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Print:This Incident Report describes events occurring in Bilin Township, Doo Tha Htoo (Thaton) District. On June 23rd 2022, State Administration Council (SAC) soldiers intentionally shelled three 120 mm mortars at Wah K’Teh (Win Ka Taing) village, Aee Sooh Hkee (Ah Su Chaung) village tract, Bilin Township. A 25-year-old local villager and her one-year-old daughter were killed by one of the mortar shells, which landed next to their home. The infant passed away immediately. The mother passed away while being taken to Bilin Hospital by her neighbours for treatment.[1]
Part 1 – Incident Details
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Type of Incident |
Villagers killed due to mortar shelling |
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Date of Incident(s) |
June 23rd 2022 |
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Incident Location (Village, Township and District) |
Wah K’Teh (Win Ka Taing) village, Aee Sooh Hkee (Ah Su Chaung) village tract[2], Billin Township, Doo Tha Htoo (Thaton) District |
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Victim Information |
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Name |
Naw San San Win (also known as Naw Aye) |
Naw Win Kyu La |
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Age |
25 years old |
1 year old |
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Sex |
Female |
Female |
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Nationality |
Karen |
Karen |
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Family |
Married |
Unmarried |
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Occupation |
Teacher |
N/A |
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Religion |
Buddhist |
Buddhist |
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Position |
Villager |
N/A |
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Village |
Wah K’Teh village, Aee Sooh Hkee village tract, Bilin Township |
Wah K’Teh village, Aee Sooh Hkee village tract, Bilin Township |
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Perpetrator Information (Armed Actors) |
||||
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Name(s) |
Rank |
Unit |
Base |
Commander’s Name |
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Unknown |
Unknown |
SAC LID #44, LIB #404 |
Na Gyi village, Shway Law Aye village tract, Bilin Township |
Unknown |
Part 2 - Information Quality
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1. Explain in detail how you collected this information. |
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A KHRG researcher interviewed and received this information from two local village leaders. |
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2. Explain how the source verified this information. |
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The two local leaders who were interviewed by KHRG witnessed the incident. |
Part 3 – Complete Description of the Incident
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Describe the Incident(s) in complete detail. For each incident, be sure to include 1) when the incident happened, 2) where it happened, 3) what happened, 4) how it happened, 5) who was involved, and 6) why it happened. Also describe any villager response(s) to the incident, the aftermath and the current living situation of the victims. Please use the space prepared below, and create an attachment if needed. |
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On June 23rd 2022 at 1:30 pm, State Administration Council (SAC)[3] soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB)[4] #404 under Light Infantry Division (LID)[5] #44 intentionally shelled three mortar shells (120 mm) into Wah K’Teh (Win Ka Taing) village, Aee Sooh Hkee (Ah Su Chaung) village tract, Bilin Township, Doo Tha Htoo District. The soldiers were based at an army camp in Na Gyi village, Shway Aye village tract, Bilin Township. Three goats were injured due to the shelling. The final mortar shell landed next to a teacher's house, injuring the teacher, Naw San San Win (also known as Naw Aye), and immediately killing her one-year-old daughter, Naw Win Kyu La.
Naw San San Win is a teacher in Wah K’Teh village. On June 23rd, she forgot to bring her umbrella to school, so at about 1:30 pm she returned to her home to get it when an SAC mortar landed next to her house. Her daughter passed away at the time of the incident [after sustaining an injury to her left leg]. The teacher, Naw San San Win, was seriously injured [on her back] but she was still alive, so her neighbours took her to Bilin Hospital. She passed away during the two-hour journey to the hospital. |
Part 4 - Permission for Using the Details
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Did the victim(s) provide permission to use this information? Explain how that permission was provided. |
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The two local leaders gave permission to use this information. |
Further background reading on the human rights and security situation in Doo Tha Htoo District in Southeast Myanmar can be found in the following KHRG reports:
- "Doo Tha Htoo District Short Update: Killing, torture and use of human shields and navigators by the SAC and BGF in Bilin Township, May to June 2022”, August 2022.
- "Doo Tha Htoo District Short Update: SAC troops arbitrarily detain seven villagers, March 2022”, June 2022.
- “Doo Tha Htoo District Short Update: Deliberate SAC shelling at religious event results in civilian deaths, injuries and property damage in Tha Htoo Township, March 2022”, April 2022.
- “Doo Tha Htoo District Short Update: Ongoing fighting in Bilin Township leads to more than 2,000 IDPs, as well as injury and property damage, December 21st 2021 to January 11th 2022”, March 2022.
The photos were taken on June 23nd 2022 in Wah K’Teh village, Aee Sooh Hkee village tract, Bilin Township, Doo Tha Htoo District, after SAC soldiers fired mortars into the village. The photo on the left shows the injuries sustained by Naw Win Kyu La on her leg due to the shelling. The photo on the right shows the injuries sustained by her mother, Naw San San Win, on her back by shrapnel from an SAC mortar shell. [Photos: Local villager]
Footnotes:
[1] The present document is based on information received in July 2022. It was provided by a community member in Thaton District who has been trained by KHRG to monitor human rights conditions on the ground. The names of the victims, their photos and the exact locations are censored for security reasons. The parts in square brackets are explanations added by KHRG.
[2] A village tract is an administrative unit of between five and 20 villages in a local area, often centred on a large village.
[3] The State Administration Council (SAC) is the executive governing body created in the aftermath of the February 1st 2021 military coup. It was established by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing on February 2nd 2021, and is composed of eight military officers and eight civilians. The chairperson serves as the de facto head of government of Burma/Myanmar and leads the Military Cabinet of Myanmar, the executive branch of the government. Min Aung Hlaing assumed the role of SAC chairperson following the coup.
[4] A Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) comprises 500 soldiers. However, most Light Infantry Battalions in the Tatmadaw are under-strength with less than 200 soldiers. Yet up to date information regarding the size of battalions is hard to come by, particularly following the signing of the NCA. LIBs are primarily used for offensive operations, but they are sometimes used for garrison duties.
[5] A Light Infantry Division (LID) of the Tatmadaw is commanded by a brigadier general, and consists of ten light infantry battalions specially trained in counter-insurgency, jungle warfare, search and destroy operations against ethnic insurgents. They were first incorporated into the Tatmadaw in 1966. LIDs are organised under three Tactical Operations Commands, commanded by a colonel, three battalions each and one reserve, one field artillery battalion, one armoured squadron and other support units. Each division is directly under the command of the Chief of Staff (Army).
