Four civilians were killed as a result of shootings by the military council forces in Myingyan Township, Mandalay Region, and Palaw Township, Tanintharyi Region. In Ngannan village of Myingyan Township, military troops opened fire without provocation on a mother and son who were searching for their missing family member on February 26 at around 7:30 PM. The son was killed instantly while the mother sustained severe injuries. According to the Shwe Kyoe Phyu People’s Defense Force and local residents, the incident occurred when the mother and son were looking for the father who had gone missing from their home. The military council soldiers, who were hiding in an ambush position south of the village, fired at them without any warning or justification.
In Palaw Township of Tanintharyi Region, another tragic incident occurred on the evening of February 27 when Pyu Saw Htee members based in Htamin Ma Sar village opened fire on displaced civilians who were returning to their homes from Taw Win village. Three civilians were killed instantly in this unprovoked attack. While the detailed circumstances of this incident are still under investigation, a spokesperson from the Palaw People’s Defense Force confirmed that the perpetrators were members of the Pyu Saw Htee group operating from Htamin Ma Sar village.
These brutal attacks by the military council forces and their affiliated groups have heightened security concerns among local residents. Internally displaced persons face significant risks even when attempting to return to their homes, and their daily survival has become increasingly challenging. While local People’s Defense Forces are working tirelessly to ensure civilian safety, they face considerable difficulties in containing the military council troops’ brutal actions. The ongoing violence has created an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty in these regions, with civilians bearing the brunt of the military council’s aggressive tactics. The situation continues to deteriorate as the military council forces maintain their campaign of violence against innocent civilians, making it increasingly difficult for people to carry out their daily activities or return to their normal lives.
