Myanmar: allegations and counter-allegations between the army and democracy supporters regarding the killings

Myanmar’s military government has denied mass killings of civilians by soldiers. The military government has blamed a pro-democracy rebel group for the deaths of 20 people, including three Buddhist monks and a woman. A rebel group opposing military rule claimed 22 bodies were found on Saturday at a Buddhist monastery complex in Nam Nain village in the southern part of Myanmar’s eastern Shan province. He blamed the army for the deaths. Information on this whole episode has not come from any unbiased source.

Due to the strict restrictions on the movement of people by the military regime, it is almost impossible to verify such incidents. This village is located about 80 kilometers east of the capital Naypyitaw. The area is part of the self-governing region of the Pa O ethnic minority. The area is ruled by the Pa-O National Organization (PNO), which is a partner in the military government, while another faction supports the rebel group. According to reports, the incident came to light after an army operation last month in several villages in western Myanmar.

It is alleged that at least 17 people were beheaded or killed by the army in the said operation. Critics of the military regime say there is strong evidence that the military, which took power in 2021 after ousting Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government, continues to commit war crimes. Anti-government groups and villagers who fled Nam Nein village but were connected to the monastery by phone claimed some 30 people took refuge in the building when fighting intensified last month.

The anti-government Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) released photos on social media showing bodies of monks lying close to a wall in the monastery’s main building with bullet wounds. Blood splatters and bullet holes are also visible on the wall. The local leader of the Karenni guerrillas, who took the photos, said the group’s snipers saw through rifle-mounted binoculars that about 100 soldiers were firing and setting houses on fire on Saturday.

Disclaimer:newsinfrance.com has not edited this news. This news has been published from PTI-language feed.