Junta engages warplanes, artillery shells and small arms in Minbya forcing locals to flee

Myanmar military junta forces launched attacks on Pan Myaung and its surrounding villages under Minbya township of Rakhine State at 2 pm on Monday using warplanes, artillery shells and small arms.

A local woman reported that the military helicopters dropped soldiers at various military bases in Pan Myaung and Aung Mingalar mountains and attacked nearby villages with artillery shells and small arms. The situation soon turned volatile and the residents started fleeing to other areas.

"The soldiers even shot at the villagers who fled from Pan Myaung village. After the junta forces dropped many soldiers and their helicopters continued to hover around the village. As a warplane came
to drop the soldiers, it also dropped artillery shells and small arms like rice grains. They also fired on Nga Yat Phyu creek between Pan Myaung and Gone Kyun villages," she explained.

The soldiers are launching indiscriminate attacks on Pan Myaung old and new village using two warplanes, artillery shells, and small arms.

"Many villagers ran away. They fled out of fear while looking at the warplanes. The presence of a military camp in the village also heightened the anxiety of the residents. The soldiers from the
military camps also fired artillery shells and small arms along with the warplanes' continued bombing on residential areas,” she added.

The residents informed that the warplanes were hovering around the village till 4 pm.

On 10 December, an artillery shell was fired from Kyain Taung pagoda, where the military council troops are stationed, and it exploded near a children playing area of Minbya township. It resulted in the death of a girl and injuries to six other children.