Naypyidaw army raids southern Yinmarbin during Thingyan; thousands displaced as villages burn

Mizzima

While much of the country observed the traditional Thingyan New Year festival, residents in the southern part of Yinmarbin Township faced a brutal military offensive.

Local reports indicate that a Naypyidaw Army column, estimated at 500 personnel, conducted a series of raids and arson attacks from 12 to 16 April, leaving at least one village in total ruins and forcing approximately 10,000 people to flee.

Lae Ngout Village, a community of about 200 homes, was the primary target of the initial assault. Witnesses stated that military forces set fire to the village for three consecutive days, from 12 to 14 April.

The destruction was so severe that returning residents described the area as a “burnt wasteland.”

One local woman shared her devastation, stating she could no longer even identify the original location of her own home amidst the debris. This marks the fifth time Lae Ngout has been targeted by arson, but residents report this latest incident has nearly wiped the village off the map.

A source mentioned that although Tamabinkwa Village, near Lae Ngout, was torched on 16 April, the extent of the damage is not yet known as residents are fleeing from war.

The military column has been patrolling and raiding Tamabinkwa, Ngarmaung, Maungton, Puppa, and Pathotha villages.

“Even the monks who would normally administer precepts during the festival are fleeing. We can’t think of anything else while we are constantly on the run. There are housing difficulties and a need for sanitary pads,” said a displaced woman.

Lae Ngout Village in Yinmarbin Township has faced arson attacks five times by the Naypyidaw Army, and this latest incident has seen the entire village nearly reduced to ashes.

As the column continues to patrol the area, the local population remains on high alert, prioritizing survival over New Year celebrations.