A representative from the Saytuttara Township People’s Defense Force has confirmed that four civilians were killed when the military council troops opened fire on two passenger vehicles near Kutaw Pyusawthi village in Saytuttara Township, Magway Region. The incident occurred around 9 PM on April 3rd between Kutaw Pyusawthi village and Aukwa village. The military council had been conducting what they called ‘clearance operations’ in the area since April 1st, with a column of approximately 35 troops and an ambush unit of over 60 newly trained soldiers operating in the region. They have also deployed military dogs and established two military dog checkpoints in the area.
The military council has been attempting to blame revolutionary forces for the incident, deliberately spreading misinformation to create division among the public. Local sources report that the military forces had been actively conducting operations in the southern part of Saytuttara Township with around 35 troops. By April 3rd, they had reached near Monzaw village, where approximately 60 newly trained soldiers and 5 military dogs were stationed. The troops typically set up ambush positions during the night, with two military dog checkpoints established along the route.
The People’s Defense Force official emphasized that the military council is deliberately spreading false propaganda to turn public opinion against revolutionary forces. The military had been conducting clearance operations in the area since April 1st, with both regular troops and ambush units present in the vicinity. The People’s Defense Force has pledged to respond decisively to these attacks on innocent civilians, stating that they will take strong retaliatory action against the military council’s brutality.
As the military council faces increasing defeats on the battlefield, they have intensified their oppression of civilians. Their tactics include bombing civilian areas from the air, occupying villages and planting landmines, restricting travel and extorting money from travelers, imposing curfews and shooting violators, and misusing military service laws to make arbitrary arrests. They have also been conducting forced recruitment, restricting daytime travel for extortion purposes, and implementing nighttime curfews under Section 144, which they use to justify shooting travelers. The military continues to commit human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests and extortion under the guise of military service laws, particularly targeting civilians in areas where they face military pressure from resistance forces.
