- Web Master
- October 01, 2024
An Arakanese female school teacher and four other men were killed in a shooting
attack carried out by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) rebels in
northern Maungdaw township of Arakan State. Two other individuals also
sustained injuries in the incident.
The deceased include Daw Sein Hla Phyu (55 years old
female school teacher), U Kyaw Min (55), U Zaw Zaw Min (also known as Shwe Thet
Ko, 35), Ko Aung Myat San (25) and Ko Aung Myo San (25). They all hailed
from ward number 4 of the township.
Daw Sein Hla Phyu and U Kyaw Min were a married couple. Ko Aung Myat San and Ko
Aung Myo San were brothers.
The injured individuals namely Ko Myo Than Shein
(27) and U Maung Maung Chey (44) also hail from the same ward.
They were attacked by ARSA rebels while traveling from Buthidaung to Kyein
Chaung of northern Maungdaw locality by a vehicle at around 4 pm on
31 July. The rebels took position near 3-mile-Kyee Kan Pyin road between
Shwe Taung and Kyee Kan Pyin (south) villages under Maungdaw township.
"It rained heavily and we didn’t hear any gunshots because the area is
quite far from us. Later, we learned that ARSA rebels shot at a truck
carrying goods near Kyee Kan Pyin (south) village," said a local resident.
U Khaing Thu Kha, an information officer of the Arakan
Army (AA), confirmed the killings while talking to Narinjara News.
“They were shot dead while traveling from Kant Kaw Myaing to Kyein Chaung to
buy goods,” said U Khaing Thu Kha.
The AA is currently pursuing the ARSA rebels
responsible for the killings.
“ARSA rebels are abducting us and demanding money from
us. They are also kidnapping Muslims to ask money from them. We do not condone
the killing of civilians. We want to live in peace with the Rakhine community,”
said a local Muslim leader hailing from Shwezar of Maungdaw.
All the seven victims faced displacement
from ward number 4 in Buthidaung town and sought refuge in Kant Kaw
Myaing village.
Previously, on 18 July, seven Khami people from
Gandaryi camp in the same ward were killed after leaving the camp in
search of bamboo shoots in forest areas.
The AA on 21 July said that they were
killed by ARSA militants who enjoy collaboration with the military junta.
The bodies of U Oo Hla Tun, U Kyaw Hla and U Maung Tun
were found near Let Pan Shay (also known as Maw Ni Ko) village on 19 July
during the noon hours.
The other four victims namely U Aung Gyi, U Maung Maung, U Tun Naing Oo
and U Kyar Tun Oo were found dead near Let Pan Shay (also known as Maw Ni
Ko) village at around 1 pm on 20 July.