Type of Incident

A villager was killed by SAC shelling

Date of Incident(s)

June 30th 2023

Incident Location

(Village, Township and District)

C--- village, Noh T’Kaw village tract[2], Noh T’Kaw Township, Dooplaya District.

Victim Information

Name

Saw[3] S---                                                                               

Age

44

Sex

Male

Nationality

Karen

Marital status    

Single

Occupation

Gardener

Religion

Christian

Position

-

Village

C--- village, Noh T’Kaw village tract, Noh T’Kaw Township, Dooplaya District.

Perpetrator Information (Armed Actors)

Name(s)           

Rank

Unit

Base

Commander’s Name

Unknown

Unknown

Infantry Battalion (IB)[4] #283

Ther Ter (Thon Taing) village, Noh T’Kaw village tract, Noh T’Kaw Township.

Unknown

1. Explain in detail how you collected this information.

A KHRG researcher received this information from Saw D---, a local leader from Noh T’Kaw village tract, and collected information from villagers living where the incident happened.

2. Explain how the source verified this information.

The KHRG researcher interviewed Saw D---, a local leader, regarding this incident. The KHRG researcher also spoke with villagers from C--- village, the victim’s village.

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.

Since the February 2021 military coup, fighting has frequently occurred in Noh T’Kaw Township, Dooplaya District, between State Administration Council (SAC)[5] forces and local armed resistance forces. On January 4th 2023, the SAC conducted air strikes and indiscriminate shelling on Noh T’Kaw village tract, Noh T’Kaw Township, Dooplaya District. On this occasion, there were no properties damaged or people killed.

In another incident [on an unknown date in early 2023], the SAC fired rounds of mortar onto the village road in C--- village, Noh T’Kaw village tract, Noh T’Kaw Township, Dooplaya District, killing a villager’s cow. After they fired the mortars, SAC soldiers came into the village and threatened and tortured the cattle’s owner, named Saw L---, accusing him of having connections with the People’s Defence Force (PDF)[6] and Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA)[7]. Some of Saw L---’s belongings were damaged by the SAC soldiers.

On June 29th 2023, at 6pm, KNLA Battalion #17, Company #2, and PDF forces attacked SAC Infantry Battalion (IB) #283, located close to Ther Ter (Tho Taing) village, Noh T’Kaw village tract, Noh T’Kaw Township, Dooplaya District, by drone. In retaliation, the SAC indiscriminately fired rounds of mortar into C--- village. Some villagers took shelter in bunkers. The SAC continued to shell mortars into the village until 11 pm. Three houses were damaged by the shelling. One house was seriously damaged, and the other two houses were less severely damaged. Saw D---, a local leader from C--- village, explained: “On June 29th 2023, the SAC soldiers shelled mortar shells into our village [C--- village]. Four mortar shells landed in the village. One of the mortar shells landed on a villager’s house, but no one was injured because the house owner was not in the house. The house owner might have died if they had stayed in the house. One of the mortar shells landed on the road in the village, and the nearby houses were damaged by the shrapnel of the mortar shells. For instance, the mirrors, walls, and roofs of the house were broken.”

Once again, on June 30th 2023, at about 8 pm, SAC soldiers fired rounds of mortar into C--- village, killing Saw S---, a 44-year-old villager. He was seriously injured on his head and arm from shrapnel whilst lying in a hammock outside his house. Other villagers did not know he was injured at the time, but a villager found his body the next morning and it appeared he had died instantly. As explained by Saw D---, the local leader, “On June 30th 2023, the SAC shelled mortar shells and landed between C--- and M--- villages. Due to this shelling, a villager was killed by the shrapnel of the mortar shells. The shrapnel of the mortar shells hit his head and arm, so he passed away immediately.”

Due to the shelling and the ongoing SAC operations, some villagers fled from their village to another area [unidentified place]. However, as villagers are unable to predict the situation, most continue to live in the village and wait to see how the situation unfolds. It is difficult for villagers to relocate to another area because of [SAC’s] travel restrictions. Moreover, it is challenging for villagers to continue their livelihood activities if they relocate to another area [such as lacking ability to start new jobs in a new area]. Saw D--- added: “SAC’s operations caused fear and worry for the villagers. The villagers were facing challenges due to this killing incident. This kind of incident has an impact on villagers both physically and mentally. We always thought about when the shelling would happen. Our fear is increasing gradually. As civilians, we want to have the freedom to travel, work, and live. We want to live our lives without fear. We want the human rights organisations and international leaders [stakeholders] to consider us and have better plans for civilians.”

Did the victim(s) provide permission to use this information? Explain how that permission was provided.

The local leader interviewed provided permission for the information to be used.