Lu Htet Naing
At least 9 local Kaman and one Rakhine people were killed at Lin Thivillage under Thandwe township of Rakhine State as the junta forces hadfired artillery shells on the night of 14 May, said the residents.
The incident marks the first on-the-spot death causedby the junta shelling in Thandwe locality.
The victims include U Nyi Lay (47), Ma Nge Lay (25),Ah Pu Lay (21), U Maung Lay (26), Ma May Pu (27), U Tin Maung Nyunt (47), Daw Than Than (63) and DawMay Li Yan (75). Two othersDaw Ma Nyant (55) and Daw Than Myint (Rakhine) died while they weretransported to the hospital.
The village is situated approximately 17 miles northof Thandwe town. It comprises over 300 houses and is predominantly inhabited byKaman people.
The artillery shells struck Lin Thi village at around8:30 pm resulting in immediate deaths of three local men and four women.Additionally, one woman lost one of her arms.
"The artillery shells landed at night. Thesoldiers were present at the village and hence we didn't dare to comeout. The indiscriminate firing by junta soldiers even prevented the villagersfrom fleeing from their places,” said a local resident.
The injured individuals were taken to Thandwehospital and three individuals died there.
The artillery shells were fired from Bar Dauntmountain and Kwin Wine naval base in Thandwe locality.
As the Arakha Army (AA) besieged them, over 200 juntasoldiers who were stationed at the top of Shwe Hlay bridge of Lin Thivillage did not receive reinforcements from Thandwe. They are now living amongthe civilian population due to fear. The residents of Lin Thi village are nowprohibited from fleeing.
"It is like we are only waiting to die here. LinThi residents are not permitted to leave the village. Despite knowing the AA'sbases, the soldiers are targeting the civilians. Among the deceased individualswas the grandmother from Zee Taw Maw. Many lost their limbs. The familiesresiding near the police station also suffered casualties," added theresident.
On 13 May, Auk Nat Maw village under Thandwe townshipwas also struck by indiscriminate artillery shelling. A house caught fire andthree civilians were injured.
Likewise on 9 May, amid the clashes between the juntaforces and AA fighters, some artillery shells landed near the intersection ofLin Thi village under Shwe Hlay sub-township. A civilian was injured by shellshrapnel and he passed away at a Yangon hospital.
Shwe Hlay sub-township residents noted that thecontinuous howitzer firing from Bar Taung mountain at Thandwe’s exit point andThu Khoe San ridge near Thandwe urban ward scared the local residents. Someartillery shells landed in the field between Zee Kyun and Talaing Tel villagesunder Shwe Hlay sub-township also.
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