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Print:This Short Update describes events that occurred in Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw (Hpapun) District during April 2023. On April 1st 2023, members of a family living in W--- village, Htee Th’Blut Hta village tract, Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District were injured and killed by the State Administration Council (SAC)’s indiscriminate shelling. Four villagers, including two children, were injured by the exploded mortar shrapnel, and their grandmother was killed on the spot. The four injured villagers were able to be treated at Htee Th’Blut Hta clinic, located in Htee Th’Blut Hta village tract, Dwe Lo Township. Although no organisation has yet provided financial support to the family, the clinic provided treatment free of charge.[1]
On April 1st 2023, at 8:20 pm, an unknown battalion from the State Administration Council (SAC)[2] based in Ma Htaw village tract[3], Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District, fired two rounds of 120mm mortar into W--- village, Htee Th’Blut Hta village tract, Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District. One of the mortar shells hit a family of five villagers, living in the same house. Four villagers got injured and one was killed by the exploded mortar shrapnel. Naw[4] Ma Shwe Thah, Saw[5] A---’s mother who is 72 years old, was hit by the mortar shrapnel in the head and killed on the spot. Saw A---, Naw H---’s husband who is 35 years old, was injured by the mortar shrapnel on his neck, and on his chin as well as on his right arm. Naw H---, Saw A---’s wife who is 29 years old, was injured on her left hip. Their 5-year-old son, Saw S---, was injured on his right knee and their 2-month-old daughter, Naw N---, was injured all [over] her body due to the exploded mortar shrapnel.
On April 2nd 2023, at 8:00 am, the local leaders and villagers helped to bury Naw Ma Shwe Thah traditionally [according to Buddhist faith], while her injured children and grandchildren were being treated. Those villagers sent the family to Htee Th’Blut Hta clinic, located in Htee Th’Blut Hta village tract, Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District. [This clinic is run by Back Pack Health Worker Team (BPHWT)[6]]. W--- villagers carried these four villagers on foot. It took them about an hour to reach the clinic. Htee Th’Blut Hta clinic had enough medical supplies and adequate healthcare workers to provide treatment to these four injured villagers. W--- villagers accompanied them [the injured villagers] to the clinic and took care of them [looked after the family while they were hospitalised].
Saw A--- and his two children recovered after two weeks of treatment at the clinic, but they waited for his wife [to finish the recovery] at the clinic. Naw H--- remained [hospitalised] at the clinic for a month as she was seriously injured from the shelling. These four injured villagers did not have to pay any expense for the treatment and medicine because they were provided free of charge by the clinic. While they were hospitalised at the clinic, no organisation provided [financial] support to the family. In the first week of May 2023, the family was discharged from the clinic and they returned to W--- village [and stayed there] for about a week. Naw H--- was afraid to continue living in the village with the children, so they went to stay at their grandmother’s house located in R--- village, T’Kaw Bo village tract, Hpa-an Township, Doo Tha Htoo District.
The SAC has been constantly conducting indiscriminate shelling into Lay Hpoh Hta village tract, K’Ter Tee village tract, Htee Th’Blut Hta village tract, and Ma Htaw village tract, located in the eastern part of Dwe Lo Township. Saw A--- is staying at W--- village, helping to build a new school building. Naw H--- and their children will return when the situation in the village is stable.
Further background reading on the situation on shelling against civilians in Southeast Myanmar can be found in the following KHRG reports:
- “Why would they target us?”: Exploring patterns of the Burma Army's retaliatory abuses against villagers across Southeast Burma, 2023 commentary
- “Doo Tha Htoo District Short Update: House burning and indiscriminate shelling in Kyeh Htoh Township”, January 2023
- “Kler Lwee Htoo District Situation Update: Arbitrary arrest, shelling, air strikes and displacement”, November 2022
- “Dooplaya District Incident Report: Threat, forced labour, indiscriminate shelling and looting in Kaw T’Ree Township”, March 15th 2023
These photos were taken on the night of April 1st 2023. These photos show how one of the mortars fired by the SAC fell into W--- village, and hit five villagers. Four villagers got injured and one was killed by the exploded mortar shrapnel. [Photos: A local villager]
Footnotes:
[1] The present document is based on information received in March 2023. It was provided by a community member in Mu Traw 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] 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.
[3] A village tract is an administrative unit of between five and 20 villages in a local area, often centred on a large village.
[4] Naw is a S’gaw Karen female honorific title used before a person’s name.
[5] Saw is a S’gaw Karen male honorific title used before a person’s name.
[6] Backpack Health Worker Team (BPHWT) is an organisation that provides health care and medical assistance to displaced civilians inside Burma.
