducting “clearance operations” in villages within a two-mile radius of Taungtha since 27 November.

“Since the 27th, they have been sweeping from the west and south of Taungtha all the way to the eastern side. Pekhinkyaw is located on the eastern side. It looks like they are doing this mainly because of the upcoming election,” local source said.

Displaced villagers from Pekhinkyaw are now in urgent need of assistance, and revolutionary forces have temporarily barred residents from returning to the village due to ongoing military threats.

“Because the village is very close to town, junta troops can return at any time.

There is also the risk of drone attacks and heavy artillery, so we are not allowing villagers to stay there yet,” a member of a local resistance group said.