Skeletons of 12 Civilians Discovered in Mass Graves in Myanmar’s Myaing Township

The human remains of 12 civilians abducted by Myanmar military forces in June 2023 have been discovered in two mass graves near Wetpoke Village in Magway Region’s Myaing Township, according to local resistance fighters and a civil society group.

The remains, found blindfolded with hands bound, were unearthed on October 4 after a resident foraging for mushrooms accidentally stumbled upon the burial site in a forested area.

Local resistance forces subsequently excavated the site, uncovering two shallow pits containing the victims' skeletons alongside personal identification documents.

"Officials went to the site after the villager reported the location," said a spokesperson for the Anyarmyae Civil Society Organization-Myaing. "The victims had their hands and bodies tied before being shot. Among them was a student."

The victims were identified as nine villagers from Gwaykone, and one each from Magyikone, Thanchaung, and Magyikan villages, through national IDs, a student card, birth certificates, and other personal items found at the site.

All 12 had been missing since a junta military column swept through the area in mid-2023.

Local rights activists allege that U Win Htay, a leader of the junta-aligned Pyusawhti militia based in Wetpoke, and a military column commander known as Bo Phyu were responsible for the abductions and executions. NMG could not independently verify these claims.

Activists and resistance forces express concern that additional mass graves may exist in the region, where numerous villagers remain missing following military sweeps.

Resistance forces seized Wetpoke Village—a former Pyusawhti stronghold—in 2024. Previous clearance operations in the surrounding area had also uncovered evidence of extrajudicial killings and mass burials.

Anyarmyae Civil Society Organization-Myaing has released photographs documenting the excavated remains, recovered identification documents, and physical evidence collected from the site.

Photo caption: Skeletons and some personal belongings of 12 civilians who were killed and buried in a mass grave near Wetpoke Village. Photo - Anyarmyae Civil Society Organization-Myaing