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Print:This Incident Report describes events occurring in Moo (Mone) Township, Kler Lwee Htoo (Nyaunglebin) District, during March 2025. On March 7th 2025, the State Administration Council (SAC)’s Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) #599 shelled two 120 mm mortar shells into Zy--- village, Kyun Pin Hseik village tract. The first mortar shell injured three villagers, including an 8-year-old girl. Then, the second mortar shell injured three more villagers, including one woman. SAC shelling had happened in the village once every two weeks for many months prior to the attack. Because the Burma Army soldiers indiscriminately shelled into the village, villagers felt insecure. Some villagers dug makeshift bunkers after the attack to protect themselves. Some villagers fled to places where they thought they would be safer.[1]
Part 1 – Incident Details
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Type of Incident |
Mortar shelling by the State Administration Council (SAC)[2] injured six villagers. |
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Date of Incident(s) |
March 7th 2025. |
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Incident Location (Village, Township and District) |
Zy--- village, Kyun Pin Hseik village tract[3], Moo Township, Kler Lwee Htoo District. |
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Victim Information |
||||||
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Name |
Ma[4] N--- |
Maung[5] J--- |
U[6] W--- |
Ma B--- |
Maung X--- |
U T--- |
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Age |
8 years old |
37 years old |
49 years old |
30 years old |
24 years old |
58 years old |
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Gender |
Girl |
Man |
Man |
Woman |
Man |
Man |
|
Ethnicity |
Bamar[7] |
Bamar |
Bamar |
Bamar |
Bamar |
Bamar |
|
Marital Status |
- |
Unknown |
Married |
Married |
Single |
Single |
|
Occupation |
Student |
Daily wage worker |
Daily wage worker |
Daily wage worker |
Daily wage worker |
Daily wage worker |
|
Religion |
Buddhist |
Buddhist |
Buddhist |
Buddhist |
Buddhist |
Buddhist |
|
Position |
- [Villager] |
- [Villager] |
- [Villager] |
- [Villager] |
- [Villager] |
- [Villager] |
|
Village |
Zy--- village, Kyun Pin Hseik village tract |
Zy--- village, Kyun Pin Hseik village tract |
Zy--- village, Kyun Pin Hseik village tract |
Zy--- village, Kyun Pin Hseik village tract |
Zy--- village, Kyun Pin Hseik village tract |
Zy--- village, Kyun Pin Hseik village tract |
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Perpetrator Information (Armed Actors) |
||||
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Name(s) |
Rank |
Unit |
Base |
Commander’s Name |
|
Unknown (SAC soldiers) |
Unknown |
Light Infantry Battalion (LIB)[8] #599 |
To Taw village, Moo special area[9], Moo Township, Kler Lwee Htoo District. |
Unknown |
Part 2 - Information Quality
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1. Explain in detail how this information was collected. |
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On March 8th 2025, a KHRG researcher went to meet a local leader [specific position censored for security] from Noh Nya Lah village tract [under the Karen National Union (KNU)[10]], in Moo Township, and questioned him about the situation in the area. He [the village tract leader] informed the KHRG researcher that, on the previous day [March 7th 2025], Burma Army[11] soldiers from LIB #599 based at To Taw village [Moo special area] shelled two mortar rounds, both of which landed onto Zy--- village, causing injuries [to villagers]. Because of this, the researcher went to meet with a local leader from Kyun Pin Hseik village tract [specific position censored for security]. The local KNU leader notified local villagers so the researcher could conduct interviews with them. |
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2. Explain how the source verified this information. |
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[Two of] the victims, named U W--- and Ma B---, and the mother of the 8-year-old victim, named Daw[12] I---, provided the information to a KHRG researcher. Since the interviewees included two of the victims and a person who was present at the time of the incident, this information is verified. |
Part 3 – Complete Description of the Incident
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Describe the Incident(s) in complete detail. |
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On March 7th 2025, at 3:30 pm and 3:35 pm, the Burma Army’s LIB [Light Infantry Battalion] #599, based in To Taw village, [Moo special area, Moo Township, Kler Lwee Htoo District] indiscriminately shelled two 120mm mortar rounds into Zy--- village, Kyun Pin Hseik village tract, Moo Township. Villagers stated that they heard the mortar being fired from the [direction of] LIB #599 camp [located in To Taw village]. The LIB #599 camp is only 20 minutes away from Zy--- village by motorbike.
The mortar shells landed at the centre of the village, nearby villagers’ houses. Therefore, six villagers from Zy--- village were injured in total by the shrapnel from the mortar shells’ explosion.
3:30 pm: SAC fires first mortar shell into Zy--- village, injuring three The first mortar shell was fired at 3:30 pm. The mortar shell landed and exploded in the [Zy---] village causing injuries to three villagers. U W--- (49 years old) was wounded on his shoulder. Maung J--- (37 years old) was wounded on his left hand. An 8-year-old girl named Ma N--- was also injured by the mortar shell. She was about 100 steps away from the two others who were injured by the shell when she was hit. She [Ma N---] was wounded on her ear and the back of her head [right behind her ear]. After, she was transported [from the village] by a medic [a local healthcare worker assigned by KNU authorities] and her dad to Jw--- hospital, located in Jw--- village, Win Swel village tract, Moo Township, and administered by the KDHW [Karen Department of Health and Welfare[13]]. The hospital is about 5-6 minutes from the village by motorbike. She was hospitalised for three to four days following the incident. The wound from the injuries was stitched with 13 stitches. [The villagers had to pay for the treatment themselves, although the exact cost of treatment is unknown to KHRG.]
The explosion of the mortar shells also damaged three or four villagers’ houses. The roofs, walls, and wooden pillars of these houses were lightly damaged by the shrapnel.
Ma N---’s mother, named Daw I--- (35 years old), detailed the incident as it happened to her daughter. As she recounted: “On that day [March 7th 2025], I went out to the shop to buy some things with my daughter. We [decided to] come home after we shopped. Before we went to the shop, we entered [visited] my mom’s house. My mom charged her torchlight at my house and asked her granddaughter [Ma N---] to bring her torchlight. So, I asked my daughter to take the torchlight to my mom. At that time, she did not use the road. [Instead], she used [crawled through] a hole in the garden[’s fence] to enter her grandmom’s house [property]. A boy and I were picking moringa fruits at a place near where my child [her daughter] was injured. The boy [who was picking moringa with Daw I---] was on the [moringa] tree, and my daughter was about to cross from the other garden to come to me. While she [her daughter] was crossing, the mortar shell landed… ‘Daaan…’ [sound of mortar shell explosion]. My child was holding a bowl since she was eating ice cream [shaved ice]. She was hit by shrapnel and fell down in the dust [on the ground]. She was crawling and crying. […] Next, I called to my daughter, ‘Daughter…come here. Come to mom.’ But my daughter did not come. Then I asked her, ‘What happened to you?’. She did not reply to me. She only cried. So, I thought her eardrums were broken. […] I carried my daughter right away and ran into my house to get her dad’s longyi [piece of clothing] to stop the bleeding. Another mortar shell landed when I was sitting, trying to stop my daughter’s bleeding. My daughter cried and told me, ‘Mom… I have a headache and want to sleep’”. Daw I--- added: “At that time [when the incident happened] it was the conflict situation [one could hear gunfire], so we could not call the medic. […] He [the medic] came to carry my daughter by himself with his motorbike after the situation improved for a bit. Then, her dad and the medic carried my daughter on the car and transported my daughter to a hospital located in Jw--- village by car.”
The [49-year-old] victim named U W---, from Zy--- village, stated: “Regarding the SAC shelling in the village, in my opinion, they [SAC soldiers] might assume that their enemy [armed resistance forces] would be in the village. So, they targeted the village and fired mortar shells into it. But actually, there are only civilians in the village, and none of their enemies are in the village. […] Due to the SAC shelling in the village, some villagers fled from the village, and some villagers remained in the village. To tell the truth, I was not able to flee [at the time of the shelling] and no longer want to flee [from my village]. [Even if we are alive,] it’s no different than if we die [in the present situation in Burma]. I decided for myself like that. If they [SAC] want to kill me, ‘go ahead and kill me’. I cannot do anything anymore.”
3:35 pm: SAC fires second mortar shell into Zy--- village, injuring three other At 3:35 pm, five minutes after the SAC fired the first mortar round, they shelled another mortar round. The second mortar shell also landed in the village [Zy--- village] and injured three Zy--- villagers, part of one family. [The second shell landed approximately 20 feet away from the first shell.] The injured family members included 58-year-old U T---, who was injured on the right side of his knee and on his right buttock by the SAC mortar shelling. His 24-year-old son, named Maung X---, was injured on his right thigh. His right thigh bone was broken, and he was also injured below his right knee by the shrapnel from the explosion. The 30-year-old daughter of U T---, named Ma B---, was also wounded on her left leg.
These three family members were in their house when the mortar shell landed and exploded. There were no other family members in the house at the time of the attack. So, all three were injured at the same time by the same mortar shell [but by different pieces of shrapnel]. However, Maung X--- and his father [U T---] were severely injured. Therefore, they [Maung X--- and U T---] were transported to a temporary hospital located in Yv--- village, P’Nah Wah Plaw village tract, Moo Township, administered by KDHW. Since Ma B--- was not severely injured, she was taken to Zy--- hospital for treatment. [The villagers received support from their relatives to cover the cost of treatment.]
The [30-year-old] victim named Ma B---, from Zy--- village, expressed her feelings: “I was afraid, scared, and shaking [when hearing the mortar shell land]. I was thinking that, ‘Is this armed conflict not over yet?’. I really worried that I would die. I want my family, villagers, and civilians to be safe from potential harm or threats to their life. Everyone is afraid to die. I pray it will not happen again.”
Zy--- villagers flee SAC shelling Since the SAC soldiers conducted mortar shelling, the villagers [from Zy--- village] faced injury and were concerned and panicked. Consequently, some of the villagers have fled to other places to avoid potential harm and threats to their lives. They no longer dare to stay in their village. [If they stayed,] they have to always remain cautious. They dug makeshift bunkers [to hide from the shelling, air strikes, and drone strikes] and need to work cautiously according to the situation. Regarding the situation in their area, they need to travel cautiously whenever they hear the sound of mortar shelling.
Villagers stated that SAC shelling had happened in the village around once every two weeks for many months prior to the attack. Some of the villagers had fled before the incident and returned to the village after the incident to continue working for their survival. Many of the villagers are daily wage workers and often sell fish for income in order to secure their livelihoods. After they were displaced following the incident, they were unable to continue fishing or doing their daily work. |
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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KHRG was allowed to publish this information by the [two] victims [interviewed: U W--- and Ma B---,] and [Daw I---,] the mother of the underage victim. The victims would like people [around the world] to know about the [human rights] violations committed by Burma Army military. Villagers would like relevant stakeholders to punish the Burma Army military for what they have done as ‘it is what they deserve’. In order for there to be peace in Burma, [international stakeholders must make] the Burma Army dare not continue conducting human rights violations again and again. |
Further background reading on the situation on SAC shelling in Kler Lwee Htoo District in Southeast Burma/Myanmar can be found in the following KHRG reports:
- “Kler Lwee Htoo District Incident Report: SAC shelling injured a villager in Moo Township (December 2024)”, June 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
- ‘Undeniable: War crimes, crimes against humanity and 30 years of villagers’ testimonies in rural Southeast Burma, December 2022
These five photos were taken by a KHRG researcher in March 2025, in Zy--- village, Kyun Pin Hseik village tract, Moo Township, Kler Lwee Htoo District. The photos show the damage caused by the shells fired into Zy--- village on March 7th 2025, by the SAC’s LIB #599, who are based in To Taw village. [Photos: KHRG]
These four photos were taken in March 2025 by a KHRG researcher in a temporary hospital located in Yv--- village, P’Nah Wah Plaw village tract, Moo Township, Kler Lwee Htoo District. The photos show the injuries caused by one of two 120 mm mortar shells fired by the SAC’s LIB #599 into Zy--- village, Kyun Pin Hseik village tract, Moo Township. The two photos on the top show 58-year-old U T---, who was injured on the side of his right knee and on his right buttock by shrapnel from the shell explosion at his house. The two photos below show the 24-year-old son of U T---, named Maung X---, who was injured on his right thigh. Shrapnel from the SAC shelling broke his right thigh and injured him below his right knee. [Photos: KHRG]
These photos were taken by a KHRG researcher in March 2025, in Zy--- village, Kyun Pin Hseik village tract, Moo Township, Kler Lwee Htoo District. The first four photos show the damage to two buildings caused by the March 7th 2025 shelling by the SAC’s LIB #599 into the village. The other two photos show the tail pieces of the mortar shells that the SAC fired. [Photos: KHRG]
Footnotes:
[1] The present document is based on information received in March 2025. It was provided by community members in Kler Lwee Htoo District who have 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: #25-92-I1, #25-92-D1, #25-92-A1-I1, #25-92-A2-I2, #25-87-P1, #25-87-D1, and #25-87-A1-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. The military junta changed its name in July 31st 2025 to State Security and Peace Commission (SSPC).
[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] ‘Ma’ is a Burmese female honorific title used before a person’s name.
[5] ‘Maung’ is a Burmese male honorific title used before a person’s name.
[6] ‘U’ is a Burmese male honorific title used before a person’s name.
[7] The majority ethnic group in Myanmar, also known as ethnic Burmese or Burman.
[8] A Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) comprises 500 soldiers. 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.
[9] Special Areas or Special Regions are areas that are under KNU-control or mixed-control with the Burma Army. Following the 2021 coup that reinvigorated the armed conflict in Southeast Burma, the KNU has claimed back some of these areas after seizing them or after the withdrawal of SAC troops or SAC administration. The KNU refers to these areas as Special Areas or Special Regions as they are not formally under KNU administration, but in the process of forming their governance. The SAC also refers to areas in Southeast Burma as Special Areas. This refers to areas that they do not have full control over.
[10] 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.
[11] The terms Burma military, Burma Army, and SAC are used interchangeably throughout this report to describe Burma’s armed forces. Villagers themselves commonly use Burma Army, Burmese soldiers, or alternatively the name adopted by the Burma military regime at the time -since the 2021 coup, the State Administration Council (SAC).
[12] ‘Daw’ is a Burmese female honorific title used before a person’s name.
[13] The Karen Department of Health and Welfare (KDHW) is the health department of the Karen National Union. It was established in 1956 to address the lack of public healthcare resources in rural Southeast Myanmar. It currently operates a network of community-based clinics in the region, but its capabilities remain limited due to funding constraints.
