Khaing Lu Hla (Yoma Myay)
Narinjara 25 August 2020

Five villagers, including a three-year-old girl, were injured on Saturday when artillery shells exploded in Kyauk Yan Thar Si village in Rathedaung township. This took place on 22 August, just a day after the 21st Century Panglong Union Peace Conference finished.

The civilian casualties come at a time when there is widespread public outcry over the rapid spread of the coronavirus in Rakhine State. At present, 80 people have been infected with coronavirus in Rakhine State as of 8 am on August 16.

Daw Phyu Chay from Kyauk Yan village said, “Five people were injured. Amongst them is a 3-year-old child. Daw Aye Than Nu, an elderly woman, was also seriously injured. There was no clash or battle, they just fired the shells. It happened while the families were talking after dinner at 8 pm”, she said.

The injured are Daw Aye Than Nu, 40; U Kyaw Aye, 42; Ma Khaing Myat Myat (3 years) U Tun Tin (40) and Ma Khine Hnin Wai (17).

One artillery shells exploded at around 8:20 pm near Kyauk Yan Thar Si village and two shells exploded on the road east of Kyauk Yan village, said the abbot of Kyauk Yan village.
“The first one fell near the village. Two more fell in the village. Each one was about 10 minutes apart. In the village, there is the East Road, the Middle Road and the West Road. One shell struck a house with a family of three on the East Road. The shells were fired from the direction of Ma Hnyin Taung. The Myanmar Army has taken over that area. It came from that side, ”he said.

The abbot said that amongst the injured, Aye Than Nu was hit in the back of the head and was in and out of consciousness. Kyaw Aye was hit in both legs and twice in the chest. In Ma Khaing Myat Myat (3), was hit in the temple. U Tun Tin on the left side of his temple and in Ma Khine Hnin Wai was hit under the left breast by shrapnel which pierced her arm.

Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun from the Tatmadaw True News information unit did not respond to calls at 11.55am so the villagers and monk’s comments concerning the artillery shells being fired by the army cannot be verified.

In relation to the local residents’ comments concerning the army firing the artillery shells, Colonel Min Than from the Ministry of Border and Security Affairs for Rakhine said that fighting had been going on in the area for around ten days. However, the shells he said, had been fired by the AA.

The AA could not be reached for comment, as under existing law the government will prosecute those contacting the group.

Amyotha Hluttaw member Khin Maung Latt confirmed that five people including women had been injured due to shelling, and transporting the injured to Rathedaung on August 23 had been difficult due to blockades on road and water routes.

He said he was shocked to learn that five people had been injured in a shelling in a village in Rakhine State a day after the peace conference was held.  The Union Peace Conference 21st Century Panglong was held in Natypyidaw from 19 to 21 August and was attended by the government, military and NCA signatory ethnic armed groups.