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These photos show a pagoda in Meh Hkoo Hta (Myin Ta Pyay) village, Meh Hkoo village tract, Bu Tho Township, Mu Traw District that was damaged due to the indiscriminate shelling by SAC LIB #407 on February 8th 2022. [Photos: KHRG]
This Situation Update describes incidents, including human rights violations and problems in the community, that happened in Bu Tho Township and Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District during the period between December 14th 2022 and February 25th 2022.
Air strikes by SAC fighter jets
Among the many cases of human rights abuses, a KHRG researcher received an update about the State Administration Council (SAC)[2] dropping bombs into villages in Dwe Lo Township using fighter jets.
On January 12th 2022, two SAC fighter jets dropped [a total of] two bombs into Ler Htoo Poh village, Meh Way village tract[3], Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District. When the SAC conducted air strikes in the area, they [SAC soldiers on the ground] also indiscriminately fired mortars into the village. However, there were no casualties.
On January 13th 2022, SAC fighter jets dropped four bombs into Shwe Nyaung Bin village, Waw Mu village tract, Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District. Due to the air strike, one villager was killed and three villagers were injured.
On February 5th 2022, SAC fighter jets dropped bombs into T’Dwee Hkoh village, Ma Htaw village tract, Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District. Due to the bombing, two villagers from T’Dwee Hkoh village, Saw[4] So Naing (45 years old) and Naw[5] Su Kho (43 years old) [husband and wife], were killed and their three children were injured. The injured villagers were sent to Wah Kha Der hospital for medical treatment.
Indiscriminate shelling into villages
On January 1st 2022, SAC soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB)[6] #407 indiscriminately fired a 120 mm mortar [unclear whether it was just one mortar or multiple mortars] into Law Taw Hkee [informal] displacement site, Htee Th’Blut Hta village tract, Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District. As a result, Saw Phon Yin, a 50-year-old villager, was hit by the shelling and he passed away.
On February 2nd 2022, the combined forces of the SAC and Border Guard Force (BGF)[7] indiscriminately fired a 120 mm mortar [unclear whether it was just one mortar or multiple mortars] into Toh Muh village, Meh Hkoo village tract, Bu Tho Township, Mu Traw District. As a result, a house was destroyed.
On the afternoon of February 11th 2022, SAC soldiers from LIB #407 indiscriminately fired 120 mm mortars [unclear how many mortars] into Htee Law Thi Hta village, Htee Th’Blut Hta village tract, Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District. As a result, Naw Th’Kaw Lah Hpaw, a 22-year-old woman from Htee Law Thi Hta village, was hit by the shelling and she died.
On February 8th 2022, SAC soldiers from LIB #407 indiscriminately fired 120 mm mortars into Meh Hkoo Hta (Myin Ta Pyay) village, Meh Hkoo village tract, Bu Tho Township, Mu Traw District. Around 10 of the 120 mm mortar shells fell into the village. As a result of the explosion, five houses, a monastery and [an unknown number of] pagodas were damaged.
Because of the shelling, 350 villagers from Meh Hkoo Hta village, 150 villagers from Htee Doh Hta village and 250 villagers from Toh Muh village fled to other neighbouring villages and forests. In total, 750 villagers were displaced [because of these shelling incidents].
On February 19th, 20th and 21st 2022, SAC soldiers from LIB #407 indiscriminately fired 120 mm mortars, multiple times, into Meh Nyoo Hta village (Pyin Ma village), Meh Nyu village tract, Bu Tho Township, Mu Traw District. However, there were no causalities.
SAC soldiers threaten villagers in retaliation
On December 14th 2021, Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Zaw Min Htike from SAC LIB #407 was displeased because soldiers from the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA)[8] attacked Ma Htaw [SAC] army camp in Ma Htaw village tract, Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District. Therefore, he ordered [an unknown number of] Ma Htaw villagers to gather on the vehicle road. Then, SAC soldiers fired guns between their [the villagers’] legs, their thighs and next to their ears multiple times to threaten the villagers. After that, they [SAC soldiers] fired guns continuously along the road in Ma Htaw village to threaten Ma Htaw villagers. Because of the shooting, about 80 Ma Htaw villagers abandoned their village and fled to other villages.
Villagers were injured due to a landmine explosion
On December 30th 2021, because of an exploded landmine that was planted by KNLA Battalion #102, Company #1 soldiers, three villagers were injured. They are named U[9] Aye Chit, 69 years old, Daw[10] Thein Nu, 69 years old, and Ma[11] Po Po, 35 years old. The explosion happened in Way Hsa village, Meh Klaw village tract, Bu Tho Township. They were sent to the 100-bed hospital at Strategic Operation Command [SOC][12] #1 that is based in Hpapun Town. According to the local communities, the KNLA planted the landmines to protect themselves from their enemies.
Arbitrary taxation
Starting from January 1st 2022, local communities were unable to travel on the road from Kamamaung Town to Hpapun Town, as the road was blocked. Therefore, villagers had to travel by boat on the Yuzalin River in order to transport food supplies. However, SAC soldiers who are based at a motorboat checkpoint near the river and close to Ku Seik village, Ma Htaw village tract, Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District, forcefully collected taxes from villagers who travelled on the river. They asked for 50,000 kyats [USD 27.01][13] per boat, as a tax. Ko[14] Z---, a 50-year-old man from Ku Seik village cooperated with SAC soldiers and helped collect taxes from villagers who travelled on the river. [Currently, KHRG cannot receive information on whether this villager was forced to cooperate, or not.] The owners of the motorboats could not do anything but pay when they were asked.
Further background reading on the situation of human rights abuses in Mu Traw District in Southeast Burma can be found in the following KHRG reports:
This photo was taken on February 12th 2022 in Meh Hkoo Hta village, Meh Hkoo village tract, Bu Tho Township, Mu Traw District. It shows a coconut tree that was damaged during the indiscriminate shelling by SAC LIB #407 on February 8th 2022. [Photo: KHRG]
This Situation Update describes incidents, including human rights violations and problems in the community, that happened in Bu Tho Township and Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District during the period between December 14th 2022 and February 25th 2022.
Air strikes by SAC fighter jets
Among the many cases of human rights abuses, a KHRG researcher received an update about the State Administration Council (SAC)[2] dropping bombs into villages in Dwe Lo Township using fighter jets.
On January 12th 2022, two SAC fighter jets dropped [a total of] two bombs into Ler Htoo Poh village, Meh Way village tract[3], Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District. When the SAC conducted air strikes in the area, they [SAC soldiers on the ground] also indiscriminately fired mortars into the village. However, there were no casualties.
On January 13th 2022, SAC fighter jets dropped four bombs into Shwe Nyaung Bin village, Waw Mu village tract, Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District. Due to the air strike, one villager was killed and three villagers were injured.
On February 5th 2022, SAC fighter jets dropped bombs into T’Dwee Hkoh village, Ma Htaw village tract, Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District. Due to the bombing, two villagers from T’Dwee Hkoh village, Saw[4] So Naing (45 years old) and Naw[5] Su Kho (43 years old) [husband and wife], were killed and their three children were injured. The injured villagers were sent to Wah Kha Der hospital for medical treatment.
Indiscriminate shelling into villages
On January 1st 2022, SAC soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB)[6] #407 indiscriminately fired a 120 mm mortar [unclear whether it was just one mortar or multiple mortars] into Law Taw Hkee [informal] displacement site, Htee Th’Blut Hta village tract, Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District. As a result, Saw Phon Yin, a 50-year-old villager, was hit by the shelling and he passed away.
On February 2nd 2022, the combined forces of the SAC and Border Guard Force (BGF)[7] indiscriminately fired a 120 mm mortar [unclear whether it was just one mortar or multiple mortars] into Toh Muh village, Meh Hkoo village tract, Bu Tho Township, Mu Traw District. As a result, a house was destroyed.
On the afternoon of February 11th 2022, SAC soldiers from LIB #407 indiscriminately fired 120 mm mortars [unclear how many mortars] into Htee Law Thi Hta village, Htee Th’Blut Hta village tract, Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District. As a result, Naw Th’Kaw Lah Hpaw, a 22-year-old woman from Htee Law Thi Hta village, was hit by the shelling and she died.
On February 8th 2022, SAC soldiers from LIB #407 indiscriminately fired 120 mm mortars into Meh Hkoo Hta (Myin Ta Pyay) village, Meh Hkoo village tract, Bu Tho Township, Mu Traw District. Around 10 of the 120 mm mortar shells fell into the village. As a result of the explosion, five houses, a monastery and [an unknown number of] pagodas were damaged.
Because of the shelling, 350 villagers from Meh Hkoo Hta village, 150 villagers from Htee Doh Hta village and 250 villagers from Toh Muh village fled to other neighbouring villages and forests. In total, 750 villagers were displaced [because of these shelling incidents].
On February 19th, 20th and 21st 2022, SAC soldiers from LIB #407 indiscriminately fired 120 mm mortars, multiple times, into Meh Nyoo Hta village (Pyin Ma village), Meh Nyu village tract, Bu Tho Township, Mu Traw District. However, there were no causalities.
SAC soldiers threaten villagers in retaliation
On December 14th 2021, Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Zaw Min Htike from SAC LIB #407 was displeased because soldiers from the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA)[8] attacked Ma Htaw [SAC] army camp in Ma Htaw village tract, Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District. Therefore, he ordered [an unknown number of] Ma Htaw villagers to gather on the vehicle road. Then, SAC soldiers fired guns between their [the villagers’] legs, their thighs and next to their ears multiple times to threaten the villagers. After that, they [SAC soldiers] fired guns continuously along the road in Ma Htaw village to threaten Ma Htaw villagers. Because of the shooting, about 80 Ma Htaw villagers abandoned their village and fled to other villages.
Villagers were injured due to a landmine explosion
On December 30th 2021, because of an exploded landmine that was planted by KNLA Battalion #102, Company #1 soldiers, three villagers were injured. They are named U[9] Aye Chit, 69 years old, Daw[10] Thein Nu, 69 years old, and Ma[11] Po Po, 35 years old. The explosion happened in Way Hsa village, Meh Klaw village tract, Bu Tho Township. They were sent to the 100-bed hospital at Strategic Operation Command [SOC][12] #1 that is based in Hpapun Town. According to the local communities, the KNLA planted the landmines to protect themselves from their enemies.
Arbitrary taxation
Starting from January 1st 2022, local communities were unable to travel on the road from Kamamaung Town to Hpapun Town, as the road was blocked. Therefore, villagers had to travel by boat on the Yuzalin River in order to transport food supplies. However, SAC soldiers who are based at a motorboat checkpoint near the river and close to Ku Seik village, Ma Htaw village tract, Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District, forcefully collected taxes from villagers who travelled on the river. They asked for 50,000 kyats [USD 27.01][13] per boat, as a tax. Ko[14] Z---, a 50-year-old man from Ku Seik village cooperated with SAC soldiers and helped collect taxes from villagers who travelled on the river. [Currently, KHRG cannot receive information on whether this villager was forced to cooperate, or not.] The owners of the motorboats could not do anything but pay when they were asked.
Further background reading on the situation of human rights abuses in Mu Traw District in Southeast Burma can be found in the following KHRG reports:
This photo was taken on February 12th 2022 in Meh Hkoo Hta village, Meh Hkoo village tract, Bu Tho Township, Mu Traw District. It shows a villager’s house that was damaged due to the indiscriminate shelling, fired by SAC LIB #407 on February 8th 2022. [Photo: KHRG]
This Situation Update describes incidents, including human rights violations and problems in the community, that happened in Bu Tho Township and Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District during the period between December 14th 2022 and February 25th 2022.
Air strikes by SAC fighter jets
Among the many cases of human rights abuses, a KHRG researcher received an update about the State Administration Council (SAC)[2] dropping bombs into villages in Dwe Lo Township using fighter jets.
On January 12th 2022, two SAC fighter jets dropped [a total of] two bombs into Ler Htoo Poh village, Meh Way village tract[3], Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District. When the SAC conducted air strikes in the area, they [SAC soldiers on the ground] also indiscriminately fired mortars into the village. However, there were no casualties.
On January 13th 2022, SAC fighter jets dropped four bombs into Shwe Nyaung Bin village, Waw Mu village tract, Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District. Due to the air strike, one villager was killed and three villagers were injured.
On February 5th 2022, SAC fighter jets dropped bombs into T’Dwee Hkoh village, Ma Htaw village tract, Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District. Due to the bombing, two villagers from T’Dwee Hkoh village, Saw[4] So Naing (45 years old) and Naw[5] Su Kho (43 years old) [husband and wife], were killed and their three children were injured. The injured villagers were sent to Wah Kha Der hospital for medical treatment.
Indiscriminate shelling into villages
On January 1st 2022, SAC soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB)[6] #407 indiscriminately fired a 120 mm mortar [unclear whether it was just one mortar or multiple mortars] into Law Taw Hkee [informal] displacement site, Htee Th’Blut Hta village tract, Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District. As a result, Saw Phon Yin, a 50-year-old villager, was hit by the shelling and he passed away.
On February 2nd 2022, the combined forces of the SAC and Border Guard Force (BGF)[7] indiscriminately fired a 120 mm mortar [unclear whether it was just one mortar or multiple mortars] into Toh Muh village, Meh Hkoo village tract, Bu Tho Township, Mu Traw District. As a result, a house was destroyed.
On the afternoon of February 11th 2022, SAC soldiers from LIB #407 indiscriminately fired 120 mm mortars [unclear how many mortars] into Htee Law Thi Hta village, Htee Th’Blut Hta village tract, Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District. As a result, Naw Th’Kaw Lah Hpaw, a 22-year-old woman from Htee Law Thi Hta village, was hit by the shelling and she died.
On February 8th 2022, SAC soldiers from LIB #407 indiscriminately fired 120 mm mortars into Meh Hkoo Hta (Myin Ta Pyay) village, Meh Hkoo village tract, Bu Tho Township, Mu Traw District. Around 10 of the 120 mm mortar shells fell into the village. As a result of the explosion, five houses, a monastery and [an unknown number of] pagodas were damaged.
Because of the shelling, 350 villagers from Meh Hkoo Hta village, 150 villagers from Htee Doh Hta village and 250 villagers from Toh Muh village fled to other neighbouring villages and forests. In total, 750 villagers were displaced [because of these shelling incidents].
On February 19th, 20th and 21st 2022, SAC soldiers from LIB #407 indiscriminately fired 120 mm mortars, multiple times, into Meh Nyoo Hta village (Pyin Ma village), Meh Nyu village tract, Bu Tho Township, Mu Traw District. However, there were no causalities.
SAC soldiers threaten villagers in retaliation
On December 14th 2021, Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Zaw Min Htike from SAC LIB #407 was displeased because soldiers from the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA)[8] attacked Ma Htaw [SAC] army camp in Ma Htaw village tract, Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District. Therefore, he ordered [an unknown number of] Ma Htaw villagers to gather on the vehicle road. Then, SAC soldiers fired guns between their [the villagers’] legs, their thighs and next to their ears multiple times to threaten the villagers. After that, they [SAC soldiers] fired guns continuously along the road in Ma Htaw village to threaten Ma Htaw villagers. Because of the shooting, about 80 Ma Htaw villagers abandoned their village and fled to other villages.
Villagers were injured due to a landmine explosion
On December 30th 2021, because of an exploded landmine that was planted by KNLA Battalion #102, Company #1 soldiers, three villagers were injured. They are named U[9] Aye Chit, 69 years old, Daw[10] Thein Nu, 69 years old, and Ma[11] Po Po, 35 years old. The explosion happened in Way Hsa village, Meh Klaw village tract, Bu Tho Township. They were sent to the 100-bed hospital at Strategic Operation Command [SOC][12] #1 that is based in Hpapun Town. According to the local communities, the KNLA planted the landmines to protect themselves from their enemies.
Arbitrary taxation
Starting from January 1st 2022, local communities were unable to travel on the road from Kamamaung Town to Hpapun Town, as the road was blocked. Therefore, villagers had to travel by boat on the Yuzalin River in order to transport food supplies. However, SAC soldiers who are based at a motorboat checkpoint near the river and close to Ku Seik village, Ma Htaw village tract, Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District, forcefully collected taxes from villagers who travelled on the river. They asked for 50,000 kyats [USD 27.01][13] per boat, as a tax. Ko[14] Z---, a 50-year-old man from Ku Seik village cooperated with SAC soldiers and helped collect taxes from villagers who travelled on the river. [Currently, KHRG cannot receive information on whether this villager was forced to cooperate, or not.] The owners of the motorboats could not do anything but pay when they were asked.
Further background reading on the situation of human rights abuses in Mu Traw District in Southeast Burma can be found in the following KHRG reports:
This photo was taken on February 20th 2022 in a place near Meh Nyoo Hta village, Meh Nyoo village tract, Bu Tho Township, Mu Traw District. It shows a piece of a 120 mm mortar shell that was fired by SAC LIB #407 on February 19th 2022. [Photo: KHRG]
This Situation Update describes incidents, including human rights violations and problems in the community, that happened in Bu Tho Township and Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District during the period between December 14th 2022 and February 25th 2022.
Air strikes by SAC fighter jets
Among the many cases of human rights abuses, a KHRG researcher received an update about the State Administration Council (SAC)[2] dropping bombs into villages in Dwe Lo Township using fighter jets.
On January 12th 2022, two SAC fighter jets dropped [a total of] two bombs into Ler Htoo Poh village, Meh Way village tract[3], Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District. When the SAC conducted air strikes in the area, they [SAC soldiers on the ground] also indiscriminately fired mortars into the village. However, there were no casualties.
On January 13th 2022, SAC fighter jets dropped four bombs into Shwe Nyaung Bin village, Waw Mu village tract, Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District. Due to the air strike, one villager was killed and three villagers were injured.
On February 5th 2022, SAC fighter jets dropped bombs into T’Dwee Hkoh village, Ma Htaw village tract, Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District. Due to the bombing, two villagers from T’Dwee Hkoh village, Saw[4] So Naing (45 years old) and Naw[5] Su Kho (43 years old) [husband and wife], were killed and their three children were injured. The injured villagers were sent to Wah Kha Der hospital for medical treatment.
Indiscriminate shelling into villages
On January 1st 2022, SAC soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB)[6] #407 indiscriminately fired a 120 mm mortar [unclear whether it was just one mortar or multiple mortars] into Law Taw Hkee [informal] displacement site, Htee Th’Blut Hta village tract, Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District. As a result, Saw Phon Yin, a 50-year-old villager, was hit by the shelling and he passed away.
On February 2nd 2022, the combined forces of the SAC and Border Guard Force (BGF)[7] indiscriminately fired a 120 mm mortar [unclear whether it was just one mortar or multiple mortars] into Toh Muh village, Meh Hkoo village tract, Bu Tho Township, Mu Traw District. As a result, a house was destroyed.
On the afternoon of February 11th 2022, SAC soldiers from LIB #407 indiscriminately fired 120 mm mortars [unclear how many mortars] into Htee Law Thi Hta village, Htee Th’Blut Hta village tract, Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District. As a result, Naw Th’Kaw Lah Hpaw, a 22-year-old woman from Htee Law Thi Hta village, was hit by the shelling and she died.
On February 8th 2022, SAC soldiers from LIB #407 indiscriminately fired 120 mm mortars into Meh Hkoo Hta (Myin Ta Pyay) village, Meh Hkoo village tract, Bu Tho Township, Mu Traw District. Around 10 of the 120 mm mortar shells fell into the village. As a result of the explosion, five houses, a monastery and [an unknown number of] pagodas were damaged.
Because of the shelling, 350 villagers from Meh Hkoo Hta village, 150 villagers from Htee Doh Hta village and 250 villagers from Toh Muh village fled to other neighbouring villages and forests. In total, 750 villagers were displaced [because of these shelling incidents].
On February 19th, 20th and 21st 2022, SAC soldiers from LIB #407 indiscriminately fired 120 mm mortars, multiple times, into Meh Nyoo Hta village (Pyin Ma village), Meh Nyu village tract, Bu Tho Township, Mu Traw District. However, there were no causalities.
SAC soldiers threaten villagers in retaliation
On December 14th 2021, Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Zaw Min Htike from SAC LIB #407 was displeased because soldiers from the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA)[8] attacked Ma Htaw [SAC] army camp in Ma Htaw village tract, Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District. Therefore, he ordered [an unknown number of] Ma Htaw villagers to gather on the vehicle road. Then, SAC soldiers fired guns between their [the villagers’] legs, their thighs and next to their ears multiple times to threaten the villagers. After that, they [SAC soldiers] fired guns continuously along the road in Ma Htaw village to threaten Ma Htaw villagers. Because of the shooting, about 80 Ma Htaw villagers abandoned their village and fled to other villages.
Villagers were injured due to a landmine explosion
On December 30th 2021, because of an exploded landmine that was planted by KNLA Battalion #102, Company #1 soldiers, three villagers were injured. They are named U[9] Aye Chit, 69 years old, Daw[10] Thein Nu, 69 years old, and Ma[11] Po Po, 35 years old. The explosion happened in Way Hsa village, Meh Klaw village tract, Bu Tho Township. They were sent to the 100-bed hospital at Strategic Operation Command [SOC][12] #1 that is based in Hpapun Town. According to the local communities, the KNLA planted the landmines to protect themselves from their enemies.
Arbitrary taxation
Starting from January 1st 2022, local communities were unable to travel on the road from Kamamaung Town to Hpapun Town, as the road was blocked. Therefore, villagers had to travel by boat on the Yuzalin River in order to transport food supplies. However, SAC soldiers who are based at a motorboat checkpoint near the river and close to Ku Seik village, Ma Htaw village tract, Dwe Lo Township, Mu Traw District, forcefully collected taxes from villagers who travelled on the river. They asked for 50,000 kyats [USD 27.01][13] per boat, as a tax. Ko[14] Z---, a 50-year-old man from Ku Seik village cooperated with SAC soldiers and helped collect taxes from villagers who travelled on the river. [Currently, KHRG cannot receive information on whether this villager was forced to cooperate, or not.] The owners of the motorboats could not do anything but pay when they were asked.
Further background reading on the situation of human rights abuses in Mu Traw District in Southeast Burma can be found in the following KHRG reports: