SAGAING DIVISION – The terrorist junta forces raided Butalin Township for four straight days, abducting over 250 civilians they ran into on their way and also burning down IDP tents and motorcycles, reported the local people.
A column of around 150 junta soldiers from the Northwest Command in Monywa advanced along the Monywa-Butalin-Ye U Road from December 25 to 28. They abducted over 250 civilians on the way and reportedly brought over 150 of them to the junta base in Butalin.
“They came in five cars from the Northwest Command and started with Zeetaw Village in Butalin around 4 a.m. on December 25. The five cars dropped the junta forces at Zeetaw Village then returned to the Northwest Command. The junta soldiers abducted the people in the village and started the raid towards Butalin. They abducted everyone they see on their way from travellers to people working in the fields. Just on that day alone, around 150 people were abducted. That evening, the abducted civilians were brought into Butalin,” said a resident.
The junta forces then continued to abduct civilians from Khonmingyi Ward of Butalin and Lwalte Village on December 26, and more civilians from Butalin on December 27 before advancing towards Sipar Village. It is said that over 250 civilians have been abducted as of December 28 morning.
“The junta forces that came out of Butalin advanced along the Muu River bank from Sipar Village to the west of Kinsan Village and set fire to the tents of displaced people and eight motorcycles. That junta column entered Kutaw Village,” shared a resident.
The terrorist junta council’s raid forced the people from over 20 villages in northern Butalin Township to flee and it is said that the children and elders among those displaced people are suffering from deteriorating health due to it being the cold season.
