Myanmar junta torches villages in eastern Min Hla Township, thousands displaced as offensive escalates

Mizzima

Myanmar junta forces burned down multiple villages and displaced thousands in the eastern part of Min Hla Township, Bago Region, since launching an offensive on 19 June, according to the Min Hla Township People’s Defence Force (PDF).

On 25 June alone, junta troops set fire to homes in Kywe Ma Kaing village at 7:20 am, and later in Khwet Ma village at 12:10 pm. This occurred after heavy shelling the night before.

“Last night, Khwet Ma was shelled with heavy weapons, and this morning they came in and started torching the houses. Locals had already fled by yesterday evening. Only a few elderly people remained. They said they’d rather die in their homes, so we couldn’t evacuate them,” a Min Hla Township People’s Defence Force official said.