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

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.