Voice Up IV: A Gendered Lens on Human Rights in Southeastern Burma (Sep-Nov 2024)

November 27, 2024

Introduction

This report is the fourth in a series of quarterly updates and analyses, combining data collected from the ground by the Women and Child Rights project of the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM).

Before the attempted coup in Burma on 1 February 2021, HURFOM published similar content in a bulletin-style format under the title ‘Voice Up.’ The Women and Children’s Rights project is of utmost importance as it seeks to monitor the situation of women and children in Mon areas and southern Burma and how it relates to the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Field staff collect and distribute information and data to our local and international networks.

The findings empower and educate women and children in the Mon community by providing information on their rights, according to CEDAW and CRC, and encouraging them to participate in the struggle to protect and enforce their fundamental freedoms.

Activities under the project include:

A bi-annual Mon and Burmese-language journal titled: Our Rights Journal;
Capacity building, which provides for training in women’s and children’s rights and training trainers in both areas;
Data collection and documentation on topics such as the trafficking of women and children and violence against women and child soldiers.

The cases of human rights violations perpetrated against women presented in this briefing paper are indicative of decades of military impunity. Despite their many challenges, this report is a testament to the dedication and perseverance of the women human rights defenders leading the documentation efforts.

Situation Overview for Women in Burma: September – November

The Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) has documented cases of women challenging the military junta to support the pro-democracy movement. In targeted areas of Mon State, Karen State, and the Tanintharyi region, women lead with strength and bravery. Their political participation in civil society has ensured that the voices of all communities are heard.

However, the military junta has attempted to violently silence their calls with ongoing threats and attacks on their lives. It is critical to note that despite women’s immense strides in the People’s Revolution, they still remain dramatically underrepresented in political arenas and in dialogue on ensuring a federal, democratic Burma. For example, women in the National Unity Government represent only 24% of the 37 leading positions.

Gender stereotypes are perpetuated by patriarchal entities and institutions that disregard women’s rights and their equal contributions. Women human rights defenders persist in advocating for the significance of gender-equal societies, aiming for a future in Burma characterized by leadership that upholds fundamental freedoms for all, irrespective of age, ethnicity, religion, or gender.

A new report by the Women’s League of Burma (WLB) stated that the ‘junta has treated civilians, including women and girls, as military enemies—subjecting them to arbitrary arrests, torture, killings, and sexual violence.’ These human rights violations are rampant and ongoing. WLB went on to note that the gendered crimes against women and girls are part of a worrying pattern of systematic violence that has occurred for decades.

This point was further emphasized in a briefing paper by the Women’s Peace Network, where it is noted that “sexual and gender-based violence by perpetrators, including armed groups, remains severely underreported due to fear of retaliation, lack of legal recourse and access to justice, and social stigma.”

HURFOM has documented similar findings.

Over the last reporting period between September and November 2024 of approximately 70 days, HURFOM observed a noticeable increase in the number of young women and children arbitrarily arrested, wounded and killed in aerial and ground bombardments. These communities are routinely under fire from the junta’s attacks, which continue to occur with impunity. Sexual violence continues to be used as a tool of terror and a weapon of war by the Burma Army.

HURFOM reported on the case of one young woman who was brutally murdered on September 8th after being raped by a military junta soldier who she was romantically involved with. Her body was discovered in a remote area with visible signs of violence. She had pieces of her jewelry missing, and despite an initial police investigation, the soldier responsible has still not been apprehended. Her death is a small reflection of the more extensive violence and human rights abuses occurring across Burma under the military junta.

In October and November, similar patterns of targeted attacks against women and children continued. Innocent civilians caught between the military junta and local armed resistance groups are increasing. These senseless killings have created a state of fear and insecurity, especially for women, who are worried for their safety and security. One such case occurred in Taku village, Myeik District, Tanintharyi Region, where a 63-year-old retired teacher, Daw Si Si Nwe, was brutally murdered.

Her body was found in a nearby plantation, approximately 50 feet from her home, with severe wounds to her head and face, likely caused by a machete. As is the case in many other incidents, no group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, further deepening the community’s sense of fear and uncertainty about who will be targeted next. This constant state of anxiety is compounded by the lack of legal or physical protection in the area, leaving communities vulnerable and defenseless.

A lack of accountability for their actions has only emboldened the regime to continue violating human rights norms and principles. The targeting of women and children reinforces their disregard for human life and the continued deterioration of the rule of law. Additionally, there needs to be collaborative efforts in seeking justice for the numerous victims of gender-based violence.

During this last reporting period, HURFOM attempted to cover all cases related to women, youth and children across its targeted areas. However, many of these cases are often underreported due to fears surrounding reprisals and the stigma that still finds fault with victims.

Overview of Incidents in September 2024
Throughout September, numerous serious human rights violations were reported by HURFOM in Mon State, Bago Region, and the Tanintharyi Division. These persistent assaults highlight the daily struggles of civilians trying to survive amid ongoing threats to their safety. Since the escalation of violence following the coup attempt, women and children have faced significant hardships.

In the Tanintharyi region, an artillery attack by military forces killed a middle-aged woman. It injured three others, including two teenagers who later succumbed to their injuries on the way to the hospital. Artillery shelling by the military also targeted Kha Ywal village in the Bago Region, wounding an elderly woman and a teenage boy.

On September 9, indiscriminate artillery attacks by junta forces in Bilin Township, Mon State, caused severe injuries to a young woman, as well as other civilians, including a middle-aged woman, an elderly woman, and her teenage granddaughter. On September 14, another girl, age 16, was seriously injured in a separate attack by the junta, followed by the wounding of a young woman near Thanbyuzayat on September 15.

Furthermore, drone attacks and airstrikes in Tenasserim Township led to six injuries, which included two women aged 55 and 30. A drone strike on September 23 resulted in the deaths of four villagers, three of whom were women, and left three others injured. Additionally, on September 9, a bombing by a fighter jet in Kyarinnseikyi Township, Karen State, caused severe injuries to a three-year-old child. Since late August, drone bombings in Tanintharyi Township have become more frequent, leading to an escalation in civilian casualties and damaging property. Many villagers have been affected by both drone and artillery attacks from junta forces amid the escalating conflict.

The junta also carried out a series of arbitrary arrests in Mon State and Tenasserim Division. On September 5, a husband and wife in Chaung Zone Township were arrested on charges of fraud and human trafficking. A young woman from Yebyu Township, detained on August 10 for alleged contact with the People’s Defense Force (PDF), has not been heard from since. On September 10 and 11, several residents from Ye Township, including five women, were arrested for alleged PDF connections, with one being beaten so severely that she was unable to walk.

HURFOM has also documented landmine incidents. In late August and early September, a woman in Thanbyuzayat Township suffered severe injuries from a landmine, while a passenger truck hit a landmine near Ka Mar Sai village in Thaton Township on September 1, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and injuring five others, which included four women and a child. Children in conflict zones face constant threats from unexploded ordnance, including landmines and artillery shells. The lack of awareness and educational initiatives increases the likelihood of additional casualties. Urgent action is needed to tackle these challenges.

These incidents highlight the deteriorating human rights situation for women and girls in southeastern Burma.

Arbitrary Arrests
Arbitrary arrests are indicative of a broader pattern of increasing surveillance, with the junta specifically targeting township police chiefs, lawyers, social group members, and civilians suspected of aiding resistance forces. Additionally, women are facing increased targeting by the junta due to their support for the pro-democracy movement.

On September 5th, a couple from Yaw Lut village, Chaung Zone Township, Mon State, were arrested at their home by the military junta. U Zaw Min and his wife, Daw Aye Nine, were detained at noon by junta soldiers and police members. The couple, who had been running a Japanese language center and with U Zaw Min serving as the monastery’s driver, were accused later in the evening of fraud and human trafficking. The basis for the unjust arrest was rooted in the fear that the Japanese language center the couple were running could encourage students to seek work opportunities abroad, which the junta believed challenged their control and recruitment efforts.

With the junta’s increased targeting of young people for forced conscription, this sort of training is seen as undermining their agenda. In the current climate, where the rule of law is fragile, the junta has accused the couple of human trafficking as a pretext for their arrest.

A resident of Yaw Lut shared:

The couple was forced from their home without any explanation. It wasn’t until later in the evening that authorities accused them of fraud and human trafficking.’

In a similar incident on August 10th, a 23-year-old woman named Ma Ka Yin Ma was apprehended at the Chaung Taung security gate in Ye Township while returning home from visiting her sister in the hospital. She is from Ya Phue Yaw Thit village in Yebyu Township, located in the Tenasserim Division, and was arrested by junta security forces.”

Her husband reported:

“When I called her after 6 PM, Burma Army soldiers answered and informed me she had been arrested. They claimed she would be released after interrogation.”

Ma Ka Yin Ma has not been seen since her arrest. Junta police say she has connections with the People’s Defense Force (PDF), although her husband maintains she has not contacted any PDF members.

On September 10th, additional arrests occurred in Ye Township. U Aung Maung, 45, Ko Bo Bo, 19, and Ko Aye Min Latt, 20, all Yan Myoe Aung Ward residents in Ye Town, were apprehended by junta forces. The following day, on September 11th, five women, including the 23-year-old Ma Khine Tha Zin Oo from Chaung Taung village, were also taken into custody. They were all accused of financially supporting the resistance and sharing information about junta troop movements.

Reports indicate that Ma Khine Tha Zin Oo suffered severe beatings and is currently unable to walk. These cases highlight the junta’s ongoing violent repression of civilians. More still, this pattern of arbitrary arrests and violence continues to create widespread fear and unrest in Mon State and the Tanintharyi Division.

Indiscriminate Firing

The continuous artillery bombardment and mortar attacks by the Burma Army have targeted innocent civilians, creating a climate of fear and resulting in widespread displacement. Field reports indicate that since September 30, 2024, junta forces have relentlessly shelled villages like Kaw Bein, Min Ywa, and Dhammatha while also restricting travel between these locations. The ongoing assaults have forced almost 800 households in Mon and Karen States to flee, with thousands more unable to find refuge due to travel limitations. Many residents remain trapped in increasingly dangerous situations as the shelling persists.

On September 5, junta troops positioned at “Pagoda Hill” in Win Pyan village, Bilin Township, Mon State, launched nine artillery rounds targeting Ah Luu Lay village. The strikes were random, occurring with no active confrontations in the vicinity. One shell detonated on a village roadway, injuring 19-year-old Naw Mya Moe New. She suffered injuries to her right arm and back and was taken to Bilin Township General Hospital with assistance from local rescue personnel.

On September 9, joint resistance forces engaged in an intense battle with junta troops near the “Tan Da Dar” security gate close to Tha Pyay Ne village, Bilin Township. A passenger truck was caught in the crossfire, leaving 37-year-old Daw K Thi Oo, a resident of Ye Township, with a gunshot wound to her waist. During the same clash, the junta fired artillery that injured 55-year-old Daw Mi Tay and her 14-year-old granddaughter, Ma Nan Shwe Yi. Both victims, from Tha Pyay Ne village, suffered wounds to their foreheads and chests and were rushed to Thaton District Hospital.

Less than one week later, on September 14, the military junta launched further artillery attacks from the “Than Da Dar” security gate in Bilin Township, targeting nearby villages without any provocation. One shell struck a house in Phoe War Thane village, critically injuring 17-year-old Naw Ya Min, who was sleeping at the time. She received medical attention in the intensive care unit at Bilin General Hospital, with reports indicating that the artillery debris pierced her neck.

At noon the following day, September 15, an artillery explosion occurred on the road between Kyaung Yaw and Well Kha Mi village, Thanbyuzayat Township, Mon State. The blast injured 19-year-old Nai Ngae Htoo Htoo Lin and Ma Zin Mar Htwe, both from Well Kha Mi village, as they were returning from a local waterfall. Nai Ngae Htoo Htoo Lin injured his right leg and left arm, while Ma Zin Mar Htwe injured her left arm.

They were taken to Thanbyuzayat Hospital and later transferred to Mawlamyine General Hospital. This attack was also indiscriminate, with no known clashes in the vicinity of Well Kha Mi village and no responsible perpetrator identified.

Drone Attacks

On the morning of September 11, the military junta violently clashed with the local People’s Defence Force (PDF) in the village of Kywel Htain Kone, located in Tenasserim Township, Tanintharyi Division. In an effort to strengthen their ground troops, junta forces at the “Baw Di Karm” Bridge began launching artillery strikes.

The artillery attack instantly claimed the life of 40-year-old Daw San Thwel and severely injured 60-year-old Daw San Thi, 15-year-old Ma Phyu Zar Aye, and 18-year-old Ko Nay Nine Thu. Tragically, Daw San Thi and Ma Phyu Zar Aye succumbed to their injuries while being transported to Nyaung Pin Kwin Hospital. Ko Nay Nine Thu suffered critical injuries, including a shattered leg, and he, too, died while on the way to the hospital.

Two days later, on September 13, at noon, at least 13 indiscriminate artillery shells were fired by junta forces from Thein Zayat base in Kyaikhto and Lappan village, Waw Township, into Kha Ywal village, Bago Region. The attack injured two villagers: 66-year-old Daw Win Aye and 18-year-old Maung Hein Htet Aung. Daw Win Aye was struck by shrapnel while hanging laundry, suffering a severe leg injury, and Maung Hein Htet Aung sustained a wound to his right ear as he walked along the road. Both received treatment at Thein Zayat Hospital.

From September 4 to 9, approximately 200 junta troops engaged in fierce clashes with the local People’s Defense Force (PDF) in the Burnlaw village tract, Tenasserim Township, Tanintharyi Division. During these skirmishes, the junta employed drone strikes that left six villagers injured. Among the wounded were 53-year-old U Soe Lwin, 42-year-old Ko Thar Pu, and a 44-year-old resident.

On September 9, 55-year-old Daw Khin Well, 40-year-old U Sein Win, and 30-year-old Daw Phyu Zin Htwe from western Burnlaw village were also injured in drone attacks. According to an anonymous local rescue worker, the injuries sustained by the villagers were not considered life-threatening, and they are currently receiving medical care.

In a separate incident on September 9, a military junta fighter jet dropped a 300-pound bomb on Kyone Kha Wun village in Kyarinnseikyi Township, Karen State. The explosion caused severe injuries to three-year-old Maung Win Min Nine and 60-year-old U Maung Pane. Both were rushed to Kyarinnseikyi General Hospital. The airstrike caused extensive damage to homes and forced hundreds of residents from neighbouring villages, including Kyone Kha Wun, Taung D, Kha Lel, Da Gon Die, and Phar Pya, to flee.

The violence escalated on September 11 when four villagers, including three women, were killed in a drone bombing attack in Kywe Htain Kone village, Tanintharyi Township. This attack came after junta troops launched an offensive in several nearby towns. Among the dead were 18-year-old Ma Phyu Zin Aye, 21-year-old Maung Ne Naing Thu, 40-year-old Daw San Thwel, and 57-year-old Daw San Thi.

On September 23, although there were no active clashes, Artillery Battalion No. 306 from Eastern Maw Tone village deployed a drone attack aimed at Nyaung Pin Kone village within the Ban La Mut village tract, located in Tenasserim Township. The drone bomb detonated near the Union Highway, injuring three women who were at a local morning market. The injured individuals—32-year-old Ma Ngein Ngein Yu, 36-year-old Ma Thi Thi Moe, and 62-year-old Daw Tin Yi—were taken to Myeik General Hospital for medical care.

“The women were just waiting for the market truck to arrive when the bomb fell near them,” a resident said, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the junta’s ongoing attacks.

Landmines

In Burma, landmines regularly result in fatalities and serious injuries, particularly as the junta deliberately places them in villages and nearby civilian areas. On August 30, at 5 PM., 32-year-old Ma Ngae Ngae Htwe from Ye Tha Khun village, Sakhan Gyi village tract, Thanbyuzayat Township, Mon State, suffered serious injuries after stepping on a handmade landmine while searching for bamboo shoots with her husband. The explosion affected her right arm, thigh, and cheek. She was subsequently taken to Thanbyuzayat Hospital for medical care.

In a separate incident on September 1st, at 8:30 PM., a passenger truck was hit by a landmine near Ka Mar Sai village, Don Won village tract, Thaton Township, Mon State. The driver and one passenger were killed instantly, while five others, including women and children, were injured.

A local rescue team member shared:

“When we arrived, two people had already died. Four women had serious injuries, and a child sustained a minor leg injury. The truck was destroyed.”

The injured individuals were taken to Thein Sake Hospital and Thaton District Hospital for additional treatment. There has been an increase in landmine attacks on vehicles near Ka Mar Sai village along the Mawlamyine-Yangon Highway, with the military junta and resistance forces blaming one another for these occurrences.

From January to June 2024 alone, there have been 692 victims of explosions caused by landmines and unexploded ammunition across Burma, with 37 percent of the victims being children. Furthermore, these incidents highlight the ongoing dangers faced by civilians in conflict zones, where landmines continue to pose a significant threat to safety.

Violence Against Women
On September 8th, the body of Daw Chit Chit Htoo, a 26-year-old primary school teacher from Mu Kwel village, Chaung Zone Township, Mon State, was found near a firewood forest. She had been raped and murdered by her partner, Aung Thu Hein, a junta soldier. Daw Chit Chit Htoo had disappeared for eight days after visiting Aung Thu Hein, who had arranged a taxi to pick her up on September 1st.

Her body was found 50 feet away from the “Dat Paung Su” Pagoda, showing stab wounds, with a G3 rifle bayonet located nearby. The local rescue team helped transport her remains to Chaung Zone Township General Hospital. Important belongings were missing, such as her necklace, ring, and earrings. Although the police have interrogated the taxi driver, no arrests have been made concerning her murder.

This case is not isolated. Junta soldiers have evaded accountability for decades for their systematic crimes against women. The murder of Daw Chit Chit Htoo is indicative of the deeply ingrained military impunity, which has thrived for decades due to a lack of accountability at the highest levels.

Overview of Incidents in October 2024
HURFOM recorded a concerning rise in human rights abuses in Karen State, Tanintharyi Region, and Mon State in October 2024. With the junta’s military actions escalating, civilians endured more casualties, arbitrary arrests, and forced relocations.

In Karen State’s Myawaddy Township, junta artillery shelling inflicted serious harm on the local population. Two villagers sustained injuries, and two school buildings suffered extensive damage, compromising access to education in the area. Further south, in Ta Mauk Chone village of Tanintharyi Township (Myeik District), a seven-year-old child was killed. Three others, including a mother and her two children, were wounded in relentless artillery fire targeting civilian areas.

Meanwhile, in Mon State, indiscriminate attacks on civilians continued unabated. A female passenger was wounded in an attack on the “Shwe Sin Sat Kyar” express bus as junta forces indiscriminately fired at vehicles travelling through the area. In Long Lone Township, Tanintharyi Region, three villagers lost their lives, and eight were injured amid ongoing crossfire between junta troops and resistance forces. Additional reports from Karen State confirmed the death of a ten-year-old child due to artillery strikes, and in Mon State’s Than Za Yet town, three elderly villagers and a young girl suffered injuries from junta-launched artillery shells.

The junta’s continual airstrikes and drone attacks have inflicted serious casualties across the region. A series of airstrikes in Karen State, the Tanintharyi Division, and Mon State led to the deaths of five civilians—two of whom were children—and left at least 14 others injured. A particularly heartbreaking incident in Hpapun Township, Karen State, resulted in the death of a 50-year-old woman. In Day Law Pu village, an airstrike took the lives of a father and his three-year-old daughter. Furthermore, another drone strike injured a 62-year-old woman in Tanintharyi Township, with other villagers, including children, also sustaining injuries from similar attacks.

Arbitrary arrests and detentions were widespread in Mon State and the Tanintharyi Division throughout the year. HURFOM reported that eight individuals went missing after being arrested by junta forces, with no updates on their status. In Paung Township, eight people were detained on suspicion of ties to the People’s Defense Force (PDF), and an 18-year-old woman was also arrested in Ye Township. Additionally, two youths sustained gunshot wounds from junta troops.

Violence against women remains a persistent issue. In Kaw Thaung Township, situated in the Tanintharyi Division, a 50-year-old woman was forcibly removed from her village by an administrator appointed by the junta. This administrator alleged that her son had connections to the PDF. For her safety, the woman had to move to a nearby town, leaving her husband in prison.

This sequence of events highlights the increasing atmosphere of fear, violence, and impunity created by the junta’s ongoing assaults on civilians in southeastern Burma. It also emphasizes the deteriorating conditions for civilians, who face the threat of injury or death even within the presumed safety of their homes and villages.

HURFOM remains committed to documenting these abuses, providing evidence to international stakeholders, and advocating for justice and accountability for the affected communities.

Arbitrary Arrests

Eight residents were detained in Paung Township, Mon State, on suspicion of involvement with the People’s Defense Forces (PDF), resulting in enforced disappearances without communication or updates provided to their families. According to family members and close associates, there has been no news regarding their whereabouts since their arrests.

On October 4, junta forces apprehended 14-year-old Maung Aye Chan and 19-year-old Maung Kaung Myat Soe from Oak Ta Dar village while they were travelling along the Yangon-Mawlamyine Highway near Zin Kyaik. The junta alleged they had connections to the local PDF. Four other villagers were also detained: 16-year-old Maung Thant Zin from Oak Ta Dar, 46-year-old Ko Thein Naing from Nyaung Kon Gyi, and 63-year-old U Sein Thaung Kyi from Thae Kon village.

On October 8, the military junta apprehended 18-year-old Ma Mon Mon from Ward 6 in Chaung Taung village, Ye Township, Mon State, claiming she was linked to the PDF. Local villagers told HURFOM that she has disappeared since her arrest.

“We have no information about her since her detention. We’re concerned she might be tortured, and we fear the junta will target other residents,” said a local villager. Currently, junta forces are conducting extensive searches throughout the wards in Chaung Taung village.

On October 10, an unidentified armed group abducted 50-year-old Daw Khin Hnaung from Maung Ma Kan village in Long Lone Township, Tanintharyi Division. Her family has reported her missing for ten days since the incident. According to local sources, Daw Khin Hnaung was cooking at the “Lay Thar” monastery when two men on a motorcycle abducted her. Her residence, adjacent to the Maung Ma Kan Police Station, has raised suspicions of her being an informant, which may have contributed to her enforced disappearance.

A week and a half later, on the night of October 19, at 9 PM, joint forces of junta soldiers and police approached a group of youth setting off firecrackers near the “Sithu Tun” restaurant in Nan Khe ward. When some of the young people tried to escape, they were shot at and subsequently detained. During the incident, 17-year-old Maung Min Chit Thu and Maung Arkar Phyo from Nan Khe ward suffered gunshot wounds to their arms and legs. In total, three youths were apprehended, and the two injured individuals are currently receiving care at Thaton District Public Hospital. They have remained hospitalized as of October 21.

These incidents reflect the increasing repression and arbitrary arrests in the Mon and Tanintharyi Regions, creating a climate of fear and uncertainty among local communities. HURFOM continues to monitor and document these violations, highlighting the urgent need for accountability and justice for those affected.

Indiscriminate Firing

Ongoing shelling has created widespread fear among locals as violence persists in the region. These attacks have consequently resulted in civilian casualties and considerable damage to homes, schools, hospitals, and places of worship. The alarming frequency of these targeted assaults on infrastructure, along with the apparent disregard for human life, highlights the extreme measures the military junta is willing to take in its illegitimate pursuit of power.

On October 2, junta forces launched artillery attacks on Pha Lu Gyi and Pha Lu Lay villages, east of Dawna, in Myawaddy Township, Karen State. The attacks injured two villagers and damaged two school buildings. The artillery assault, carried out by Swor Daw Kone’s artillery battalion using 120-mm shells, caused significant damage to the two school buildings in Pha Lu Gyi village. Additionally, a local man and woman in Pha Lu Lay village were injured in the explosions.

Less than one week later, on October 9, a seven-year-old girl tragically lost their life in an artillery explosion close to Ta Mauk Chone village in Tanintharyi Township, Myeik District. The mother also suffered a shrapnel wound to her back, while the child from Kywal Htain Kwin village sustained only a minor injury to the cheek. The explosion damaged three motorcycles and injured two individuals from Kywal Kuu village: a mother and her seven-year-old child and a child from Kywal Htain Kwin village who were on their way back from selling betel nuts.

On October 7, the “Shwe Sin Sat Kyar” express bus was attacked along the Ye-Thanbyuzayat Highway near Aye Kabar village in Thanbyuzayat Township, Mon State. During the assault, a 30-year-old passenger, Ma Nwe Ye Lin, sustained a gunshot wound to her lower body. She was promptly transported to Thanbyuzayat General Hospital with assistance from local emergency and rescue teams. This incident follows months of ongoing clashes between military junta forces and joint resistance groups along the Ye-Thanbyuzayat Highway since July 2024.

In Long Lone Township, located in the Dawei District of the Tanintharyi Region, three villagers were killed. Eight others sustained injuries during ongoing skirmishes between junta forces and the People’s Defense Forces. The conflict escalated on October 12 when junta forces launched offensives targeting the villages of Gaw Inn, Nhyin Maw, Ye Phyu, Sap Pyal, and Nhyin Pot within Long Lone Township.

Artillery and drone bombardments by junta troops resulted in the deaths of three residents from the Oak Ye Phyu village tract and injuries to eight civilians from the Gaw Inn and Sap Pyal villages. Among the deceased was Daw Ma Nge, a 70-year-old woman who was at home when she was struck by gunfire on October 17:

“There were many bullet casings found along the path to Daw Ma Nge’s house. We have already cremated her,” reported a local source.

Another victim, Daw Thet Thet, who was in her 50s and had heart disease, reportedly suffered a heart attack induced by the sound of gunfire.

On October 12, the 284th Light Infantry Battalion shelled Kya Khat Chaung village in Kyarinnseikyi Township, Karen State, despite the absence of active fighting. This attack resulted in the deaths of a 10-year-old child and a resident. Four artillery shells were launched, one of which struck a house in Kya Khat Chaung, injuring Naw Ake Khu (age 10), Gay Law Ell (age 13), Ma Hla Tun (age 17), and U Pan Myine (age 64):

“The injured were transported to Kyarinnseikyi Hospital that evening, but Naw Ake Khu and U Pan Myine unfortunately died from their injuries the following morning (October 13),” reported a local source.

On the same day, the 207th Light Infantry Battalion from Than Za Yet in Kyike Hto Township, Mon State, carried out indiscriminate artillery strikes in Ward #5 of Than Za Yet Town, even though there was no armed conflict nearby. This assault resulted in injuries to 67-year-old Daw Htay Htay, her 70-year-old husband U Than Maung, and their 12-year-old granddaughter Ma Moe Thin Zar Hein. All three victims were taken to Than Za Yet General Hospital and, as of October 15, remain hospitalized.

Drone Attacks

The military is increasingly utilizing drones. Junta forces have been employing heavy artillery and drone strikes against densely populated civilian regions. This escalation brings to light serious concerns regarding justice and accountability for the affected civilian population.

According to a report by the Karen National Union (KNU) Brigade 5, a woman was killed in Hpapun Township, Karen State, following an airstrike by junta forces, despite no active fighting in the area. On October 2, at 2 PM, two fighter aircraft dropped ten bombs over Wards 1 and 2 in Hpapun Township. One of the bombs struck Naw Heh Khu, a 50-year-old mother of six, while she was gathering vegetables near her home. She died instantly from the impact.

On the same day, the junta’s 306th Artillery Regiment conducted a drone strike on Western Maw Tone village in Tanintharyi Township, Tanintharyi Division. Three bombs were dropped near the village school and a house, resulting in the death of 6-year-old Ma Juy Le Yar, whose skull was fractured by the explosion. The blast also damaged the school and house, injuring three children who were inside the home:

“Two bombs exploded between the house and the school, with another one exploding elsewhere,” a resident confirmed.

On October 5, the junta launched airstrikes on Day Law Pu village in KNU’s Hpapun District, deploying two 500-pound bombs that killed a 25-year-old man and his three-year-old daughter instantly. A 14-year-old girl was also injured in the same airstrike, according to KNU Brigade 5.

In Kyune Kone village, Ta Ra Nar village tract, Kyikehmayaw Township, Mon State, the junta’s 81st Light Infantry Battalion carried out drone attacks on October 5, injuring three members of a family. The bombs struck the home of Daw Mon Lay, injuring her, her 11-year-old daughter, Ma Moe Myint San, and her three-year-old son, Maung Hein Chit. Most villagers have fled the area in response to the ongoing violence.

On October 8, the junta’s 561st Light Infantry Battalion deployed drones to drop at least ten bombs on the West Ban Law village tract in Tanintharyi Township, Myeik District, Tanintharyi Division, suspecting the presence of the People’s Defense Forces. The assault injured 62-year-old Daw Nwe and destroyed three houses:

“The bombs fell on her house, injuring her while she was in the restroom,” a local villager reported.

On October 9, Ta Mote Chone village in Tanintharyi Township, Tanintharyi Division, faced artillery and drone attacks from junta forces despite no nearby combat being reported. These attacks led to the death of a seven-year-old child and left three other villagers hurt. Artillery shells detonated, injuring a mother and her son from Kywel Kuu village, as well as a child from Kywel Htein Kwin village. The mother suffered back injuries, while the child from Kywel Htein Kwin sustained minor lower-body injuries. Both are currently receiving care at Myeik Hospital.

Since October 13, junta forces have conducted multiple assaults on villages within Long Lone Township, such as Nyin Maw, Gaw In, and Oak Ye Phyu. On October 14, at 2 PM, gunfire broke out near Gaw In village following a drone strike, resulting in injuries to several residents, including eight-year-old Maung Shine Wunna Aung, 13-year-old Ma Hnin Wit Wah, 20-year-old Ma Nu Nu Hlaing, 21-year-old Ma Thet Thet Wai, and 52-year-old Daw Thein Ree.

Revolutionary forces stated that the junta used numerous drones in the conflicts, further employing terror tactics to scare and inflict harm on civilians.

Violence Against Women

On October 17, the Administrator of 10-Mile Village in Kaw Thaung Township, Tanintharyi Division, evicted a 50-year-old woman from her residence, asserting that she was the mother of a member of the People’s Defense Force (PDF). This incident occurred following a clash between junta forces and the PDF close to 19-Mile Village on October 15. In retaliation, the village Administrator claimed her son was linked to the PDF and mandated her departure. Living alone, the woman had previously earned her livelihood through sewing, as her husband is currently serving a prison sentence:

“She is deeply shaken by the threats. With her husband in jail and her son in the PDF, she has no one to turn to,” a resident shared.

Facing pressure from the administrator and special branch forces, the woman had to move to a nearby village, abandoning her home and source of income. This situation highlights the persistent targeting of PDF members’ families in Tanintharyi, worsening the challenges experienced by already marginalized individuals.

Overview of Incidents in November 2024

Throughout November, women and girls continued to be targeted by the military junta as attacks escalated. Findings shared by the Women’s League of Burma revealed over 500 cases of sexual violence against women occurring since the coup. Several women included in the findings were raped and then murdered by their attackers. Women and children suffer insurmountable trauma and pain in conflict, in addition to the ongoing threat of gender-based violence and discrimination.

In HURFOM target areas, violence continued to be unrelenting. A woman who was forcibly disappeared by the junta in October had still not been heard from by her family, raising fears and concerns. Daw Tin Mar Win, a 48-year-old resident of Chaung Taung village, was taken into custody in the evening by junta forces, who accused her of maintaining contact with the People’s Defense Forces (PDF).

Family members and those close to her believe the arrest may be linked to her son’s involvement in the resistance movement: “Her son is part of the resistance forces. Perhaps they took her because of him. We have no updates on her location or well-being,” a family friend shared.

Indiscriminate firing, including artillery and mortar shells, is a frequent occurrence. Civilians caught amid the junta’s attacks have died and been wounded in their homes, as was the case of an elderly woman who died after police officers in Theinzayat Town, Mon State, fired two 60-mm artillery shells which struck and killed her instantly. Her 15-year-old granddaughter was wounded by shrapnel in the aftermath.

Since the morning of November 2, the military junta has fired at least 20 rounds of artillery into the Anan Kwin village area, located along the Thanbyuzayat-Three Pagodas Road near the Mon State and Karen State border. In addition, ongoing clashes and a military offensive by the junta have forced more than 5,000 locals in Kyaikhto Township, Mon State, to flee. The Karen National Union (KNU) base in Kyaikhto has collaborated with local networks to provide displaced residents shelter, food, and medical assistance.

During the offensive, junta troops allegedly took eight workers from the Win Kalaw village tract as human shields. Local sources indicate that these individuals were released on November 4 when the junta forces retreated. The majority of those displaced across Burma are women and children who the conflict has disproportionately impacted. As violence escalates, people are becoming increasingly unsafe and have limited options for protection and survival. Local service groups, including civil society organizations, have largely filled the gaps in providing women and children with food, shelter, and medicine.

In October, concerns heightened as the military junta increased its presence around the Gyaing River area, raising fears among locals in Kyaikmayaw Township in Mon State and Kaw Ka Rate Township in Karen State. From September 30 to November 13, junta forces continuously shelled villages along the Gyaing River, including Kawt Bein, Min Ywa, and Dhammasa, while deploying additional military assets and troops.

Landmines also injured a local woman who was walking through the rubber plantation she worked at in Ya Line village, Yebyu Township, in the Tanintharyi Region. The junta often places landmines in areas which civilians frequent for work or leisure. They have also not hesitated to plant them near clinics and schools, which directly threatens and undermines the safety of villagers.

As the final month of the reporting period came to an end, HURFOM continued to be deeply concerned about the relentless violence perpetrated by the Burma Army, which employs terror tactics to intimidate and isolate innocent individuals.

Arbitrary Arrests
On October 30, a local woman from Chaung Taung village, Ye Township, Mon State, was reportedly detained by junta troops at her home under suspicions of connections with the People’s Defense Force (PDF), according to sources close to her family.

Daw Tin Mar Win, a 48-year-old resident of Chaung Taung village, was taken into custody in the evening by junta forces, who accused her of maintaining contact with the PDF. Family members and those close to her believe the arrest may be linked to her son’s involvement in the resistance movement. As of November 5, her family remains unaware of her whereabouts, adding to their distress.

“We haven’t heard any news yet. She’s a fisherwoman with no close relatives left. Given the situation, no one dares to search for her,” added another close contact.

This incident follows the September 10 detention of the father of a Ye Guerrilla Force (YGF) member, who was similarly accused of supporting the PDF. Junta forces also sealed off the man’s phone shop after his arrest. In September and October alone, at least seven residents from Chaung Taung village have been detained under similar accusations of connections to the PDF.

These arbitrary arrests underscore the junta’s ongoing campaign of fear and repression in the region, leaving communities increasingly vulnerable and uncertain about their safety.

Indiscriminate Firing
On November 5, at 5:45 PM., three police officers arrived by car near Street 3 in Ward No. 5, also known as Yetkwetgyi Ward, in Theinzayat Town, Mon State. The officers fired two 60-mm artillery shells that directly struck the residence of Daw Khin Myint on Street No. 5.

Daw Khin Myint, approximately 70 years old, sustained severe injuries to her head and abdomen and tragically died on the spot. Her 15-year-old granddaughter, Ma Lae Lae San, was also injured, with shrapnel wounds to her right palm and further injuries from the artillery fragments.

One of the shells landed and exploded in the southeast section of Ward No. 5, causing additional damage to the area. Eyewitnesses reported that one of the police officers involved in the attack was a resident of Ward No. 5, accompanied by other informants.

In a separate incident, a woman was injured by a gunshot fired by junta troops on November 7, at a palm wine shop situated between Tha Yet Hnit Khwa and Thin Kyun villages, near the Dawei-Myeik highway in Tha Yet Chaung Township, Dawei District.

The incident occurred following an attack by the People’s Defense Forces (PDF), who targeted junta troops with a landmine at 9:40 AM on November 6, between Tha Yet Hnit Khwa and Thin Kyun villages. Video footage released by the PDF on the evening of November 7 confirms the attack.

After the mine explosion, the junta troops stopped and opened fire, during which a woman at the palm wine shop was struck in the thigh. She was later transported to a hospital in Dawei by a monk’s vehicle from Thin Kyun village for medical treatment.

This event follows a recent escalation of violence in the area. Between October 25 and November 1, a young man from Yan Taung village, detained by junta troops while riding his motorcycle, was reportedly killed by the soldiers stationed along the eastern road between Tha Yet Hnit Khwa and Mae Nae Oh villages.

Despite no active conflict in the area, military junta forces fired artillery shells into Kyone Laung Haung village in Ye Township, Mon State, on November 12, striking the compound of a Basic Education Middle School. At 4 AM, Infantry Battalion 343, stationed at Ar Yu Taung in Ye Township, launched at least two artillery rounds into the village. The first shell landed near the local monastery, while the second struck the school compound, shattering windows and damaging nearby buildings. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among teachers or residents; however, the incident caused minor damage to the school buildings.

Parents are now deeply concerned for the safety of their children, particularly as the school is set to reopen. Many families are reluctant to send their children back, fearing additional attacks.

Kyone Laung Haung is known for active operations by the Ye Balu armed resistance group, prompting ongoing air patrols and artillery strikes by junta forces in the area. Earlier this year, in January and February, Infantry Battalions 343 and 587 shelled residential areas and rubber plantations in the village, resulting in the tragic death of an 11-year-old child, serious injuries to a young man still receiving treatment at Yangon General Hospital, and injuries to 14 other civilians.

The junta killed a young woman and injured five others in Shin Mokthi village, Dawei Township, following artillery shelling by junta forces stationed at the Shwe Gu Bridge on the Dawei-Myeik Highway. The attack occurred on the night of November 16, at 8 PM., after clashes erupted between junta troops and resistance forces. Earlier that evening, members of the Kawthoolei Armed Forces (KTLA) launched an attack on the Shwe Gu Bridge checkpoint. In response, the junta indiscriminately shelled nearby villages, including Yaung Maw and Shin Mokthi.

One shell struck a workers’ dormitory in Shin Mokthi village, home to several migrant workers. A 19-year-old migrant worker from Upper Myanmar, Ma Chit Moe Swe, was killed instantly. Five other individuals sustained injuries and are now receiving treatment at Dawei Hospital, according to local sources.

“Shells landed on the workers’ dormitory, killing Ma Chit Moe Swe immediately and injuring five others,” a local resident confirmed.

This incident follows earlier resistance attacks on the Shwe Gu Bridge checkpoint on November 3, 9, and 10, which did not provoke a similar junta response. However, on November 16, over ten artillery shells were fired indiscriminately into nearby villages.

The Shwe Gu Bridge checkpoint, located on the Dawei-Myeik Highway, is surrounded by several villages, including Shin Mokthi, Yaung Maw, Saw Wa, and Yaung Zin, all of which remain under threat from junta shelling.

Landmines
On November 10, a 40-year-old woman from Ya Line village, Yebyu Township, in Tanintharyi Region, sustained injuries after stepping on a landmine while at a rubber plantation. The woman had traveled to Kyauk Ka Nyar village to purchase rubber slices. While moving through the plantation area, she stepped on a landmine, resulting in a serious leg injury.

“Her plantation is located in Kyauk Ka Nyar. She was buying rubber slices from another plantation and stepped on the landmine while collecting them,” a local source reported.

The injured woman was admitted to Dawei General Hospital for further treatment. According to local sources, the landmine was planted by junta forces, who have restricted villagers’ access to the area. The ongoing conflict between the junta and resistance forces has led to frequent landmine incidents in Tenasserim, Dawei, Tha Yet Chaung, and Yebyu Townships, leaving residents in constant danger.

Comparative Analysis
Throughout the reporting period, women and children faced endless attacks from the military junta. These incidents are widespread and systematic, yet they persist without accountability. In southeastern Burma, ongoing appeals to the international community for action highlight growing concerns for civilian safety. Across the country, countless individuals continue to endure the violence of a regime that has never faced repercussions.

According to a report by The Irrawaddy on September 7, the junta launched airstrikes that killed at least 40 civilians, including children, in areas such as Chin, Shan, and Karenni States, as well as the Magwe and Sagaing regions. Attacks in these locations are rising as opposition forces have gained territory in areas where the junta hopes to regain control. This campaign of terror is fueled by coup leader Min Aung Hlaing, who has shown a repeated disregard for human life.

The frequency and brutality of the countrywide violence prompted UNICEF to express grave concerns following reports that at least ten children had been killed in less than a week due to airstrikes in Burma.

The attacks reportedly destroyed community-based learning centres and injured several others, further exacerbating the impact on civilians. Of the more than 3.4 million people displaced, n early half are children who have been gravely impacted by the war. While the international community has condemned the attacks, words too often fall short of meaningful action. UNICEF and other UN bodies have repeatedly been urged by civil society to take action on the atrocities occurring against civilians.

A report released by Myanmar Peace Monitor on September 21 revealed that since the failed military coup, at least 73 children have been killed nationwide due to airstrikes, shelling, and various forms of violence, including incidents in Chin State and the Sagaing Region. It is critical to note that local organizations are reporting significantly higher numbers across their communities who have been directly impacted by military violence.

Additionally, Myanmar Now also reported on September 23 that junta airstrikes in Myingyan Township, Mandalay Region, killed a 23-year-old woman and injured three others. The attacks continued across the region, with further casualties reported on September 24, when artillery shells killed two women and four children in Thone Se Pay village, Madaya Township.

The attacks on villages have instilled deep fear and trauma, especially among children. As violence escalates and the timing of indiscriminate assaults remains uncertain, families struggle to find ways to ensure their safety. This increasing violence throughout Burma, which includes targeted killings and indiscriminate airstrikes, underscores the worsening humanitarian crisis and its devastating effects on civilian lives, particularly those of women and children.

In October, the assaults against civilians continued to escalate.

According to reports by Mizzima News, the military junta targeted innocent people, resulting in significant casualties, including women and children. On October 2, six people, including a five-year-old child, were killed over 48 hours in drone strikes in Kanbalu Township, Sagaing Region.

The assaults, linked to junta forces from Sapal Nantha village, struck Yay Shin Gyi, Aung Taing Lal, and Hmyanni Pin villages. Just a few days earlier, on September 27, three bombs were released over Yay Shin Gyi, resulting in one fatality and injuring seven more individuals. The next day, another drone attack on Aung Taing Lal village led to the death of a woman in her 50s.

At the beginning of October, two 500-pound bombs were dropped near the Ywarmayarthit market in Tanhlwe Ywama town, killing 12 civilians, including one child, and injuring six others critically. This strike destroyed 17 homes. Then, on October 4, in King Taung village, another attack by the junta killed seven civilians, including a 10-year-old, and injured approximately 20 more.

Sagaing region has been devastated by worsening military attacks that have left townships and villages in turmoil and overwhelmed with trauma. A two-day military offensive by the junta in Budalin Township, Sagaing Region, left 13 civilians dead, including women and children. Mizzima reported that on October 16, six family members were killed in a grocery store near the Buddha Museum on October 11. The following day, junta forces arrested and executed seven additional residents from Mrauk Kyi village.

Myanmar Now also covered the brutality of gendered attacks against women and girls in the Sagaing region. On October 10, the junta’s air force killed at least eight civilians, including two children, in various townships of the Sagaing Region. This included a strike on Tin Tein Yan village in Ye-U Township, where a woman, her six-month-old daughter, and a six-year-old boy were killed.

Additionally, a drone attack on October 15 in Kanbalu Township claimed the lives of a 30-year-old woman and her two children. Junta forces reportedly organized the attack, with junta-trained Pyu Saw Htee militias from Ngar Toet village, located three miles southeast of Kanbalu.

A statement from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) cautioned about the alarming rise in violence targeting women and girls. By mid-October, AAPP stated that at least 226 women and girls had been killed by junta artillery fire from January to October 16. The Sagaing Region reported the highest number of casualties, with 63 women killed, followed by Rakhine State, with 46 fatalities. Mizzima reported that on October 21, an airstrike on Oakkan village in Kawlin Township killed two women, and several others were injured in the blast, according to the Kawlin Info monitoring group.

This follows similar data from the Burmese Women’s Union, whose October findings also saw the most cases of targeted violence against women, resulting in death in the Sagaing region, with 71 total women killed and 44 injured.

This analysis reveals the heavy toll that junta actions are inflicting on civilians throughout Myanmar. As airstrikes, drone assaults, and artillery bombardments rise, ordinary people are suffering the most from the violence. The increase in these assaults indicates the junta’s reckless use of force, openly violating human rights and international law by attacking civilians in areas of conflict.

Conclusion

The cases presented in Voice Up reaffirm the urgency of the human rights situation. A coordinated response is urgently needed to stop the unjust violence against women and children. The military junta continues to kill and maim innocent civilians. Thousands have suffered due to a lack of reliable domestic accountability mechanisms.

For women especially, the rule of law in Burma has no basis in gender norms or principles of equality. The discrimination they face is symptomatic of decades of oppression under a militarized system of subjugation. These barriers to justice have led to a weakening of morale and significant trauma for the civilian population.

Consequently, gender-related crimes such as conflict-related sexual violence and gender-based violence, as well as the increase in attacks that include indiscriminate firing, shelling and airstrikes, continue to take place with impunity. This is especially true since the attempted coup, which has continued to contribute to mass instability and insecurity across the country.

In Southeastern Burma, women struggle daily as victims of human rights violations attempt to stay strong for their families and communities. Ongoing patterns of various forms of violence have done little to dispel the fears that another attack is looming. It is evident by the cases HURFOM has documented, as well as others by women-led civil society organizations, that women and children are highly vulnerable in the current conditions created by the military. Ethnic women, in general, have faced decades of terror that the Burma Army has placed against them and their families.

The Voice-Up series highlights the women and children who face severe hardships imposed by the junta. The development and ongoing progress of gender equality in communities cannot be reversed or dismissed due to the junta’s profoundly misogynistic views on women.

Although considerable challenges remain in the pro-democracy movement in Burma, women’s strength and resilience demand recognition. Their struggles amid the chaos and turmoil in the current situation highlight their determination and ability to prevail, no matter the challenges. Women will always play a crucial role in the vital work needed in Burma.

Recommendations for International Governments and International Agencies

Impose Targeted Sanctions: Increase sanctions against military leaders and entities directly involved in human rights abuses. Target key financial sources supporting the junta’s operations, including extracting and selling natural resources in Burma.
Advocate for a Global Arms Embargo: Support a comprehensive arms embargo on Burma to prevent the junta from acquiring weapons used in attacks against civilians and ethnic minority areas.
Promote International Accountability Mechanisms: Encourage the establishment of an international tribunal or support the role of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in investigating and prosecuting human rights violations committed by the junta. Engage with organizations like the UN Human Rights Council to push for independent investigations.
Support Cross-Border Aid Delivery: Work with humanitarian organizations to provide cross-border aid, as many areas in conflict zones remain inaccessible. Direct resources to trusted local organizations capable of reaching these communities.
Pressure for Independent Monitoring of the Census: Given the concerns regarding the current junta-led census, advocate for international monitoring to ensure transparency and to protect ethnic minority populations from being misrepresented or targeted.

Recommendations for Humanitarian Donors

Increase Funding for Local Organizations: Allocate funds to community-based organizations (CBOs) like the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM), which has on-the-ground access and established networks to support victims of forced conscription, displacement, and violence.
Support Mental Health and Trauma Services: Recognize the psychological toll of the conflict on civilians, particularly children. Donors must fund programs aimed at providing mental health support for trauma recovery.
Provide Resources for Civilian Protection Measures: Fund initiatives that assist local communities in constructing bomb shelters, securing safe spaces, and implementing early warning systems to protect themselves from sudden attacks.

Recommendations for the National Unity Government (NUG)

Strengthen Diplomatic Outreach: Increase efforts to garner support from ASEAN countries and other regional partners. Position the NUG as a legitimate government committed to democratic values and the protection of ethnic minorities.
Enhance Communication with Ethnic Groups: Foster strong, unified alliances with ethnic armed organizations and civil society groups. Emphasize a commitment to federalism and respect for the rights of ethnic minorities in a future democratic Burma.
Establish Civilian Safe Zones: If and when possible, the NUG must work with ethnic armed organizations to designate and protect civilian safe zones in collaboration with international observers. This could help mitigate displacement and casualties from ongoing military actions.

Recommendations for Other Stakeholders

Raise Awareness and Advocate for Media Coverage: Encourage international media to continue reporting on the situation, highlighting the junta’s actions, particularly the targeting of ethnic minorities, forced conscription, and restrictions on movement.
Promote Digital Literacy and Secure Communication: Provide resources for digital security training to help civilians and activists protect their communications and data from junta surveillance, especially as monitoring increases in southeastern Burma.
Support Education on Risks of Unexploded Ordinance: Fund educational initiatives to raise awareness about the dangers of unexploded artillery and landmines left in conflict areas, which continue to pose significant risks to civilians, especially children.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under Monthly Report, News, PDF Format