ASU/SAF to collaborate with resistance forces in pursuit of justice for Byine Phyu village victims

Eain Phyu Soe

Narinjara News, 3 June 2024

The Alliance of Students' Unions, Yangon / Student Armed Forces (ASU/SAF) recently released a statement revealing their commitment to collaborate with various resistance forces to seek justice against the war crimes perpetrated by the junta forces and Arakan Liberation Army (ALP) in Byine Phyu village under Sittwe township of  Arakan State.

The statement underscored the imperative of monitoring the war crimes carried out by the military junta, particularly the mass killings in Byine Phyu village. It also highlighted their violence against the Arakanese people with incitement of ethnic & religious conflicts and also political exploitation.

"We, the ASU/SAF, declare our commitment to work alongside various resistance forces to uncover the truth about the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the junta forces in various parts of the Rakhine region and across the country," said the statement issued on 2 June.

It asserted that the  military junta is facing political and military setbacks in Arakan State and hence the junta forces are deliberately targeting the civilians and disrupting peace in the region by inciting ethnic & religious conflicts, which ASU/SAF is closely monitoring.

"The junta is intentionally destroying residential houses and offices of international aid organizations, and carrying out targeted airstrikes on hospitals, schools, monasteries, refugee camps, etc. Moreover, the junta is systematically committing acts of violence and war crimes, such as using civilians as human shields and forcibly conscripting them as soldiers," stated the ASU/SAF.

The Arakha Army (ULA/AA) also expressed its determination to identify and make individual members of the junta and ALP accountable  for the Byine Phyu village massacre. According to the ULA/AA, at least 53 people were killed in that village on 29 May.