Myanmar has been in chaos after the military overthrew the democratic government of Aung San Suu Kyi. (file)
Yangon:
Myanmar soldiers have been accused of shooting 11 people and setting their bodies on fire in a village in the conflict-torn country’s central region, according to area residents and media reports.
Burnt remains were found in a village in Sagaing, an area that has seen fierce fighting between security forces and militias set up by opponents of the military regime since the February 1 coup, said residents, who said some of the victims were still alive. were also alive when it was burnt.
Video footage showing burnt bodies was circulated on social media and the images were published by some media, including the Myanmar Now news portal.
Reuters could not independently verify the authenticity of the footage or the claims of 11 deaths. A spokesman for Junta did not respond to calls seeking comment.
A volunteer aid worker in the area, who asked not to be identified, said telephone soldiers had entered Don Taw village early on Tuesday and that the victims were killed around 11am that day.
“The soldiers were brutally killing anyone,” the volunteer said, citing the accounts of witnesses. The volunteer has helped those who have fled from Don Taw and other nearby villages.
The volunteer said it was not clear whether the victims were members of the militia or ordinary citizens.
Myanmar has since overthrown Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratically elected government, with widespread protests and the formation of militias known as the People’s Defense Forces (PDF) to take on the well-equipped army. is in chaos.
Kyaw Wunna, a PDF member in the area, said he was informed by telephone that the army had reached firing weapons and that those detained had been taken to a field near the village before being killed.
Kyaw Vunna declined to disclose the source of the information.
Another volunteer aid worker said he had spoken to some of the witnesses of the 3,000 people who fled five villages in the area and went into hiding for fear of more arrests and killings.
A relative of one of the victims told Reuters that the dead man, Hate Ko, was a 22-year-old university student and was not a member of any militia and was not armed.
“It’s inhumane. I feel deep pain in my heart,” said the relative, who said the man had tried to run away but was wounded by bullets.
Dr Sasa, a spokesman for Myanmar’s shadow civilian government established after the coup, alleged that the victims were “beaten together, tortured and eventually burned alive”.
In a post on social media, he listed what he said were the names of 11, all male and including a 14-year-old boy.
“These horrific attacks show that the army has no regard for the sanctity of human life,” he said.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the UN was deeply concerned by reports of “horrific killings”.
Dujarric said, “We strongly condemn such violence and remind Myanmar military authorities of their obligations under international law to ensure the safety and security of civilians. Those responsible for this heinous act should be held accountable.” should be held.”
The Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a watchdog group cited by the United Nations, says more than 10,700 civilians have been detained by security forces and 1,300 killed since the military seized power.
Army says AAPP is biased and uses exaggerated data and hundreds of soldiers have also been killed.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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