This Situation Update describes events occurring in Tha Htoo (Thaton) Township, Doo Tha Htoo (Thaton) District during the period between February and November 2023, including State Administration Council (SAC) shelling and looting, as well as villagers’ displacement and landmine contamination. During the reporting period, the SAC military conducted indiscriminate shelling at least 25 times, firing 135 mortar rounds. As a result, five villagers died (including two children) and 26 villagers (including nine children) were injured. Livestock was also affected, including 22 cattle killed. Property was also destroyed: 17 houses, four monastery buildings, critical infrastructure, and a car were also destroyed by the SAC’s shelling. 20 civilian houses and 26 rubber trees were damaged. Villagers fled for their safety and SAC military looted their properties from their houses. A landmine-related incident was also reported, that injured a villager and her 12-year-old daughter while they were foraging in the forest.[1]
February 2023: SAC shelling caused injuries and property destruction
On February 9th 2023, at 6:30 am, State Administration Council (SAC)[2] Artillery Unit #314 [based in Kya T’Raw (Zi Won) army base, in Shwe Yaung Pya village tract] shelled several mortars in Tha Htoo Township, Doo Tha Htoo District. One of the mortar rounds landed on Saw[3] A---’s plantation in B--- village, Ka Ti Pu village tract[4], Tha Htoo Township, and his rubber trees and betel nut leaf plants[5] were destroyed by the explosion. One of the mortar rounds also landed on Saw A---’s rubber tree plantation, so his 11 trees were destroyed [by the explosion].
On February 9th 2023, at 10:06 am, SAC Artillery Unit #314 shelled several 80mm mortars at a rubber plantation nearby C--- village, Shwe Yaung Pya village tract, Tha Htoo Township, in Karen National Union (KNU)[6]-controlled territory. Two of the mortar rounds landed in Naw[7] D---’s rubber plantation, damaging her 13 rubber trees. Shrapnel also hit a 52-year-old villager named Saw E---, injuring [his face, on] his eyebrow.
April 2023: SAC shelling and landmine incident
On April 2nd 2023, SAC troops [unknown battalion] entered KNU-controlled territory in Tha Htoo Township and were attacked by [combined troops from Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA)[8] and People’s Defence Force (PDF)[9]] on the way to enter Tha Htoo Township. During the skirmishes, SAC Artillery Unit #9, based in Ah Lah T’Ya army camp [located in Ah Lah T’Ya village tract, Tha Htoo Township] shelled several mortars around the fighting area to help their troops [as reinforcement]. Three of the mortar rounds landed beside F--- village, Htee Nya Paw village tract. One of the mortar explosions injured two children who were collecting plums. The injured children are Saw G--- (17 years old), who was injured in his knee, and Saw H--- (16 years old), who was injured in his thigh. They were taken to a local clinic for treatment. The villagers [from F--- village] did not flee, but they were fearful and waiting to see the situation [if there will be more SAC attacks].
On April 3rd 2023, Border Guard Force (BGF)[10] forces led by General No Way, entered I--- village, in Hpa-An Township, and shelled multiple mortars toward Tha Htoo Township. One of the mortar rounds landed on a village farm in J--- village, Waw Poo village tract, Tha Htoo Township, and injured a 63-year-old villager named Saw K---.
On April 6th 2023, at about 3:30 pm, Naw L--- (30 years old) and her daughter, Naw M--- (12 years old), were going out from their village [N--- village, Win Raw village tract, Tha Htoo Township] to search for Kaempferia candida Wallich [one type of local edible flower]. They stepped on a [handmade] landmine on their way to N--- forest, and both of them were injured [by the landmine’s shrapnel]. Naw L--- was injured on her hip, back and right leg, and Naw M--- was injured on her abdomen, legs, hand and her whole face, including her right eye. Therefore, they had to seek medical treatment in N--- village clinic, Win Raw village tract, Tha Htoo Township, run by local KNU. Villagers do not know which armed group planted this landmine because both SAC and KNLA operate there, and fighting often occurred in this area.
On April 6th 2023, at 7:40 am, SAC Military Operation Command (MOC)[11] #8, based in P’Nweh Klah army camp, Maw Lay village tract, Tha Htoo Township, shelled several mortar rounds around their army camp. Two of the mortar rounds landed in O---village, Maw Lay village tract, Tha Htoo Township, and damaged a house and plantations owned by a villager named Naw P---.
Another mortar round landed in Q--- village, Maw Lay village tract, Tha Htoo Township, and damaged three villagers’ houses owned by Saw R---, Saw S---, Naw T--- and Saw U---, one shop owned by Naw V---, and some coconut trees. This [second] mortar explosion injured a 55-year-old villager named Naw W--- on the hip, and a 66-year-old villager named Saw X--- on his left thumb. The explosion also injured a goat owned by Saw Y---.
May 2023: SAC shelling caused casualties and property destruction
On May 27th 2023, at 9 am, SAC Artillery Unit #314 based in Kya T’Raw (Zi Won) army camp in Shwe Yaung Pya village tract, Tha Htoo Township, shelled seven mortar rounds in Tha Htoo Township. Two of the mortar rounds landed in the compound of a monastery in Z--- village, Sway Yaw Pya village tract, and shrapnel from the explosion injured five people. The first injured person is a novice monk named U[12] Aa--- (24 years old), injured on his waist, hand, leg and other parts of his whole body. The second injured person is novice Ashin[13] Ab--- (19-year-old), injured on his hand and right leg. The third injured person is novice Ashin Ac--- (13 years old), injured on his neck. The fourth injured person is Saw Ad--- (16 years old), injured on his right thigh. The fifth injured person is Saw Ae--- (27 years old), injured on his hand and leg. The injured people were sent to a local clinic under KNU administration, and received treatment.
Shrapnel also destroyed a Buddha statue, a monastery’s hall, wall, preaching hall, kitchen, light post, water storage, and three pots. Another two mortars landed at Z--- village grave, Shwe Yaw Pya village tract, without causing any casualties. Three of the mortar rounds landed into Af--- village, Daw Ya village tract, and two of the rounds exploded. Shrapnel from the mortar explosions damaged one house and killed one cattle. Two 15-year-old villagers named Saw Ag--- and Saw Ah--- were also killed by the shrapnel. Saw Aq--- was seriously injured on his head and died at the incident place. Saw Ah--- was gravely injured in his stomach, and also died at the incident place.
June 2023: SAC shelling caused displacement
[During the month of June,] SAC Artillery Unit #314, based in Kya T’Raw (Zi Won), Shwe Yaung Pya village tract, Tha Htoo Township, continuously shelled mortars at villages around their army camp, so many villagers had to flee. One of the incidents occurred on June 8th 2023, when the SAC’s mortar rounds landed in Ak--- village, Kaw Ler village tract, so villagers had to flee from their village.
July 2023: SAC shelling caused casualties and property destruction
On July 7th 2023, at 11:05 am, SAC Artillery Unit #314 based in Kya T'Raw army camp, Kya T’Raw village, Shwe Yaw Pya village tract, Tha Htoo Township, shelled mortars at Al--- village, Shwe Yaw Pya village tract. The shrapnel injured six villagers, and one of them died at a local clinic on July 9th 2023. Villagers helped the six injured villagers with emergency first aid and transportation to seek medical treatment at a local clinic in Am--- village, under KNU administration. The six injured villagers were one man, Saw An--- (25 years old, injured on his right hand); one boy, Saw Ao--- (5 years old, injured at his leg and the right side of the neck); one girl, Naw Ap--- (9 years old, injured at the left side of head, near her ear); and three women named Naw As--- (58 years old), Naw Aq--- (18 years old), and Naw Ar--- (57 years old, injured on her hip). Naw Ar--- died at the clinic on July 9th 2023.
The mortar explosions also damaged three houses and some properties owned by Naw At--, Naw Au--- and Naw Av---, including solar panels.
On July 27th 2023, between 4:55 am and 10:30 pm, a skirmish happened [between SAC soldiers and KNLA/PDF soldiers] at SAC’s Way Raw army camp. SAC LIB #9, based in Wa Pa (Win Pa) army camp, Wa Pa village tract, Tha Htoo Township, conducted an artillery barrage consisting of four series of shelling around the area where the skirmish was happening at Way Raw army camp [to assist the SAC soldiers]. During the first shelling, nine of the mortar shells landed and exploded in N--- village, Way Raw village tract, near a school campus, and injured four villagers. [There were no lessons taking place at the time of the shelling, but many villagers live near the school campus and were injured]. The four injured villagers were Saw Aw--- (48 years old, injured at his right leg); Saw Ax--- (17 years old, injured at the right side of his back); Naw Ay--- (13 years old, injured on her left hand); and Naw Az--- (54 years old, injured on her right hand).
During the second shelling, nine mortar shells landed in an area between Ba--- village, T’No village tract, and Bb--- village, Way Raw village tract. Five shells landed in Nya Htee Kyo place, four shells landed in Mee Chaw Koh [place], and five shells landed next to T’Rweh Kloh stream, in Way Raw village tract, without causing any casualties. [A total of 23 shells landed in these villages and nearby areas.]
During the third shelling, 14 mortar shells landed in Bb--- village, Way Raw village tract, and caused a large amount of destruction in the village, including two monastery buildings, cars, and 13 houses. The houses are owned by Naw Bc---, Saw Bd---, Naw Be---, Naw Bf---, Saw Bg---, Saw Bh---, Saw Bi--, Saw Bj---, Saw Bk---, Naw Bl---, Saw Bm---, Saw Bn--- and Saw Bo---. Entry signposts of village clinics and the monastery were also damaged by the mortar explosions. Shrapnel from the explosions also killed two cattle owned by Saw Bp---, three cattle owned by Saw Bq---, and one cattle owned by Naw Br---.
During the fourth shelling, at 1:30 pm, SAC mortar rounds also landed in Bs--- village, Sway Yaw Pya village tract, and the shrapnel injured a 37-year-old villager named Saw Bt--- on his right hip.
July 2023: Houses damaged by SAC shelling and looting of villagers’ properties
In July and early August 2023, SAC troops (under Light Infantry Division (LID)[14] #44) shelled mortars and looted villagers’ belongings in Bs--- village, Shwe Yaw Pyaw village tract. The mortar explosions damaged eight villagers’ houses.
The eight damaged houses are owned by Naw Bu--- (50 years old), Tee[15] Bv--- (50 years old), Naw Bw--- (40 years old), Saw Bx--- (55 years old), Saw By--- (35 years old), Tee Bz--- (70 years old), Saw Ca--- (45 years old) and Naw Cb---(45 years old).
Table 1: names of victims and list of properties looted
No. [of victims] | Villager | Property/Item | Amount | Remark [location] |
1. | Naw Bw--- (40 years old) | Beer | 4 packs | Shop |
Eggs | 10 packs [30 eggs/pack] | |||
'Super' [brand] coffee | N/A | |||
'Birdy' [brand] coffee | N/A | |||
Soy milk | N/A | |||
Lychee drink | N/A | |||
'Mi Na Ga' [brand] energy drink | N/A | |||
'Kaung Yee' [a type of Myanmar traditional wine] | N/A | |||
Sprite brand [Soda] | N/A | |||
Battery (Energy Storage) [for the house electricity] | N/A | |||
Lighter | N/A | |||
Chili | N/A | |||
'Sa Po' [brand] Rice | N/A | |||
Karen [Traditional] bags | N/A | |||
Oil | N/A | |||
Rice | 3 bags | |||
Chickens | 4 chickens | |||
Coca-Cola drink | N/A | |||
Snacks | N/A | |||
Dee Do drink (Juice) | N/A | |||
Phone top-up cards | 100,000 kyats[16] [USD 47.61] | |||
Cigarettes | N/A | |||
Shoes | N/A | |||
Dry fish | N/A | |||
2. | Saw Cc--- (34 years old) | Beer | 2 packs [32 bottle per pack] | Shop |
Phone top-up cards | 250,000 kyats [USD 119.03] | |||
'Kaung Yee' [local wine] |
1 bag (20,000 kyats) [USD 9.52] | |||
'Super' coffee | 12 packs | |||
Candles | 70 packs [around 25 candles per pack] | |||
'Birdy' [brand] Coffee | 5 packs | |||
Umbrella | [worth] 10,000 kyats [USD 4.76] | |||
MSG [monosodium glutamate; seasoning powder] | 10 packs | |||
Oil | 3 litre | |||
Onions | 3 bags [unknown amount] | |||
Garlic | 1 bag | |||
Soy Milk | 1 pack | |||
Cigarettes | 25 packs | |||
Rice | 1 sack | |||
Chicken | 3 chickens | |||
'Ruby' [brand] cigarettes | 6 packs | |||
3. | Saw Cd--- (36 years old) | Rice | N/A | Shop |
Garlic | N/A | |||
Onion | N/A | |||
Small knives | 2 | |||
4. | Saw Ce--- (64 years old) | Female clothes | 22 pieces | House |
Male clothes | 20 pieces | |||
Chicken | 15 chickens | |||
Muscovy duck | 1 duck | |||
Wedding gift pack [likely to be new clothes, household materials, kitchen materials etc.] | [worth] 500,000 kyats [USD 238.05] | |||
All new clothes | All from his house | |||
New blankets | 9 pieces | |||
Broken glass or cabinet | N/A | |||
Money | 600,000 kyats [USD 285.67] | |||
Battery | 5 unit | |||
5. | Saw Cf--- (N/A age) | Battery | 1 unit | House |
6. | Saw Cg--- (N/A age) | Chicken | 6 chickens | House |
7. | Nw Ch--- (65 years old) | Rice | N/A | House |
Chicken | 6 chickens | |||
Clothes | 12 pieces | |||
Blanket | 5 pieces | |||
8. | Saw Ci--- (N/A age) | Chicken | 5 chickens | House |
9. | Naw Cj--- (51 years old) | Pig | 1 pig | House |
Chicken | 1 chicken | |||
Rice | All rice she had | |||
Oil | All oil she had | |||
Clothes | 30 pieces | |||
Tarpaulin | 1 piece | |||
Lamp | 1 (worth 90,000 kyats) [USD 42.85] | |||
Clothes | All clothes her family had | |||
10 | Saw Ck--- (35 years old) | Chicken | 10 chickens | House |
Pot | 3 sets | |||
Clothes | 10 pieces | |||
Tarpaulin | 1 piece | |||
11. | Saw Cl--- (75 years old) | Knife | 2 pieces | House |
Clothes | 4 pieces | |||
Pots and pans | All | |||
12. | Naw Cm--- (34 years old) | Knife | 2 pieces | House |
Mobile phone | 2 phones | |||
Rice | 2 sacks | |||
Clothes | 4 pieces | |||
13. | Naw Cn--- (52 years old) | Money | 300,000 kyats [USD 142.86] | House |
Oil | 8 litres | |||
MSG | 18 packs | |||
Chili | N/A | |||
Rice | 2 bags | |||
Male clothes | 37 pieces | |||
Female clothes | 29 pieces | |||
Clock | 2 pieces | |||
Onions | N/A | |||
Female shoes | 4 pairs | |||
Male shoes | 2 pairs | |||
Chicken | 17 chickens | |||
Phone | 2 phones | |||
Knife | 3 knives | |||
Battery | N/A | |||
14. | Saw Co--- (44 years old) | Male clothes | 6 pieces | House |
Machine [engine] | 1 | |||
Knife | 2 knives | |||
Battery [household use] | 2 Unit | |||
15. | Saw Cp--- (50 years old) | New clothes | All he had | House |
16. | Saw Cq--- (45 years old) | Clothes | 10 pieces | House |
New Blanket | 2 pieces | |||
Water Pot | 1 (worth 17,000 kyat) [USD 8.09] | |||
Taruaulin | 1 piece | |||
17. | Naw Cr--- (33 years old) | Medicine box | 1 box | House |
Phone (Samsung Tab) | 1 phone | |||
18. | Naw Cs--- (54 years old) | Money | 30,000 kyats [USD 14.28] | House |
Chicken and duck | All (about 14) | |||
Goat | 4 goats | |||
Salt, oil, chili, MSG and some spices | All | |||
19. | Saw Ct--- (43 years old) | Rice | 2 sacks | House |
Box | 1 | |||
Chicken | 12 chickens | |||
20. | Naw Cu--- (60 years old) | Rice | N/A | House |
Battery [household] | 1 | |||
MSG | 1 pack | |||
21 | Saw Cv--- (50 years | Oil | 2 litres | House |
22. | Saw Cw--- (58 yers old) | Male clothes | 18 pieces | House |
Blanket | 8 pieces | |||
Oil | 2 litres | |||
MSG | 2 packs | |||
Chicken | 20 chickens | |||
23. | Naw Cx--- (30 years old) | Clothes and unidentified properties | 2,000,000 kyats [USD 952.51] | House |
24. | Naw Cy--- (73 years old) | Rice | N/A | House |
Pot and pan | 11 pieces | |||
Blanket | 20 pieces | |||
Clothes | 30 pieces | |||
Knife | 2 knives | |||
25. | Saw Cz--- (35 years old) | Money | 410,000 kyats [USD 195.32] | House |
Oil | 3 litres | |||
Clothes | 12 pieces | |||
26. | Saw Da--- (53 years old) | Oil | 5 litres | House |
MSG | 1 sack (15 kg) | |||
Clothes | 15 pieces | |||
Phone | 2 phones | |||
Power bank | 1 unit | |||
27. | Saw Db--- (60 years old) | Chicken | 1 chicken | House |
28. | Saw Dc--- (39 years old) | Chicken | 8 chickens | House |
New clothes | 2 pieces | |||
MSG | N/A | |||
Jaggery [cane sugar] | 2 bags (Cost 100,000 kyats) [USD 47.64] | |||
29. | Saw De--- (72 years old) | Longyi [male clothes] | 5 pieces (worth 130,000 kyats) [USD 61.95] | House |
Clothes | 2 sets | |||
30. | Naw Df--- (45 years old) | New clothes | 7 pieces | House |
Blanket | 3 pieces | |||
Chicken | 3 chickens | |||
31. | Naw Dg--- (32 years old) | MSG | 2 packs | House |
Blanket | 4 pieces | |||
Chargers | 2 pieces | |||
Fish paste | N/A | |||
32. | Naw Dh--- (57 years old) | New clothes | 3 pieces | House |
Rice | N/A | |||
Blanket | 3 pieces | |||
Tarpaulin | 1 piece | |||
33. | Naw Di--- (38 years old) | Pots and pans | 5 pieces | House |
34. | Naw Dj--- (N/A age) | Rice | N/A | House |
Mat | 1 piece | |||
Small battery | 1 piece | |||
35. | Naw Dk--- (56 years old) | Golden ring | 650,000 kyats [USD 309.75] | House |
Money | 100,000 kyats [USD 47.64] | |||
Goat | 1 goat | |||
36. | Naw Dl--- (50 years old) | A-150 battery | N/A | House |
Knife | N/A | |||
Chicken | 3 chickens |
September 2023: Shelling caused casualties, property destruction, and displacement
On September 9th 2023, from 9:20 am to 4:10 pm, SAC soldiers under LID #44, based in P’Nweh Klah camp, Maw Lay village tract, shelled six mortar rounds around their army camp in Tha Htoo Township. Three of the mortar rounds landed on O--- village, Maw Lay village tract, and injured a child [unknown age], Saw Dm---, on his left leg. One of the mortar rounds also landed in Dn--- village, Maw Lay village tract, and shrapnel damaged four villagers’ houses and injured a 38-year-old villager, Naw Do---, on her left leg. The two injured villagers were sent to a local clinic for medical treatment. The four damaged houses are owned by villagers named Tee Dp---, Naw Dq---, Tee Dr--- and Tee Ds---. Another two mortar rounds landed in [other locations at] Maw Lay village tract, so villagers in Maw Lay village tract were afraid and had to be displaced.
On September 9th 2023, at 7:30 pm, SAC Infantry Battalion (IB)[17] #24 shelled five mortar rounds in Ak--- village, Kaw Ler village tract; two of them landed in Ak--- village and damaged Tee Dt---’s house, and another three mortars landed beside Ak--- village without causing any damage.
November 2023: shelling caused casualties and properties destruction
On November 10th 2023, at about 3:10 pm, SAC soldiers under LID #44, based in in P’Nweh Klah army camp, Maw Lay village tract, shelled six 60mm mortar rounds [around their army camp]. Two of the mortar rounds landed on Htee Nya Loo farm, one mortar landed beside Du--- village, one mortar landed on Lah Ko forest and one mortar landed in eastern Dv--- village, Maw Lay village tract. One of the six mortar rounds [landed at an unidentified place and] did not explode. The mortar explosion in eastern Dv--- village injured four villagers, and two of the villagers died from their injuries. Saw Dw--- (73 years old) died immediately after his whole body was injured by shrapnel, and Saw Dx--- (46 years old) died in a hospital in Thaton Town. The two [surviving] injured villagers are Naw Dy--- (72 years old), injured on the left leg, and Saw Dz--- (32 years old), injured on his back. The mortar explosion in the eastern area of Dv--- village also damaged two villager’s houses, owned by Saw Ea--- (52 years old) and Saw Eb--- (26 years old).
On November 13th 2023, between 7:40 and 8:30 pm, [SAC] LIB #9 in Way Pa army camp shelled eight mortar rounds in Way Raw and Shwe Yaw Pya village tracts, Tha Htoo Township. Two mortar rounds landed beside Ec--- village, two mortar rounds landed in Ed--- village, and two mortar rounds landed beside Ee--- village, Way Raw village tract. Two mortar rounds exploded in Ef--- village, Shwe Yaung Pya village tract. A mortar explosion beside Ec--- village damaged four villagers’ houses, owned by Naw Eg--- (78 years old), Naw Eh--- (48 years old), Saw Ei--- (72 years old) and Naw Ej--- (50 years old).
On November 18th 2023, between 6 pm and 8:30 pm, SAC Artillery Unit #314, based in Kya T’Raw (Zi Won) army camp, Shwe Yaung Pya village tract, shelled 16 mortars in Shwe Yaung Pya, K’Dee Poo and Daw Ya village tracts, Tha Htoo Township. Two mortar rounds landed in Ek--- village, and two landed in an area between Al--- and Z--- villages, Shwe Yaung Pya village tract. Two mortar rounds landed in Af--- village, Daw Ya village tract, and one mortar round landed in El--- village, K’Dee Poo village tract. Two mortar rounds landed in an area between Em--- and En--- villages, four mortar rounds landed beside Eo--- village, and two mortar rounds landed in an area between Ep--- and Eo--- villages, K’Dee Poo village tract. There were no major damages or casualties.
On November 28th 2023, at 9:50 am, SAC Artillery Unit #402, based in Noh Ta Shuh village tract, shelled eight mortar rounds in Kaw Ler village tract. Six of the mortars landed in an area between Eq--- and Ak--- villages, and two mortars landed on Er--- villagers’ farms, without causing any damage or injury. On the evening of the same day, from 6 pm to 11 pm, SAC Artillery Unit #402 shelled six more mortar rounds [in Kaw Ler village tract]. Two mortars landed in Ak--- village, two mortars landed beside Er--- village and the other two mortars landed beside Es--- village, without any [major] damages or casualties.
On November 30th 2023, at 4:10 pm, SAC Artillery Unit #314, based in Kya T’Raw (Zi Won) army camp, Shwe Yaung Pya village tract, shelled two mortar rounds beside Ep--- village, K’Dee Poo village tract, without causing any [major] damages or casualties. On the same day, at 7:45 pm, SAC IB #8, based in Myay Taung [army camp] in Bilin Town area [Tha Htoo Township], shelled four mortar rounds. Three of the mortar rounds landed in an area between Eo--- and Et--- villages, K’Dee Poo village tract [Tha Htoo Township]. One mortar round landed in Et--- school compound, damaging three school buildings and two villagers’ houses situated close to the school. The houses are owned by Saw Eu--- (47 years old) and Saw Ev--- (47 years old).
On the same day at 7:30 pm, SAC LIB #118, based in Thaton Town, shelled two mortar rounds in an area between Ak--- and Ew--- villages, Kaw Ler village tract, Tha Htoo Township, without causing any [major] damage or casualties.
On November 30th 2023, at 3 pm, SAC Artillery Unit #402, based in Noh Ta Shuh village tract, shelled three mortar rounds on villagers’ farms near Ex--- village, Noh Ta Shuh village tract, Tha Htoo Township. The explosions killed 15 cows and bulls owned by a villager named Saw Ey--- (58 years old).
Further background reading on shelling in Southeast Burma/Myanmar can be found in the following KHRG reports:
- ‘Doo Tha Htoo District Situation Update: SAC shelling into villages in Tha Htoo Township, causing injuries and destruction (September 2022 to February 2023)’, March 2024;
- ‘Doo Tha Htoo District Situation Update: villagers used as human shields, forced labour and navigators; SAC shelling and looting; and forced displacement in Bilin Township (July 2021 to September 2022)’, January 2024;
- Striking Fear: Impacts of State Administration Council (SAC) shelling on villagers’ lives in Southeast Burma (January to October 2023), December 2023;
- ‘Doo Tha Htoo District Situation Update: Two villagers were killed and 17 villagers were injured by SAC’s indiscriminate shelling in Kyeh Htoh Township (December 2022 to February 2023)’, August 2023;
- ‘Doo Tha Htoo District Short Update: House burning and indiscriminate shelling in Kyeh Htoh Township (January 2023)’, June 2023.
This photo was taken on April 9th 2023 in B--- village, Ka Ti Pu village tract, Tha Htoo Township, Doo Tha Htoo District. This photo shows one of the exploded mortar shell fins which damaged a villager’s rubber plantation. [Photo: KHRG]
This photo was taken on April 9th 2023 in C--- village, Shwe Yaung Pya village tract, Tha Htoo Township, Doo Tha Htoo District. This photo shows villagers’ rubber trees damaged by mortar explosions. [Photo: KHRG]
These photos were taken on April 2nd 2023 in F--- village, Htee Nya Paw village tract, Tha Htoo Township, Doo Tha Htoo District. These photos show two children injured by an SAC mortar explosion on April 2nd 2023. [Photos: Villager]
This photo was taken right after the incident on April 3rd 2023 in J--- village, Waw Poo village tract, Tha Htoo Township, Doo Tha Htoo District. This photo shows a 63-year-old villager, Saw K---, injured by SAC mortar shelling on April 3rd 2023. [Photo: villager]
These photos were taken on April 6th 2023, after the incident in N--- village, Win Raw village tract, Tha Htoo Township, Doo Tha Htoo District. These photos show two villagers, mother and daughter, who were injured by a landmine explosion on April 6th 2023. The left photo shows Naw L--- (30 years old) showing the injures to her right leg before receiving medical treatment. The right photo shows Naw M--- (12 years old) receiving medical treatment. [Photos: Villager]
This photo was taken on April 7th 2023 in O--- village, Maw Lay village tract, Tha Htoo Township, Doo Tha Htoo District. This photo shows the three exploded mortar shells’ fins shelled by SAC MOC #8 on April 6th 2023 in O--- and Q--- villages, Ma Law village tract, Tha Htoo Township, Doo Tha Htoo District. [Photo: KHRG]
This photo was taken on April 6th 2023 right after the incident in Q--- village, Maw Lay village tract, Tha Htoo Township, Doo Tha Htoo District. This photo shows Saw X---’s thumb injury, caused by mortar shells’ explosion on April 6th 2023. [Photo: Villager]
These two photos were taken on May 27th 2023 in Z--- village, Sway Yaw Pya village tract, Tha Htoo Township, Doo Tha Htoo District, after SAC Artillery Unit #314 shelled mortars in Z--- village on May 27th 2023. The left photo shows Saw Ag--- (15 years old), who died from the mortar explosion. The right photo shows where a mortar shell landed in the monastery compound. [Photos: Villager]
These photos were taken on June 8th 2023 in Tha Htoo Township, Doo Tha Htoo District. These photos show Ak--- villagers, Kaw Ler village tract, fleeing from their village due to the SAC’s indiscriminate shelling. [Photos: KHRG]
These photos were taken on July 7th 2023 at local clinic in Am--- village under KNU administration, in Tha Htoo Township, Doo Tha Htoo District. These photos show two of the six injured villagers from Al--- village, Shwe Yaw Pya village tract, Tha Htoo Township receiving medical treatment at the clinic. During the SAC shelling on July 7th, six villagers were injured, the majority of them women and children. [Photos: Villager]
These photos were taken on August 7th 2023 in Dm--- village, Shwe Yaw Pya village tract, Tha Htoo Township, Doo Tha Htoo District. These photos were taken after some villagers who were displacing during July and early August 2023 returned to the village. The first picture shows some uniforms left behind by SAC LID #44 soldiers that committed looting and shelling in the village. The right photo shows a villager’s house looted by SAC soldiers. [Photos: KHRG].
These photos were taken on September 9th 2023 in Dn--- village, Maw Lay village tract, Tha Htoo Township, Doo Tha Htoo District. The left photo shows where an SAC mortar exploded in the village. The right photo shows one of the injured villagers, 38-year-old Naw Do---. [Photos: KHRG]
This photo was taken on November 13th 2023 in Ec--- village, Win Raw village tract, Tha Htoo Township, Doo Tha Htoo District. This photo shows the place where one of the mortar shells, fired by SAC LID #44 from P’Nweh Klah army camp, exploded in a villager’s betel nut plantation and destroyed some betel nut trees on November 13th 2023. [Photo: KHRG]
This photo was taken on November 13th 2023 in Ef--- village, Shwe Yaung Pya village tract, Tha Htoo Township, Doo Tha Htoo District. This photo shows four mortar shells’ fins, fired by SAC #44 from P’Nweh Klah army camp and collected by local villagers on November 13th 2023. [Photo: KHRG]
Footnotes:
[1] The present document is based on information received in February, May, July, September and November 2023. It was provided by a community member in Doo Tha Htoo 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 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] A village tract is an administrative unit of between five and 20 villages in a local area, often centred on a large village.
[5] In Burmese, ‘betel nut’ and ‘betel leaf’ are referred to as konywet and konthih, respectively, as if they are from the same plant. The Burmese names are also commonly used by Karen language speakers. Betel nut is the seed from an areca palm tree, Areca catechu; "betel leaf" is the leaf of the piper betel vine, belonging to the Piperaceae family.
[6] 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 in 2015, relations with the government remain tense.
[7] Naw is a S’gaw Karen female honorific title used before a person’s name.
[8] The Karen National Liberation Army is the armed wing of the Karen National Union.
[9] The People’s Defence Force (PDF) is an armed resistance established independently as local civilian militias operating across the country. Following the February 1st 2021 military coup and the ongoing brutal violence enacted by the junta, the majority of these groups began working with the National Unity Government (NUG), a body claiming to be the legitimate government of Burma/Myanmar, which then formalized the PDF on May 5th 2021 as a precursor to a federal army.
[10] Border Guard Force (BGF) battalions of the Tatmadaw were established in 2010, and they are composed mostly of soldiers from former non-state armed groups, such as older constellations of the DKBA, which have formalised ceasefire agreements with the Burma/Myanmar government and agreed to transform into battalions within the Tatmadaw.
[11] Military Operations Command (MOC) is comprised of ten battalions for offensive operations. Most MOCs have three Tactical Operations Commands (TOCs) made up of three battalions each.
[12] ‘U’ is a Burmese title used for elder men, used before their name.
[13] ‘Ashin’ is a Burmese title used for monks.
[14] 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).
[15] Pa Dtee or Dtee is a familiar term of respect in S’gaw Karen attributed to an older man that translates to “uncle,” but it does not necessarily signify any actual familial relationship.
[16] All conversion estimates for the kyat in this report are based on official market rate of 2,099.90 kyats to US $1 on 16th May 2024.
[17] An Infantry Battalion (IB) comprises 500 soldiers. However, most 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. They are primarily used for garrison duty but are sometimes used in offensive operations.