Families of9 villagers in Sin Inn Gyi village of Rakhine State are still waiting forjustice. The villagers were killed by the junta forces a year back without anyreason.

Acolumn of junta army (LIB 550) based in Ponna Kyunt targeted the villagersduring last year's resurgence of gunfighting with the Arakan Army (AA).

MaMoe Moe San, whose parents were killed, claimed that the military authoritiesare yet to pay any compensation to them. Even the military council has notapologized to the affected villagers.

“The authorities have not repaired the damaged houses which were set onfire by the soldiers. The military council has done nothing. Only some Rakhine socialorganizations came to support them,” she added.

Itmay be mentioned that on 10 November 2022 the AA members attacked some militaryvehicles (carrying food items) on Yangon-Sittwe highway between Sin Inn Gyi andPaday Thar villages under Ponna Kyunt township, which is 16 miles north ofSittwe. The AA’s mine attack hit one vehicle killing many soldiers.

Inthe evening hours, a column of the 55th battalion entered the Sin Inn Gyi village and set many houses on fire. Nine villagersincluding a 92-year-old woman lost their lives.

Thevictims were identified as Daw Mai (92), Practitioner U Kyaw Naing, Daw May Nu(54), U Khin Maung (58), U Maung Kyaw Thein (62), U U Kyaw Zan (60), U Mo Ni (45), U Maung Maung Thein(43) and U Maung San Hla (37).

Laterthe military helicopters fired with heavy weapons near the villages. Anumber of cattle &livestock were also killed and rice fields got destroyed.

TheSin Inn Gyi village head informed Narinjara News  that RakhineState military council have not spoken about the incident and not evenapologized till date. No compensation has been offered to the bereaved families, he stated.

"Thebereaved and otherwise affected families have received a small donation fromthe ICRC only.

Thevillage supports over 100 families comprising 500 people and all are stillscared. The AA in a 11 November 2022 statement asserted that it would takeactions against the concerned military personnel.

Accordingto a list compiled by Narinjara News at least  46 Rakhine civilians were killed and 89 wereinjured in 2022, where nine houses were also burnt down during the four-monthresurgent movement that started in August.

RakhineHuman Rights Protection and Promotion Group pointed out that there is noaccountability fixed upon the military council whose soldiers terrorised thevillagers in Rakhine State during the resurgent battle last year.