This Incident Report describes events occurring in K’Ser Doh Township, Mergui-Tavoy District, in January 2025. On January 7th 2025, a State Administration Council (SAC) fighter jet conducted an air strike on P--- village, Paw Hkloh area, K’Ser Doh Township, dropping a total of nine bombs. A 35-year-old villager from P--- village was severely injured all over his body by the air strike. A 33-year-old villager visiting from Z--- village, Paw Hkloh area, was also severely injured all over her body by the air strike. After the incident, the two villagers were transported by other villagers to the hospital in K’Ser Doh Township. They were eventually transported to Thailand for further treatment. In addition, one nursery school, one villager’s house, villagers’ plantations and properties were also damaged by the air strike. Since the air strike happened without fighting in the area, villagers remain full of fear and feeling anxiety, and have closed schools in response.[1]
Part 1 – Incident Details
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Type of Incident |
Type of Incident |
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Air strike by the State Administration Council (SAC)[2] injured villagers |
Air strike by the State Administration Council (SAC)[2] injured villagers |
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Type of Incident |
Date of Incident(s) |
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Air strike by the State Administration Council (SAC)[2] injured villagers |
January 7th 2025 |
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Type of Incident |
Incident Location (Village, Township and District) |
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Air strike by the State Administration Council (SAC)[2] injured villagers |
P--- village, Paw Hkloh area, K’Ser Doh Township, Mergui-Tavoy District |
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Type of Incident |
Air strike by the State Administration Council (SAC)[2] injured villagers |
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Date of Incident(s) |
January 7th 2025 |
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Incident Location (Village, Township and District) |
P--- village, Paw Hkloh area, K’Ser Doh Township, Mergui-Tavoy District |
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Victim(s) Information |
Victim(s) Information |
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Victim(s) Information |
Name |
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Saw[3] K--- | |
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Naw[4] S--- |
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Victim(s) Information |
Age |
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34 years old | |
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33 years old |
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Victim(s) Information |
Gender |
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Man | |
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Woman |
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Victim(s) Information |
Ethnicity |
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Karen | |
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Karen |
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Victim(s) Information |
Marital Status |
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Married | |
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Married |
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Victim(s) Information |
Occupation |
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Farmer | |
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Farmer |
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Victim(s) Information |
Religion |
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Christian | |
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Christian |
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Victim(s) Information |
Position |
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Youth leader in the village | |
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- |
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Victim(s) Information |
Village |
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P--- village, Paw Hkloh area, K’Ser Doh Township, Mergui-Tavoy District | |
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Z--- village, Paw Hkloh area, K’Ser Doh Township, Mergui-Tavoy District |
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Victim(s) Information |
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Name |
Saw[3] K--- |
Naw[4] S--- |
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Age |
34 years old |
33 years old |
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Gender |
Man |
Woman |
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Ethnicity |
Karen |
Karen |
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Marital Status |
Married |
Married |
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Occupation |
Farmer |
Farmer |
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Religion |
Christian |
Christian |
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Position |
Youth leader in the village |
- |
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Village |
P--- village, Paw Hkloh area, K’Ser Doh Township, Mergui-Tavoy District |
Z--- village, Paw Hkloh area, K’Ser Doh Township, Mergui-Tavoy District |
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Perpetrator Information (Armed Actors) |
Perpetrator Information (Armed Actors) |
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Perpetrator Information (Armed Actors) |
Name(s) |
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Rank | |
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Unit | |
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Base | |
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Commander’s Name |
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Perpetrator Information (Armed Actors) |
Unknown |
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Unknown | |
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SAC Air Force | |
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Myeik Town, Mergui-Tavoy District | |
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[Htun Aung serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Burma (SAC) Air Force] |
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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 Air Force |
Myeik Town, Mergui-Tavoy District |
[Htun Aung serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Burma (SAC) Air Force] |
Part 2 - Information Quality
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1. Explain in detail how this information was collected. |
1. Explain in detail how this information was collected. |
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1. Explain in detail how this information was collected. |
A KHRG researcher saw information regarding this incident on the [Mergui-Tavoy] District’s media news page [named Kwel K'lu media outlet]. Then, he contacted [Karen National Union (KNU)[5]] authorities of [K’Ser Doh] Township and their staff members. He then asked them for the detailed information. [The KHRG researcher also talked with the two victims.] |
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1. Explain in detail how this information was collected. |
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A KHRG researcher saw information regarding this incident on the [Mergui-Tavoy] District’s media news page [named Kwel K'lu media outlet]. Then, he contacted [Karen National Union (KNU)[5]] authorities of [K’Ser Doh] Township and their staff members. He then asked them for the detailed information. [The KHRG researcher also talked with the two victims.] |
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2. Explain how the source verified this information. |
2. Explain how the source verified this information. |
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2. Explain how the source verified this information. |
This information is authentic because the incident happened near the [K’Ser Doh] Township’s office. When the air strike happened, the Township authorities and their staff members witnessed it firsthand. [The KHRG researcher also talked with the two victims.] |
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2. Explain how the source verified this information. |
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This information is authentic because the incident happened near the [K’Ser Doh] Township’s office. When the air strike happened, the Township authorities and their staff members witnessed it firsthand. [The KHRG researcher also talked with the two victims.] |
Part 3 – Complete Description of the Incident
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Describe the Incident(s) in complete detail. |
Describe the Incident(s) in complete detail. |
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Describe the Incident(s) in complete detail. |
On January 7th 2025, at 11:30 am, an SAC [State Administration Council]’s fighter jet from Myeik Town, Mergui-Tavoy District, conducted an air strike into P--- village, Paw Hkloh area, K’Ser Doh Township, Mergui-Tavoy District, a few days after the celebration of the Karen New Year[6] [P--- villagers celebrated it on January 1st 2025]. This is the first time an air strike happened in the [eastern part of] Paw Hkloh area [since the February 2021 coup]. SAC troops had not stayed in the [eastern part of] Paw Hkloh area since [the second-half of] 2024 [as their camps had been captured by armed resistance forces]. The [eastern part of] Paw Hkloh area is only under KNU control.
[On January 7th 2025,] the SAC fighter jet dropped nine bombs and fired a machine gun into the [P---] village [area] as well. From the nine bombs that were dropped from the aircraft, one landed beside a villager’s house, also damaging a nearby nursery school, two [bombs] landed beside a log store and the [other] six [bombs] landed on the villagers’ plantations and hill farms.
Due to the air strike, two villagers were injured. One villager is named Saw K--- (34 years old). He is a Christian and a farmer with two children. He was injured all over his body [by the shrapnel from the explosion]. Another injured villager is Naw S--- (33 years old), a Karen woman. She is also a Christian with two children. She was also injured all over her body [by the shrapnel]. These two villagers were injured because one of the bombs landed close to them. Naw S---, who is from Z--- village, Paw Hkloh area, was visiting Saw K--- at his house in P--- village. When the air strike happened, they were standing beside Saw K---’s door, in front of his house, and having a conversation. One of the bombs from the air strike landed beside the house and exploded. The shrapnel from the explosion injured both of them severely. Saw K--- was injured on both his legs and his body. Naw S--- was also injured on her leg, her left hand was broken and she was also injured on her body.
After the air strike, other villagers [from P--- village] went to help these two injured villagers because they [other villagers] dared not go during the air strike. After that, the two injured villagers were taken to K’Ser Doh Township’s hospital [run by the KNU], which is located in J--- village, Paw Hkloh area, by those villagers who went to help them and Township [KNU] authorities. Since these two villagers were severely injured, [KNU] Township authorities organised transportation on the same night [January 7th 2025] for them to go [be transferred] to the District [hospital located] at the headquarters of [Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA)[7]] Battalion #12. Because these two injured villagers were severely injured, authorities from Battalion #12 transported them to a hospital in Thailand,located in W--- Town [in Kanchanaburi Province]. On their way [to the hospital in Thailand], the road was damaged [with a hole in the road], so they [the injured villagers] were carried [in a hammock by villagers] into Thailand [from Burma].
These two injured villagers have not received any [financial] support yet [as of January 24th 2025], so they need financial support for further treatment.
Due to the air strike, one villagers’ house, one motorbike, and plantations were damaged as well. So presently [as of January 2025], as [these two] villagers were hit [by the shrapnel from the explosion], other villagers living there [in the Paw Hkloh area] are living in fear and they are afraid [that an air strike would happen again]. So, [as of January 2025] teachers dare not open schools yet and the parents dare not let their children go to school yet.
The place the SAC conducted the air strike is an [appropriate] place for the Karen New Year celebration [because there is ample space for people to gather]. Since the SAC conducted an air strike without fighting happening, some villagers are afraid and anxious [of future strikes]. Because the air strike happened [a few days] after the celebration of Karen New Year [when villagers gathered there], some villagers are doubtful if they should celebrate the Karen New Year in the coming year or not.
[Local KNU authorities informed the KHRG researcher that the fighter jet was from Myeik Town. There is only one air base in Mergui-Tavoy District, located in Myeik Town.]. |
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Describe the Incident(s) in complete detail. |
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On January 7th 2025, at 11:30 am, an SAC [State Administration Council]’s fighter jet from Myeik Town, Mergui-Tavoy District, conducted an air strike into P--- village, Paw Hkloh area, K’Ser Doh Township, Mergui-Tavoy District, a few days after the celebration of the Karen New Year[6] [P--- villagers celebrated it on January 1st 2025]. This is the first time an air strike happened in the [eastern part of] Paw Hkloh area [since the February 2021 coup]. SAC troops had not stayed in the [eastern part of] Paw Hkloh area since [the second-half of] 2024 [as their camps had been captured by armed resistance forces]. The [eastern part of] Paw Hkloh area is only under KNU control.
[On January 7th 2025,] the SAC fighter jet dropped nine bombs and fired a machine gun into the [P---] village [area] as well. From the nine bombs that were dropped from the aircraft, one landed beside a villager’s house, also damaging a nearby nursery school, two [bombs] landed beside a log store and the [other] six [bombs] landed on the villagers’ plantations and hill farms.
Due to the air strike, two villagers were injured. One villager is named Saw K--- (34 years old). He is a Christian and a farmer with two children. He was injured all over his body [by the shrapnel from the explosion]. Another injured villager is Naw S--- (33 years old), a Karen woman. She is also a Christian with two children. She was also injured all over her body [by the shrapnel]. These two villagers were injured because one of the bombs landed close to them. Naw S---, who is from Z--- village, Paw Hkloh area, was visiting Saw K--- at his house in P--- village. When the air strike happened, they were standing beside Saw K---’s door, in front of his house, and having a conversation. One of the bombs from the air strike landed beside the house and exploded. The shrapnel from the explosion injured both of them severely. Saw K--- was injured on both his legs and his body. Naw S--- was also injured on her leg, her left hand was broken and she was also injured on her body.
After the air strike, other villagers [from P--- village] went to help these two injured villagers because they [other villagers] dared not go during the air strike. After that, the two injured villagers were taken to K’Ser Doh Township’s hospital [run by the KNU], which is located in J--- village, Paw Hkloh area, by those villagers who went to help them and Township [KNU] authorities. Since these two villagers were severely injured, [KNU] Township authorities organised transportation on the same night [January 7th 2025] for them to go [be transferred] to the District [hospital located] at the headquarters of [Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA)[7]] Battalion #12. Because these two injured villagers were severely injured, authorities from Battalion #12 transported them to a hospital in Thailand,located in W--- Town [in Kanchanaburi Province]. On their way [to the hospital in Thailand], the road was damaged [with a hole in the road], so they [the injured villagers] were carried [in a hammock by villagers] into Thailand [from Burma].
These two injured villagers have not received any [financial] support yet [as of January 24th 2025], so they need financial support for further treatment.
Due to the air strike, one villagers’ house, one motorbike, and plantations were damaged as well. So presently [as of January 2025], as [these two] villagers were hit [by the shrapnel from the explosion], other villagers living there [in the Paw Hkloh area] are living in fear and they are afraid [that an air strike would happen again]. So, [as of January 2025] teachers dare not open schools yet and the parents dare not let their children go to school yet.
The place the SAC conducted the air strike is an [appropriate] place for the Karen New Year celebration [because there is ample space for people to gather]. Since the SAC conducted an air strike without fighting happening, some villagers are afraid and anxious [of future strikes]. Because the air strike happened [a few days] after the celebration of Karen New Year [when villagers gathered there], some villagers are doubtful if they should celebrate the Karen New Year in the coming year or not.
[Local KNU authorities informed the KHRG researcher that the fighter jet was from Myeik Town. There is only one air base in Mergui-Tavoy District, located in Myeik Town.]. |
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. |
Did the victim(s) provide permission to use this information? Explain how that permission was provided. |
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Did the victim(s) provide permission to use this information? Explain how that permission was provided. |
KHRG was allowed to use this information by [K’Ser Doh Township] local [KNU] authorities and villagers. The injured villagers, Saw K--- and Naw S---, also gave permission for this information to be published. |
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Did the victim(s) provide permission to use this information? Explain how that permission was provided. |
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KHRG was allowed to use this information by [K’Ser Doh Township] local [KNU] authorities and villagers. The injured villagers, Saw K--- and Naw S---, also gave permission for this information to be published. |
Further background reading on the situation of air strikes in Southeast Burma/Myanmar can be found in the following KHRG reports:
- ကဘီယူၤဟဲလံ Aircraft coming! : Impacts of air strikes on local communities and villagers’ protection strategies in Southeast Burma since the 2021 coup. November 2024.
- “Dooplaya District Situation Update: SAC air strikes and shelling caused death, injury, damage, and displacement in Kaw T’Ree Township (December 2023 to March 2024)”, March 2025.
- “Kler Lwee Htoo District Short Update: SAC drone strikes and indiscriminate shelling caused casualties, destruction, and livelihood and education challenges in Ler Doh Township (November to December 2024)”, March 2025.
- “Mu Traw District Short Update: SAC air strikes destroying civilian houses and property and causing displacement and livelihood challenges in Bu Tho and Dwe Lo Townships (April 2024)”, February 2025.
KHRG received these photos from a local villager on January 7th 2025. The two photos above show two villagers, named Saw K--- (34 years old) and Naw S--- (33 years old), who were injured by an SAC air strike that occurred on January 7th 2025, in P--- village, Paw Hkloh area, K’Ser Doh Township, Mergui-Tavoy District. The photo on the bottom left shows pieces of one of the bombs. The photo on the bottom right shows a villager’s motorbike that was damaged by the air strike. [Photos: Local villager]
These photos were taken by a KHRG researcher in January 2025, in P--- village, Paw Hkloh area, K’Ser Doh Township, Mergui-Tavoy District. On January 7th 2025, an SAC fighter jet dropped nine bombs on P--- village, causing damage to a villager’s house, a nursery school, and villagers’ plantations. Two villagers were also injured. The photo on the top left shows the damaged house. The photo on the top right shows the damaged school. The two photos in the middle row show the damaged plantations. The two photos on the bottom row show the shrapnel pieces of a bomb dropped by the SAC. [Photos: KHRG]
Footnotes:
[1] The present document is based on information received in January 2025. It was provided by a community member in Mergui-Tavoy 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. This document combines several received reports with the following KHRG internal log numbers: #25-13-D1 and #25-13-I1.
[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] ‘Saw’ is a S’gaw Karen male honorific title used before a person’s name.
[4] ‘Naw’ is a S’gaw Karen female honorific title used before a person’s name.
[5] The Karen National Union (KNU) is the main Karen political organisation. It was established in 1947 and has been in conflict with the government since 1949. The KNU wields power across large areas of Southeast Myanmar and has been calling for the creation of a democratic federal system since 1976. Although it signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) in 2015, following the 2021 coup staged by Burma Army leaders, the KNU officially stated that the NCA has become void.
[6] The Karen calendar is lunar, and Karen New Year generally falls between 15 December and 15 January on the English calendar. This year Karen New Year, the first day of Thalay month of the year 2764, fell on 30th December 2024. Karen villagers throughout Burma, Thailand and other countries celebrate with ceremonies, speeches, giving gifts to elders, music, Don Dance competitions and feasting. Sometimes the celebration is held on a later date based on villagers’ availability.
[7] The Karen National Liberation Army is the armed wing of the Karen National Union.
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