Dooplaya District Short Update: SAC shelled into villages causing 19 casualties and destruction, and killed a civilian providing humanitarian support, in Kruh Tuh Township (January and March 2023).

January 2023: SAC shelling caused civilian casualties in Kruh Tuh Township

On January 21st 2023, at about 12 am, the State Administration Council (SAC)[2] Infantry Battalion (IB)[3] #97, and Artillery Unit #321, under Military Operations Command (MOC)[4] #12, indiscriminately fired mortar shells into Y--- village, Raw Keh village tract[5], Kruh Tuh Township injuring two villagers. Saw[6] C--- (19 years old) was injured on his leg. U[7] D--- (87 years old) was also injured on his leg. Since U D--- sustained serious injuries by shrapnel from mortar shells, he was sent to Aa--- clinic, Wa Ka village tract, Kruh Tuh Township, for treatment.

March 2023: SAC shelling and killing in Kruh Tuh Township

On March 25th 2023, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA)[8] and People Defense Force (PDF)[9] attacked the SAC police office in Kruh Tuh Town, Kruh Tuh Township, Dooplaya District. Due to the fighting that broke out [after the office was attacked], civilians in Kruh Tuh Town were trapped in their homes, and were afraid to go out.

At about 7:30 am, SAC Light Infantry Battalion (LIB)[10] #546, under MOC #12, based in Kyone K’Lay military camp, indiscriminately fired 120mm mortar shells into villages [in Kruh Tuh Township], and some mortar shells landed in Z--- village, Kaw Wah Leh village tract, Kruh Tuh Township. From this shelling, a 15-year-old boy, Saw E---, was hit by the shrapnel on his neck and he was killed immediately.

At 8:30 am, a civilian named Saw A--- (23 years old), with ‘the heart of a humanitarian’ [someone willing to help], voluntarily went to [Kruh Tuh] Town and provided drinking water as a donation for civilians who were trapped in their homes in the town. While he was providing drinking water to civilians who were trapped by the fighting, a SAC soldier shot at him, and he was killed immediately.

Due to the attack [on the office of the SAC police], SAC LIB #546, under MOC #12, based in Kyone K’Lay camp, also shelled mortar rounds to Kruh Tuh Town in order to help defend it against KNLA and PDF soldiers. As a result of this shelling, 39 civilian houses were damaged and many civilians in Kruh Tuh Town were injured by the shrapnel of mortar shells.

In Section #2 of Kruh Tuh Town, Kruh Tuh Township, six civilians were injured by shrapnel from mortar shells:

No.	No.
Name	Name
Age	Age
Treatment	Treatment

No.	1
Name	U F---
Age	44 years old
Treatment	Thar Yar Kon, Kyon Doh hospital

No.	2
Name	Daw[11] G---
Age	40 years old
Treatment	Thar Yar Kon, Kyon Doh hospital

No.	3
Name	Maung[12] H---
Age	5 years old
Treatment	Thar Yar Kon, Kyon Doh hospital

No.	4
Name	U I---
Age	65 years old
Treatment	Thar Yar Kon, Kyon Doh hospital

No.	5
Name	U J---
Age	55 years old
Treatment	Kwen Thit Taung K’Lay hospital

No.	6
Name	K---
Age	40 years old
Treatment	Kar Nar Taung K’Lay hospital

No.	Name	Age	Treatment
1	U F---	44 years old	Thar Yar Kon, Kyon Doh hospital
2	Daw[11] G---	40 years old	Thar Yar Kon, Kyon Doh hospital
3	Maung[12] H---	5 years old	Thar Yar Kon, Kyon Doh hospital
4	U I---	65 years old	Thar Yar Kon, Kyon Doh hospital
5	U J---	55 years old	Kwen Thit Taung K’Lay hospital
6	K---	40 years old	Kar Nar Taung K’Lay hospital

In Section #3 of Kruh Tuh Town, Kruh Tuh Township, one civilian was injured by shrapnel from mortar shells

No	No
Name	Name
Age	Age
Treatment	Treatment

No	1
Name	L---
Age	40 years old
Treatment	Taung K’Lay hospital

No	Name	Age	Treatment
1	L---	40 years old	Taung K’Lay hospital

In Section #4 of Kruh Tuh Town, Kruh Tuh Township, 9 civilians were injured by shrapnel from mortar shells:

No.	No.
Name	Name
Age	Age
Treatment	Treatment

No.	1
Name	U M---
Age	65 years old
Treatment	Taung K’Lay hospital in Hpa-An

No.	2
Name	Daw N---
Age	60 years old
Treatment	Taung K’Yin Su hospital in Hpa-An

No.	3
Name	Maung O---
Age	6 years old
Treatment	Taung K’Yin Su hospital in Hpa-An

No.	4
Name	Ma[13] P---
Age	48 years old
Treatment	Taung K’Yin Su hospital in Hpa-An

No.	5
Name	Ko[14] Q---
Age	35 years old
Treatment	Taung K’Yin Su hospital in Hpa-An

No.	6
Name	U R---
Age	54 years old
Treatment	Taung K’Yin Su hospital in Hpa-An

No.	7
Name	Maung S---
Age	45 years old
Treatment	Taung K’Yin Su hospital in Hpa-An

No.	8
Name	Maung T---
Age	92 years old
Treatment	Taung K’Yin Su hospital in Hpa-An

No.	9
Name	U V---
Age	50 years old
Treatment	Mawlamyine hospital

No.	Name	Age	Treatment
1	U M---	65 years old	Taung K’Lay hospital in Hpa-An
2	Daw N---	60 years old	Taung K’Yin Su hospital in Hpa-An
3	Maung O---	6 years old	Taung K’Yin Su hospital in Hpa-An
4	Ma[13] P---	48 years old	Taung K’Yin Su hospital in Hpa-An
5	Ko[14] Q---	35 years old	Taung K’Yin Su hospital in Hpa-An
6	U R---	54 years old	Taung K’Yin Su hospital in Hpa-An
7	Maung S---	45 years old	Taung K’Yin Su hospital in Hpa-An
8	Maung T---	92 years old	Taung K’Yin Su hospital in Hpa-An
9	U V---	50 years old	Mawlamyine hospital

On March 26th 2023, at about 10 am, SAC LIB #546, under #12, based in Kyone K’Lay camp, indiscriminately shelled mortar shells 120mm [again] into Kruh Tuh Town, [fatally] injuring Daw B--- (67 years old). As soon as she was injured by shrapnel from mortar shells, she was sent to Kruh Tuh hospital for treatment. However, since Daw B--- was a person living with heart disease, and was [severely] injured, she passed away in the hospital.

[In total,] from March 25th to 26th 2023, 16 villagers were injured and two villagers were killed by SAC shelling in Kruh Tuh Tonwhsip; and one villager was shot dead by the SAC in Kruh Tuh Town.

Further background reading on the human rights situation in Dooplaya District in Southeast Burma can be found in the following KHRG reports: