The military junta owned newspaper on Tuesdayfalsely claimed that the junta forceswere not involved in the burning of two villages (namelyYe Yoe Pyin and Kha Maung Taw) under Ponna Kyunttownship inRakhine State.
The Myanmar Alin newspaper reported, "Wehave identified the dissemination of false news and misinformation on socialnetworking sites regarding the alleged burning down of two villages inPonna Kyunt township, RakhineState, by security forces. Contrary to this, security forces in the area andlocal residents confirm the absence of security force movements near thesevillages. The illicit subversive media is instilling fear among the localpopulace, disrupting peace and stability in the region, and undermining trustin security forces. It is evident that this unlawful subversive media isdeliberately spreading false news and misinformation through social networks."
It may be mentioned that the military council'slight infantry battalion 270 entered Ye Yoe Pyin village at 2 pm on 3 Decemberwith no resistance. The villagers witnessed how the soldiers fired artilleryshells along with small arms that destroyed the entire village.
A local villager refuted the newspaper's reportand claimed that the denial from soldiers in burning the village with 130houses was wrong and shocking.
A Sittwe resident expressed his anger at themotivated report of the Myanmar Alin newspaper. He asserted that it was a greatdisappointment for the Rakhine people.
After burning Ye Yoe Pyin village, thesoldiers proceeded to burn thenearby Kha Maung Taw village at around 4 pmon the same day.
According to the residents,approximately 5 houses intheir village were burned down by the soldiers.
Besides the two villages, many residents in theneighboring villages likeAung Myae Kone, Aung Zeya, Sar Taung Poke andKan Chaung have fled from the places to take shelter insafer places.