In the early morning hours of May 12, around 2 AM, military council forces from Infantry Battalion 50 raided Let Ma village in Gangaw Township, Magway Region, killing 11 civilians and arresting more than 20 others, according to local residents. The military forces suddenly entered the village, selectively shot civilians, and proceeded to arrest others before quickly withdrawing from the area.
The victims of the military council’s killings have been identified as Kyaw San Khaing (age 24), Thet Paing Oo (age 23), Aung Kyaw Min (age 39), Nay Lin Oo (age 25), Nyi Lay (age 27), John Ko Win (age 19), Thiha Lin (age 15), Myo Thiha (age 15), Hlan Htun (age 12), Kyaw Myat Thu (age 19), and Hmeint Wai (age 13). The victims ranged in age from 12 to 39 years old, with three victims being under the age of 15, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the killings that included both young children and adults.
According to a local resident, the military council forces entered the village, carried out the killings, and withdrew almost immediately afterward. This incident represents another instance of the military council’s brutal actions against civilians, particularly targeting young people and children. The fate of the more than 20 arrested civilians remains unknown, with local residents expressing serious concerns for their safety and well-being under military custody. This attack demonstrates the ongoing pattern of violence against civilians by military council forces in Myanmar, where innocent villagers, including minors, continue to be subjected to extrajudicial killings and arbitrary arrests.
