In Taze Township, Sagaing Region, the military conducted operations in villages, burning houses and killing 4 civilians while taking approximately 70 people as human shields, according to local residents. On March 23, the military forces entered Chaung Sone village, where they burned down houses and brutally killed 3 villagers. They then proceeded to raid the adjacent Phalan Chaing village, where they arrested around 70 people who were attending a religious donation ceremony in the village.
Among those arrested were men, women, elderly people, and youth – all of whom were ordinary villagers. In Phalan Chaing village, the military also beat and killed one civilian. Currently, due to communication lines being cut in the area, the exact location where the detained civilians have been taken remains unknown. The military forces and Pyu Saw Htee groups continue to conduct operations in the area, causing great fear and concern among the remaining local residents.
A local resident reported that the military raided the village donation ceremony and arrested many people, while those who were killed were beaten and murdered within the village itself. The military’s brutal actions have resulted in the loss of lives, homes, and property of local residents, and the security situation in the area continues to deteriorate. The military’s ongoing campaign of violence has severely impacted civilian life in the region, with local communities living in constant fear of further attacks and human rights violations.
