The Karen National Union (KNU) Central Headquarters has officially announced that four civilians were killed due to heavy weapons and small arms fire by the military council forces in Kyaukkyi and Shwegyin townships of Nyaunglebin District, Bago Region. On May 21, soldiers from the military council’s Thanseik camp in Shwegyin Township deliberately fired K3 rifles at civilians traveling near the Nat Sin Bridge at Htinkyo Rubber Plantation, resulting in two civilian deaths and one injury. The deceased were identified as U Min Aung, age 54, from Wine Kyun village and Daw San Htay, age 62, from Tapin Chaung village, while Aung Zeyar Tun, age 21, from Tapin Chaung village was injured in the incident.
Furthermore, on May 23, soldiers from the military council’s Shwewa Battalion Infantry 307 fired two 155mm howitzer shells at Matawkun village in Kyaukkyi Township. The shells hit Daw San Kyi’s house, killing both Daw San Kyi, age 43, and Naw Aye Shwe, age 75. Similarly, on May 21 at 8:18 PM, Artillery Unit 314 of the military council fired two 120mm artillery shells into Pandikhon village in Kadipaw village tract, Thaton Township, despite there being no active fighting in the area. The shelling resulted in the death of Naw Aye Naing, age 48, from Pandikhon village, while Naw Mi Nu and her daughter Naw Khin Pa Pa Lay were injured by artillery shell fragments. Additionally, five houses in the village were destroyed by the artillery strikes, according to the official statement from KNU Central Headquarters.
