Eain Phyu Soe

Narinjara News, 3 June 2024

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

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

"We, the ASU/SAF,declare our commitment to work alongside various resistance forces to uncoverthe truth about the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by thejunta 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 Stateand hence the junta forces are deliberately targeting the civilians anddisrupting peace in the region by inciting ethnic & religious conflicts,which ASU/SAF is closely monitoring.

"The junta isintentionally destroying residential houses and offices of international aidorganizations, and carrying out targeted airstrikes on hospitals, schools,monasteries, refugee camps, etc. Moreover, the junta is systematicallycommitting acts of violence and war crimes, such as using civilians as humanshields 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 thejunta and ALP accountable  for the Byine Phyu village massacre. Accordingto the ULA/AA, at least 53 people were killed in that village on 29 May.