September 2024: Floods Devastate Communities Across Southeastern Burma, Displacing Thousands

September 30, 2024

Rising water levels and flooding across Burma devastated communities throughout September. Beginning on the 10th, rising water levels significantly impacted people in urban and rural areas, forcing thousands to flee only with what they could carry. Typhoon Yagi has affected target areas of the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM), including Mon State, Karen State and the Tanintharyi region.

Over 16,000 people in Karen State were displaced last month, especially in townships such as Hpa-an, Hlaingbwe, and Myawaddy, as floodwaters reached critical levels. In Tanintharyi, water levels rose to over 8 meters, affecting areas around the township and forcing over 300 people to evacuate. The ongoing weather conditions and high internal displacement levels have worsened the situation for thousands across these regions.

In Mon State, further challenges have arisen in areas such as Bilin, Kyaik Hto, and territories under the administration of the Karen National Union (KNU) and the local defense groups. Heavy rains and subsequent flooding forced approximately 600 households to relocate to higher ground for safety. The severe weather conditions have also displaced residents across multiple villages in these areas, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis, mainly where local governance and the KNU leaders oversee the situation. Between 12 and 16 September, approximately 48 villages along both sides of the Sittaung River in Kyaik Hto, Bilin, and Thaton townships were flooded. Landslides impacted nearly 5,000 households, affecting close to 50,000 people.

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Since mid-August 2024, over 4,000 residents from around ten villages in Anan Kwin, Kyarinnsatekyi Township, Karen State, have fled their homes due to ongoing clashes, seeking refuge in nearby forests, gardens, and towns. According to one of the displaced individuals, about 500 displaced residents sheltering at the foot of a mountain desperately need assistance:

“We are struggling with the weather as it’s the rainy season. It’s difficult to move around, and we fear the junta’s airstrikes when we go out to buy food,” said one of the displaced women.

A group assisting with the relief efforts reported that the displaced villagers face severe challenges, including restricted access to food, flooded shelters due to rain, and a lack of medicine. No aid organizations have been able to reach them, and they remain isolated in the forest.

“Anyone trying to help us must walk a long distance, but they are afraid to come. When someone gets sick, we have to walk about three miles to reach a doctor,” explained another displaced woman.

According to HURFOM’s investigation, phone and internet connections have been cut off in several villages around Anan Kwin since the clashes started, including Ta Nyin, Phar Yar, Pan Aung, Pu Taw, Yat Paw, Katit, and Khun Nawa.

“Sometimes, the phone line just cuts off while we’re talking. Many displaced people can’t even contact their family members,” said a local woman.

In Karen State, flooding from the Gyaing and Upper Salween rivers has severely affected communities in KNU Brigade 6’s northern and eastern regions, submerging three IDP camps. Similarly, in the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and KNU Brigade 4 areas in Mon State and Tanintharyi North Region, four IDP communities and eight villages remain flooded.

United Nations agencies like the World Food Program and their funded partners are assisting cluster teams in more accessible areas such as Bilin, Kyaik Hto, and Hpa-An. However, remote IDP sites in ERO-controlled territories still rely heavily on local support and donations. The junta’s restrictions on internet access have further complicated aid efforts.

Local organizations and service providers are gathering donations of clothes, blankets, and kitchen supplies for flood victims in Ei Htu Hta, Yae-Lae, and Phalan IDP camps.

Indiscriminate Firing

The junta’s ongoing firing of mortar and artillery continues to devastate communities. The firing is indiscriminate and often occurs when there is no active conflict. The Burma Army is attempting to instill fear into civilians already profoundly traumatized and affected by the conflict.

Intense daily fighting along the Thanbyuzayat-Three Pagodas Pass road at the Thailand-Burma border has claimed the lives of more than five civilians and forced thousands of locals to flee the area. On August 29th, at least five villagers, including women and children, were killed in villages such as Anan Kwin, Yea Ta Khun, Thet Kaw, and Loot Shan due to artillery attacks and airstrikes carried out by a military junta Y-12 jet aircraft:

“At 9 AM, a Y-12 jet dropped bombs, and the junta also continuously fired artillery shells from the Wae Kali artillery camp,” the local added.

Thousands of residents from nearby villages, including Ta Nyin, Pha Ya, Pan Aung, Pu Taw, Yet Aung, Ka Ka Tit, and Khun Nawa, have been forced to abandon their homes and seek refuge in safer areas due to the ongoing battles. The situation remains dire, with artillery shells launching and exploding daily around the Tet Kaw road leading to Three Pagodas Pass. The junta’s forces continue to advance, leaving devastation in their wake. On August 28th, artillery shells fired by the junta’s Wae Kali camp killed a woman in Yea Ta Khun and two children in a house outside U Kwe and Daw Yein villages. The children’s father was also injured.

In the last week of August, a junta airstrike killed a resident of Anan Kwin, and another resident who went into the village to collect belongings has gone missing, according to a female resident of Anan Kwin. Additionally, six displaced villagers from Anan Kwin have died due to illness after fleeing the conflict. The ongoing battles have nearly destroyed all the surrounding villages, including Phar Pya, Loot Shan, Win Khana, Kyone Kha Won, Ta Nyin, Kyauk Ba Lu, Than Paya, and much of Anan Kwin.

“Since the junta’s artillery shells are falling into the villages daily, houses are being hit. There are also more than five injured villagers,” reported a local.

Artillery Battalion No. 315 in Thanbyuzayat has been indiscriminately firing artillery weapons, and when resistance forces approached Anan Kwin, the junta responded with airstrikes and bombings. All villages in the area are facing destruction. Many displaced villagers have fled towards Thanbyuzayat and Mawlamyine, while others have taken refuge in nearby villages such as Win Kana, Phar Pya, Kyat Cham, and Kha Lal Sone.

Since August 15, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and the People’s Defense Force (PDF) have been working together to take control of the Anan Kwin frontline strategic camp of the Southeastern Command. In response, the military junta has escalated its attacks with airstrikes, artillery shelling, and the burning of houses, resulting in widespread devastation and displacement.

Meanwhile, more than 500 people have been displaced. They are in urgent need of food and medicine following over 20 days of military operations by junta forces in the coastal villages of Long Lone Township, Dawei District. Residents have fled from their homes and are now taking refuge in Pa Nyit village, according to locals and aid providers.

The military operations began after the Maung Ma Kan police station was attacked on August 17th. Since then, junta troops have moved from village to village, targeting Maung Ma Kan, Kyauk Sin, Tha Bok Sate, Pyin Gyi, and Kayin Gyi villages. Displaced villagers, including the elderly and young children, are struggling as they remain unable to return home due to ongoing junta activity.

“Many elderly people, and even small children, are with them. We still cannot return home because junta operations are ongoing,” said a woman assisting the displaced, expressing concerns about the long-term challenges the villagers might face.

The need for long-term rice, dry food, and medicine supplies is becoming increasingly urgent as the refugees have been displaced for nearly twenty days. Local aid providers are struggling to meet these demands.

In an unrelated case on September 5th, the junta’s regiment at “Pagoda Hill” in Win Pyan village, Bilin Township, Mon State, launched nine artillery attacks on Ah Luu Lay village. The attacks were indiscriminate, and there were no armed clashes in the areas that preceded the regiment’s actions. One artillery shell exploded in the village street and injured 19-year-old Naw Mya Moe New. She sustained injuries to her right arm and back.

Ko Aung Ko Phyo, a resident in his early 20s, sustained severe injuries from the artillery strike and was initially treated at a military hospital in Dawei before being transferred to Yangon General Hospital for further care. Tragically, he succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment in Yangon on the night of September 8, according to his family and local sources.

“I heard the artillery shell hit his head, and it caused severe damage,” said a local man.

The other three injured men suffered only minor injuries and are currently recovering. The artillery fire was launched from the Pakari police station, with two 60 mm shells fired, one of which damaged a phone shop near the Pakari village junction. The junta’s artillery strike was reportedly in retaliation after Kawthulay forces launched attacks from the Kawthulay area earlier in the day.

Then, on September 7th, the PDFs attacked junta troops stationed in Pyin Gyi village, resulting in numerous casualties on the junta’s side. During and after the battle, the junta fired approximately 30 artillery shells from Infantry Battalion No. 104 towards Tha Bok Sate and Pyin Gyi villages.

A few days prior, on September 3rd, junta forces looted goods and burned homes in Pyin Gyi village, taking valuable items and motorcycles before transporting the loot to Infantry Battalion No. 104. Then, the troops advanced towards Tha Bok Sate village. Residents from Myaw Yit’s western shore fled in small fishing boats on August 30th due to ongoing military operations. The junta confiscated motorcycles, food supplies such as rice and oil, and fuel drums used for fishing.

Since August 28th, junta forces have shelled artillery mortars in Kyauk Sin, Tha Bok Sate, Pyin Gyi, and Kayin Gyi villages, continuing their military operations and forcing all residents from five nearby villages under the Kyauk Sin village tract to flee and seek refuge by September 8th.

According to local reports, two villagers, including an elderly woman, were injured by artillery shells fired indiscriminately into Kha Ywal village, Kyaikhto Township. The shells were launched by junta troops stationed at Thin Zayat base in Kyaikhto and Lappan village in Waw Township, Bago Region.

On September 13th, at noon, 66-year-old Daw Win Aye was injured while hanging laundry at her home, and 18-year-old Maung Hein Htet Aung was hurt while walking along the road. One of the artillery shells exploded inside Kha Ywal village.

Daw Win Aye sustained shrapnel injuries to her right leg, while Maung Hein Htet Aung suffered a torn right ear. Both are currently receiving medical treatment at Thin Zayat Hospital.

Last month, on August 10th, a young man from Akhaing village near Thin Zayat was similarly injured by junta artillery while fishing, illustrating the ongoing indiscriminate shelling in the region, even in areas without active conflict.

Three villagers tragically lost their lives after being denied timely medical treatment following an artillery shell explosion fired by junta forces in Tanintharyi on September 11, 2024.

The incident occurred during a clash between the junta troops and local People’s Defense Forces (PDF) in Kywe Htain Kone village. During the battle, the junta troops, stationed at Bodhi Kan Bridge, launched at least two rounds of 120mm artillery fire.

Among those affected by the shelling were Daw San Thwe (40), Daw San Thee (60), Ma Phyu Za Aye (15), and Ko Nay Naing Htu, also known as Dee Toat (18). Daw San Thwe died instantly at the scene, while Daw San Thee and Ma Phyu Za Aye passed away en route to the Nyaung Pin Kwin village hospital.

Ko Nay Naing Htun, who was severely injured with a leg fracture, succumbed to his injuries on his way to a hospital in Thailand for urgent medical care. “All three victims died because they couldn’t reach medical treatment in time due to ongoing fighting,” explained a woman from Kywe Htain Kone village.

The conflict continues to intensify in the area, forcing entire villages to evacuate in search of safety as junta troops bombard the region with artillery and drone bombings. Since September 4, the junta has deployed around 200 troops across multiple villages, including Taku, Thara Bwin, Ban Law, 6-Mile, Za Wae, and Kywe Htain Kone, escalating violence and increasing local casualties.

Two villagers were injured in an unprovoked artillery shelling by junta forces in Kha Ywel village, Kyaikhto Township, Mon State, on September 13, 2024, according to local sources.

The junta’s 310th Artillery Battalion, stationed in Thein Zayat, Kyaikhto Township, fired at least eight rounds of 120mm artillery shells despite no clashes in the area. One of the shells exploded between the North Monastery and Kha Ywel village, injuring two residents.

Daw Win Aye, aged 66, sustained severe injuries to her right leg, and Maung Hein Htet Aung, aged 18, suffered injuries to his right shoulder from the explosion.

“The elderly woman has a deep wound in her right leg, and the young man’s shoulder was injured. This isn’t the first time—at least five villagers were injured in a previous shelling,” said a local source from Kha Ywel village.

Both victims are currently receiving medical treatment in a secure location, and their injuries are not life-threatening. However, villagers remain in constant fear of further artillery attacks. “We are always anxious about when the next shell might hit, as the junta fires without any clear reason,” another villager from Kha Ywel shared.

Between January and August 2024, artillery shelling in Mon State resulted in 43 deaths and 94 injuries, according to data from HURFOM. Kyaikhto Township, under the control of the Karen National Union (KNU), has seen the highest number of casualties, followed by Ye Township.

Arbitrary Arrests

Across HURFOM target areas, the junta uses unlawful arrest and detainment as a means to exert their lawlessness. Four local youths from Tha Byu Chaung village, Paung Township, Mon State, were shot at and arrested by junta forces under the allegation of being members of the People’s Defense Force (PDF).

On September 2nd, at 8 PM, over 20 junta soldiers and police personnel entered the Tha Byu Chaung village market area and apprehended a group of youths who were drinking together, accusing them of PDF involvement.

“They surrounded the youths drinking at the market. When they tried to flee, the junta opened fire. One of them was hit, and four were arrested, though some managed to escape,” said a local from Tha Byu Chaung village.

During the shooting, 20-year-old Maung Supar Htaw from the village sustained a gunshot wound to his right thigh. He, along with three other local youths, was subsequently arrested. A pro-military PAN Telegram channel falsely reported that during the arrests, a hand grenade, 20 WY tablets, and a handgun were seized. However, this information remains unverified.

“These youths are not PDF members, as claimed. They are simply villagers who were falsely accused. Their parents discussed with village elders to negotiate their release, but so far, no progress has been made,” another local explained.

The arrested youths are currently being held at Paung Township Police Station, with the injured youth receiving treatment at Paung Township Public Hospital. Tha Byu Chaung village, located along the Mawlamyine-Yangon highway, is predominantly inhabited by the Mon ethnic group. According to a September 3rd report by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), over 27,300 people have been arrested nationwide by the junta under various allegations, with nearly 21,000 still in detention.

On August 31st, nine sand and stone quarry workers were arrested by junta forces in Tanintharyi Township, Myeik District, while passing through Kaw Ma Pyin village. As of September 5, there has been no contact or information regarding their whereabouts.

The arrests occurred around 2:30 PM when junta troops stationed at the Kaw Ma Pyin boat port stopped and inspected three boats carrying stones. After checking the nine workers onboard, the troops took them to Infantry Battalion No. 557 in Auk Kin village.

“The boats came from Myeik, and since they were unfamiliar with the local situation, they were arrested,” said a local man from Kaw Ma Pyin. The arrested workers include six men from Myeik and three from Aaut Thara Pon village, aged between 20 and 30.

On September 1st, the boat owner went to negotiate for the workers’ release at Infantry Battalion No. 557, but the junta refused to free them. As of September 5th, no new information about the condition of the detained workers has been made available.

Routine boat inspections are typically carried out at the waterway checkpoint under the Tanintharyi Bridge, a process that has intensified in the region due to the increasing military presence. This arrest has left locals worried, with many still seeking updates on the fate of the detained workers.

Between August 30th and September 2nd, four local men were arrested and killed by junta troops during raids in Buu Chai village, located in the Sa Khan Gyi village tract, Long Lone Township, Dawei District, Tanintharyi Region. On August 31st, the troops killed U Kyaw Than, 52, from Buu Chai village. U Phoe Aye, 53, was murdered on September 1st, followed by U Ba Shwe, 50, who was shot dead on September 2nd.

“They shot U Kyaw Than near the village road, U Phoe Aye in a rubber plantation, and U Ba Shwe near the Dawei Agricultural Science School,” a resident reported.

The victims, all farmers with no ties to resistance forces, were captured and killed, based on local accounts. In addition, on August 31st, the body of a young man in his 30s, showing signs of torture, was discovered in a stream between Sun Taung Pauk and Phwar Bot Pyin villages.

“The body had visible signs of torture. As of September 8th, the young man’s identity has not yet been confirmed,” a local source stated.

The junta troops also burned down ten houses in Buu Chai and Phwar Bot Pyin villages, continuing their raids on the Kha Maung Taung, Htain Twin, and Sa Khan Gyi village tracts until September 4th, according to Mon People’s Voice.

“The junta troops left the village, but we are still too afraid to return. The arrests and killings are what we fear the most,” said a resident of Buu Chai village.

Since the third week of August 2024, two junta columns have entered and raided Maung Ma Kan, Tha Bok Sate, Pyin Gyi, Phwar Bot Pyin, Buu Chai, and Kyauk Sin villages in Long Lone Township, forcing over 5,000 villagers to flee to safer areas. During the operations, the junta forces torched two houses in Pyin Gyi village and one home in Tha Bok Sate village.

Six residents, including two women, were arrested by junta forces in Ye Township, Mon State, on allegations of providing financial support to the People’s Defense Forces (PDF), according to local sources.

The first arrest occurred on September 10th, when a young man in his 20s from Yan Gyi Aung ward was detained at around 3 p.m. Later that day, the junta arrested three more individuals: Ko Aye Min Lat, 19, Ko Bo Bo, and Ko Aung Maung, 45, also from the same ward.

“The junta arrested them for financially supporting and sharing information with the PDFs. In total, four men and two women have been detained, all of whom are locals from Ye Township,” said a town resident.

On September 11th, two young women were also arrested from a market shop in Yan Myo Aung ward at around 8 a.m. The detained individuals are currently being interrogated at the No. 19 Military Battalion base in Ye Township, and their families have been barred from visiting them.

Since 2023, after martial law was declared in Ye Township, the junta has enforced numerous restrictive orders, including curfews and roadblocks. Arbitrary arrests, especially of migrant workers, have escalated since August, along with forced conscription into the military.

The junta is increasingly targeting social workers and relief groups. On September 18th at 9 PM, more than 20 members of the junta’s joint forces raided the office of an independent charity group in Thanbyuzayat, Mon State. They arrested five members, including the group’s chairman. According to local sources, the arrested individuals include U Ye Min Hteik, chairman of the charity group, Ko Ye Naing Oo, Ko Zaw Wan, and two other members.

“The junta’s troops raided the office and arrested them. We don’t know the exact reason behind their arrest,” said a local resident.

The five detained individuals are currently being interrogated at the Military Intelligence Office of Battalion 4 in Waekali village, Thanbyuzayat Township. They have not been allowed to contact their families. The charity group, which officially registered with the Mon State Government in 2018, has been involved in providing rescue operations for critical and emergency patients in the area.

This incident mirrors a similar case on May 29 of this year, when five members of the Lamai Youth Charity Group, including its chairman, were arrested by junta forces in Lamai town, Ye Township. Those members were released after a week of detention.

A few days later, three more members of the Aid Volunteers group based in Thanbyuzayat, Mon State, were arrested, bringing the total number of detained members to eight. On the night of September 20th., junta forces entered the homes of the three members and arrested them. The junta has accused the social welfare group of being involved in supporting and transporting weapons for the People’s Defense Forces (PDF).

The detained members are currently being interrogated at the Waekali Detention Center in Waekali village, under the control of Military Intelligence Battalion 4. Due to the lack of contact with the arrested individuals, their families are growing increasingly concerned for their safety, according to sources close to the detainees.

Violence Against Women

For decades, the military junta has evaded accountability for their crimes against women and girls. Protected by military courts under the 2008 Constitution and a lack of transparency or investigation into any crime related to conflict-related sexual violence, survivors have suffered from trauma and a lack of accountability. Every quarter, HURFOM releases an update titled ‘Voice Up,’ which provides documentation and analysis on the violations perpetrated against women and girls in target areas of Mon State, Karen State and the Tanintharyi region.

On 10 September, HURFOM released the third installment that found 177 women have been killed since the coup, in addition to 370 wounded and 1,540 unlawfully arrested and detained. At least five women are still missing after being held in junta custody. Throughout the reporting period, at least nine women were killed, 26 injured, and 13 were arbitrarily arrested, in addition to 6 children killed and 33 who sustained injuries from the junta’s attacks.

A woman named Daw Pein, 53, from Lae Taung Yar village, Myeik, Tanintharyi, passed away on the evening of September 4th while receiving medical treatment at Myeik General Hospital. She succumbed to injuries sustained from an artillery shell fired by junta forces stationed in Tanintharyi Township.

On the evening of September 3rd, Daw Pein was in her farmhouse when an indiscriminate artillery shell hit her. Witnesses reported that she suffered severe injuries to her abdomen, with extensive bleeding:

“Her stomach was severely injured, and she lost a lot of blood,” said a resident from Lae Taung Yar village.

Her body was returned to her home on the morning of September 5th, where funeral preparations are underway. This tragic incident follows another shelling on September 3rd in Bote Pyin, where a 17-year-old, Maung Myat Hein Thu, was killed by artillery fire from junta forces during clashes in the area.

Another woman who disappeared in August has not been seen since her arrest by the military junta. The victim, 23-year-old Ma Ka Yin Ma from Ya Phue Yaw Thit village, Ya Phue village tract, Yebyu Township, Tenasserim Division, was arrested by the junta’s security forces stationed at the Chaung Taung security gate in Ye Township on 10 August.

She was returning home after visiting her elder sister, who had been admitted to the Ye Township General Hospital.

“She hadn’t reached home by 6 PM that day, so I phoned her. The soldiers answered her phone and said they arrested her and released her after interrogation,” said her husband, who added that Ma Ka Yin Ma was arrested allegedly for having contact with the People’s Defense Force. There has been no trace of her since her arrest.

“My wife had a friend who is a member of the PDF. But they have no contact with each other,” he said.

Women were also among several villagers who were abducted, detained and used as human shields by the junta. Since clashes erupted between the junta forces and the People’s Defense Forces (PDF) in Pala town, Pu Law Township, Myeik District on 4 September, more than 45 villagers have been arrested and used as human shields by the junta.

The villagers arrested while traveling on the roads include men, women, and older people. After nearly a full day of fighting, around 30 people of military service age were further detained, while 14 locals, all over the age of 50, were released on the evening of 5 September.

“One column raided houses and dragged people out while another battalion launched frontal attacks,” said a local male resident.

The junta has also been utilizing three vessels near the sea near Kyauk Kar village and Pala Chaung Wa to launch artillery attacks. In August, more than 300 residents from seven townships in Tanintharyi were arrested, and nearly 20 villagers were detained for forced conscription. The identities of those conscripted are still being investigated.

Since September 1st, junta forces have intensified their operations in Pala town, moving through waterways and occupying residential areas and schools as of September 8. The mass arrests have caused thousands of locals to flee to safer places to escape the conflict.

Daw Chit Chit Htoo was another victim of gender-based violence. She worked as a primary school teacher in Mu Kwel village, Chaung Zone Township, Mon State. On September 8th, she was raped and killed by her partner, Aung Thu Hein, a soldier with the military junta.

On September 1st, the 26-year-old teacher visited him, who had sent a taxi to bring her. She disappeared for eight days after that, her family said. On September 8th, her dead body was found near a firewood forest, 50 ft away from “Dat Paung Su” Pagoda in Mu Kwel village. Her body showed evidence of stab wounds.

On the night of September 14, an artillery shell was launched from a junta security checkpoint near the iron bridge in Bilin Township, hitting Phoe Wa Thein village, and severely injuring a young girl.

“There was no fighting, but they fired artillery randomly. A young girl was struck. We heard shrapnel pierced her neck,” said Padoh Saw Aye Naing, Secretary of the Karen National Union (KNU) in Thaton District.

As a result, 17-year-old Naw Ya Min, who was sleeping in her home at the time of the attack, sustained critical neck injuries from the shrapnel. Phoe Wa Thein village, located under KNU’s Thaton District, is predominantly inhabited by Karen residents. This latest artillery attack has further heightened fear and insecurity in the region.

Earlier, on September 9, a female traveler and two other locals were also injured in an attack near the iron bridge checkpoint.

Landmines

Throughout the month, the number of landmine-related injuries has surged. Unseen often before it is too late, the junta intentionally places landmines in civilian areas. Burma has not acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty, despite an initiative launched by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines in 2003.

A woman from Ye Tha Khun village, part of Sakhan Gyi village tract in Thanbyuzayat Township, Mon State, was seriously injured after stepping on a landmine, according to reports.

On August 30th, at 5 PM, 32-year-old Ma Ngae Ngae Htwe accidentally triggered a handmade landmine while searching for bamboo shoots with her husband. The explosion caused severe injuries, including a wound to her right arm, five shrapnel wounds to her right thigh, and a deep injury to her right cheek, as reported by close sources.

After the incident, a local social relief group transported Ma Ngae Ngae Htwe to the nearest hospital in Thanbyuzayat for urgent medical care. This was not an isolated incident. On August 22, at 9:45 AM, 30-year-old Ko Soe Than, also a resident of Ye Tha Khun village, stepped on a landmine in a rubber plantation near the village monastery while gathering firewood.

Ye Tha Khun village and its surroundings have seen frequent activity from junta troops and resistance forces, leading to increased conflicts. On the afternoon of August 15, resistance forces launched an attack on approximately 100 junta soldiers stationed on the pagoda hill in the new Ye Tha Khun village.

In Thanbyuzayat Township of Mon State, several residents suffered severe injuries and life-threatening wounds. These incidents, occurring near the Eon Saw Mon rubber factory and surrounding areas, underscore the growing danger posed by landmines in the region.

On September 2nd, at 2:30 PM, 33-year-old Ko Myint Kyi, a resident of Ayekabar village, was foraging for vegetables near the Eon Saw Mon rubber factory when he accidentally stepped on a landmine. The explosion resulted in severe burns to his left arm and wrist, as well as injuries to his left leg and right eyebrow.

At the end of August, on the 30th, at 8:20 PM., Ko Kyaw Htut, age 26, was clearing grass in a rubber plantation near the same factory with his mother, Daw Mya when a landmine exploded nearby. Ko Kyaw Htut sustained five shrapnel wounds to his left back and a severe injury to his left arm.

In another incident on the evening of August 30th, 32-year-old Ma Nge Nge Htway from Yetagon Village Thanbyuzayat was severely injured by a homemade mine while walking through a field with her husband. Additionally, on August 22nd, at 9:45 AM, 30-year-old Ko Soe Than from Yetagon village stepped on a landmine while collecting firewood near the village monastery in Thanbyuzayat Township.

Earlier this year, in February, Daw Ma Lay from Ka Rout Pi village lost the lower part of her left leg. She sustained critical injuries to both legs when a landmine exploded while she was gathering firewood in a rubber plantation near her village.

These tragic incidents highlight the ongoing dangers faced by local villagers as they go about their daily activities in areas contaminated by landmines. A local farm worker suffered severe injuries from a landmine explosion in Atwin Sakhan Gyi village, Thanbyuzayat Township, on September 11th at 11:40 AM.

Ko Ba Htoo Yu, a 35-year-old resident of Atwin Sakhan Gyi, stepped on a landmine while visiting a rubber plantation near the village with his wife. The explosion caused significant damage to his left foot and inflicted shrapnel wounds on his right side, hand, and abdomen.

“Ko Ba Htoo Yu stepped on the landmine and suffered severe injuries, particularly to his left foot. He also sustained shrapnel wounds to his right side and hand, and his abdomen was injured by fragments,” a local witness reported.

Following the incident, Ko Ba Htoo Yu was transported to the public hospital in Thanbyuzayat Township for urgent medical treatment.

This is not an isolated case. Between August 22nd and September 2nd of this year, five other residents in Thanbyuzayat Township were injured by landmine explosions, highlighting the ongoing danger in the region.

Forced Conscription

The junta’s formation of the People’s Security and Anti-Terrorism Teams has caused growing concerns about security among civilians, who fear being used by the junta in ongoing conflicts. So far, more than 100 million kyat has been forcibly collected as a “support fund” for these teams across Mon State, with young people increasingly being targeted by the junta.

On September 3, the junta in Mon State officially opened Batch 5 of conscription training. Key officials led the event, including U Aung Kyi Thein, the Chief Minister of Mon State and Chairman of the Military Recruitment Committee; Major General Kyaw Lin Maung, Commander of the Southeastern Military Headquarters; and Lt. Col. Kyaw Swar Myint, Deputy Chairman of the Military Recruitment Committee. The conscription training occurred at No. 6 Military Education School of the Southeastern Military Headquarters in Mawlamyine.

Although no official statement has been made regarding the number of participants in Batch 5, residents have raised concerns about the recruitment process. A local woman from Mon State stated:

“They convinced people that those who serve in the military in Mon State won’t be transferred to the front lines. However, those facing financial difficulties, mainly migrant workers, are sometimes replaced, and neighbourhood administrators collect monthly fees, claiming it’s for the support of conscripts’ families.”

Despite the junta’s claims that conscripts in previous batches were assigned only for security duties and not sent to the front lines, local sources and resistance groups have reported that some recruits from the first and second batches were deployed to conflict zones.

Military conscription training in Mon State is being conducted at Tatmadaw Advanced Training School No. 4 in Wae Kali village, Thanbyuzayat Township, and Basic Military Training School No. 9 in Thaton Township. This conscription process continues to raise concerns among residents as tensions and conflict persist across the region.

The Conscription mandate is widely opposed. A group of 27 men who were forcibly detained for conscription by the military junta managed to escape after overpowering two guards while being transported to an army training school, sources close to the resistance reported. These 27 young men, some of whom had previously been deported from Thailand, were being taken by a military ship to the Central Military Training No. 12 in Pa Lauk Township, Palaw Town. The junta had been conscripting them by force, using multiple methods of transportation.

The boat carrying the men departed from Myeik on September 7th, heading toward the training facility. On the evening of September 8, the ship stopped near Khandi village in Pulao Township, and smaller boats were used to bring the conscripts ashore. On one of these boats, the men attacked two guards, throwing them into the water, seizing their weapons, and making their escape.

“They took the guns from the junta soldiers, beat them to death, and escaped. However, during the struggle, one of the young men was reportedly shot and killed,” a source close to the resistance revealed.

According to the same source, the escapees have since contacted the Pulaw People’s Defense Force and been transferred to the Karen National Defense Organization (KNDO) Battalion 7, Unit 5.

A representative of KNDO Battalion 7, Unit 5, confirmed to the media that the conscripted youths’ escape was accurate. Officials from the Karen National Union (KNU) also confirmed that all 27 escapees are now under the protection of KNDO Battalion 7, supported by KNU’s Brigade 4.

HURFOM published a briefer titled ‘Forced to Fight,’ earlier this year, reporting on the immediate impacts of forced conscription.

Further, the escalation of attacks across Southeastern Burma continues to have long-standing, detrimental impacts on communities that have suffered immensely since the coup effort nearly four years ago.

The resilience of local people is regularly tested, but the people’s spirit remains resilient and unwavering.

Mon State

Since September 2nd, security measures in Ye Township, Mon State, have significantly tightened under the directives of the Mon State junta. Both locals and visitors entering and exiting the town are facing increased scrutiny. The Mon State General Administration Office of the junta has instructed village and township authorities and security agencies to implement more stringent checks.

On September 3rd, village administrators were directed to submit daily reports of all incoming and outgoing travellers and visitors to the relevant police and administrative offices. In addition, security forces have intensified their presence in the town, imposing stricter movement restrictions and conducting more rigorous searches.

Residents report that junta security forces in Ye Township are conducting aggressive operations, including forced entry into homes and extensive raids. A resident described the situation: “They are conducting searches every day, forcibly entering homes, and their behaviour is extremely harsh. There’s also intimidation with guns.”

The intensity of these checks has reportedly increased, with men subject to detailed questioning. “The way they are conducting these checks now is much stricter than before. They’re particularly targeting young men and questioning them closely,” said another resident.

In previous months, while there were occasional searches and sporadic strict checks by the military and police, the current level of aggression and scrutiny is unprecedented, according to a local woman.

Reports suggest that the military junta is preparing for possible urban conflicts in Ye, leading to stricter visitor registration enforcement and increased movement monitoring within and around the town. Locals have noted that youth, particularly young men, are subjected to more intensive checks.

During the second week of September, there was a noticeable increase in the junta’s indiscriminate artillery strikes targeting Mon civilians. The responsible units include the junta’s Artillery Regiment Command No. 317, 207, and LIB 106, LIB 586. Halfway through the month, nearly twenty people had been injured in these attacks.

In Mon State townships such as Ye, Thanbyuzayat, and Mawlamyine, the formation of the junta’s People’s Security Forces and Anti-Terrorism Teams has increased significantly. The forced recruitment of civilians, mandatory training, and coercive contributions are becoming a form of extortion. Junta’s local administrators in townships and villages, particularly in Ye, Mon State, face challenges as the military junta’s subordinate groups press them to establish these so-called ‘people’s security forces.

In addition, indiscriminate violence continues to spare no one. A young man was killed and four others injured after a military drone strike in Kyaikmayaw Township, Mon State, prompting many villagers to flee their homes. On August 29th, at 2 PM, an army drone dropped five bombs at the road junction leading to the Kawt Pa Naw-Wa Nge-Kawt Wan village. The area, which the People’s Defense Forces were monitoring, came under attack by junta forces.

The bombs exploded near a fuel station and several residential houses close to the junction. Tragically, a 22-year-old man with mental health issues, who was near the fuel station, was killed in the attack. Four other villagers were injured and were promptly taken to Kyaikmayaw Hospital for treatment.

As tensions escalated following the strike, many residents fled their homes to seek safety. The military junta’s forces have been conducting regular drone strikes and bombing attacks in the Pyar Taung region of Kyaikmayaw Township, an area controlled by resistance groups.

Artillery Battalion No. 315, stationed in Waekali village, Thanbyuzayat Township, Mon State, has consistently fired artillery shells toward Anan Kwin and nearby towns despite no active battles. The shelling has been almost daily, with attacks reported on September 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 17. The relentless bombardment has caused significant damage to farmland and infrastructure, particularly in Phar Pya village near Anan Kwin.

Local sources reported that even without active clashes, the junta continues to indiscriminately launch artillery, creating fear and forcing many residents to flee their homes. On September 18, six howitzer shells were fired into Phar Pya village, damaging the surrounding land and trees, though no casualties were reported.

In addition to artillery fire, an airstrike was carried out on September 9 in Kyone Kha Won village, Karen State, injuring two civilians, including a 3-year-old child. Hundreds of residents from nearby villages have been displaced due to the ongoing air and artillery attacks. The military junta’s operations have resulted in widespread destruction, leaving nearly all of Anan Kwin and surrounding areas in ruins.

Karen State

Civilians in Karen State continue to be overwhelmed by the constant violence perpetrated by the military junta. Intense clashes erupted when joint forces of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) launched an attack on a junta strategic military camp in Anan Kwin village, Kyainnseikyi Township, Karen State. In retaliation, junta forces unleashed a barrage of artillery shells and air strikes.

These brutal assaults led to the destruction of over 500 homes and forced residents from ten nearby villages to flee to safer areas. The situation escalated further on August 25 when another airstrike nearly obliterated the entire town of Anan Kwin. The junta continues to bombard the area with artillery mortars, and the battle remains fierce.

Over 4,000 residents from Anan Kwin, Loot Shan, Ta Nyin, Kyauk Ba Lu, Than Baya, Phar Ya, Pan Aung, Pu Taw, Yet Paw, Ka Ka Htit, Khun Nawa, Win Kana, Phar Pya, Kyak Cham, and Khale Saw villages have been displaced and are seeking refuge in safer locations. Many have fled toward Thanbyuzayat and Mawlamyine, while others have taken shelter in nearby towns and jungles.

“Surviving as a displaced person in the rainy season is challenging. Some people are heading towards Thanbyuzayat town and seeking shelter with relatives,” said a displaced woman.

The fighting in Anan Kwin village remains intense, with ongoing artillery shelling and air strikes. Additionally, access to northern villages near Anan Kwin has been restricted along the Thanbyuzayat-Three Pagodas Pass Road after 6 p.m., leading to school closures, including in Phar Pya village.

Tanintharyi Region

The southern areas of Burma have been seriously impacted by violence, and yet this remains underreported across regional and international media. Ye Tha Khun village and its surroundings have seen frequent activity from junta troops and resistance forces, leading to increased conflicts. On the afternoon of August 15th, resistance forces launched an attack on approximately 100 junta soldiers stationed on the pagoda hill in the new Ye Tha Khun village.

Since July 18th, the junta has intensified military operations to regain highway control. This has resulted in daily clashes after resistance forces took control of the Thanbyuzayat-Ye section of Union Highway No. 8 in 2023. Further, amid the growing uncertainty and worsening human rights violations, checkpoints are increasing throughout the country. On August 30th, 30-year-old Ko Naung Cho was shot by a junta soldier at a temporary checkpoint in Taung Tan village while riding his motorcycle. Despite his injuries, he was taken to Myeik General Hospital for treatment.

On September 1st, while still receiving care at the hospital, Ko Naung Cho was arrested by the Taung Shay village administrator and police officers. The arrest was reportedly due to drugs found in his motorcycle, according to sources close to him.

“Drugs were found in his motorcycle, and so the junta came to arrest him,” said a resident of Taung Shay village.

Ko Naung Cho sustained injuries to his leg and back and has since been transferred to the prison ward of Myeik General Hospital. Earlier, on August 30, a junta convoy was attacked by resistance forces using landmines between Za Wea and Yan Phyo villages. Additionally, on August 12, two men were shot and injured by the junta at a military checkpoint on the Tanintharyi Bridge.

In a separate case, more than ten residents were arrested, at least nine homes were burned, and two men were killed in Long Lone Township, Dawei District. The violence occurred in Phwar Bote Pyin and Bu Chai villages, part of the Sa Khan Gyi village tract. Junta troops began torching houses on August 31, burning down six homes in Phwar Bote Pyin and three in Bu Chai village.

On September 1, U Kyaw Than, a 50-year-old resident of Phwar Bote Pyin village, was shot and killed by junta soldiers. “He was herding cattle in the village when we found his body with gunshot wounds,” said a local resident.

As enforced, disappearances are on the rise, and bodies found with signs of torture are being found. Junta troops have been conducting operations in the coastal villages and Sa Khan Gyi village tract, forcing residents to flee to safer areas. Homes continue to be raided. On August 26th, junta troops entered Pyin Htain village, raiding more than twenty homes and confiscating phones, identification cards, driver’s licenses, and money. Residents from Ta Bot Sate, Pyin Gyi, and Maung Ma Kan villages fled to safer locations.

Between August 28 and September 2, at least three columns of junta troops invaded eight villages within the Sa Khan Gyi village tract, forcing over 4,000 residents from villages including Sa Khan Gyi, Phwar Bote Pyin, Kha Maung Taung, and Htain Twin to evacuate. Phwar Bote Pyin village was set ablaze by the junta troops for three consecutive days, from August 31 to September 2, though the full extent of the damage remains unclear.

At least ten men and women from Phwar Bote Pyin, Sa Khan Gyi, and Mae Aung villages were arrested and forced to act as human shields and guides for the troops; they have not been released.

On August 28, at 6:30 AM., junta troops arrived in Kyauk Sin village, where they raided homes and forcibly broke down doors, according to locals. Earlier, on August 26, at 3 AM, about thirty junta troops from Long Lone Police Station entered the southern part of Pyin Htain village, raiding eleven homes. Later that afternoon, they searched another eight homes in the northern part of the village, prompting further evacuations.

Four men, including three residents of Bu Chai village, were killed during military operations conducted by junta forces in the Sa Khan Gyi village tract, Long Lone Township, Dawei District. From August 31 to September 2, the bodies of U Kyaw Than, U Phoe Aye, and U Ba Shwe were found, all shot dead by junta forces. Another unidentified man in his 30s was also found tortured and killed. At least ten homes were burned down, and the troops abducted seven men after releasing 14 detainees. The operations spanned from August 26 to September 4, affecting several local villages.

“All three men were peaceful villagers, simply raising cattle and planting trees,” shared a local.

On September 4th, clashes broke out between junta troops and joint resistance forces after the junta launched a full-force raid on Pala town, located in Pu Law Township, Tanintharyi Region. Following the battle, more than 60 residents, including elderly people and women, were arrested by the junta on September 4 and 5. While 40 elderly men and women were released on September 5, 20 men and women of military service age remain in detention, according to local sources.

“The troops are still occupying monasteries, schools, and local homes in Pala. There haven’t been any major military operations yet, but their presence is still felt,” explained a resident from Pala.

Fearing for their safety, many locals have fled their homes due to the ongoing fighting and the junta’s continued presence in the town.

“We’re worried that they will destroy our properties, loot valuable items, or set fire to our homes,” said another resident from Pala.

Since the beginning of August 2024, fighting has been ongoing around Pala Police Station in Pu Law Township, with civilians being killed by artillery fire from the junta forces. Six villagers sustained injuries following a series of drone bombing attacks conducted by junta forces in Ban Law village tract, Tanintharyi Township, from September 6 to 9, 2024.

The fighting began on September 4, involving around 200 junta troops clashing with local People’s Defense Forces (PDF). This battle continued for several days, intensifying until September 9.

On September 7th and 8th, drone bombings by the junta forces injured 53-year-old U Soe Lwin, 42-year-old Ko Thar Phu, and a 44-year-old unidentified man from Ban Lin village. The following day, September 9, three additional villagers from Ban Lay West—55-year-old Daw Khin Wai, 40-year-old U Sein Win, and 30-year-old Daw Phyu Zin Htwe—were injured by bomb fragments, according to a local humanitarian source.

“All six victims are now receiving medical care, and fortunately, none of their injuries are life-threatening,” said a member of the humanitarian group.

Additionally, on September 6th, a driver in Ban Law village was also injured during a separate drone bombing attack by junta forces.

As fighting persists in Ban Law village tract, many residents have fled their homes, seeking safety elsewhere. Drone attacks and airstrikes have been increasingly used by the junta in Tanintharyi Township since January of this year, causing significant civilian casualties.

Houses in 5 Miles village, located in Pu Law Township of Myeik District, were set on fire by junta troops advancing toward the area. On September 14, following clashes at the Phaw junction, the advancing junta column reportedly began setting fire to homes and detaining villagers. By the evening of September 15, the situation had escalated, with more arrests and houses being burned down as the troops arrived in the village.

Local reports indicate that more than ten villagers were captured along the route, and around nine houses were set ablaze. “They first burned down a shop and four houses in the evening and then continued through the night,” said one local witness.

The status of those detained remains unclear, and it is currently being investigated whether they have been released or remain in custody.

Tensions remain high in the area between the junta forces and local resistance, including members of the People’s Defense Forces (PDF). Following the brief clash at Phaw junction on September 14, the situation has intensified. Similar tensions have arisen in nearby Shap Pone village, with junta troops stationed in the area.

This latest escalation adds to the growing violence and unrest in Pu Law Township, leaving civilians caught between military operations and resistance efforts.

On September 11th, four villagers, including three women, were killed in a drone bombing attack carried out by junta troops in Kywe Htain Kone village, Tanintharyi Township, Myeik District. The victims of the bombing were identified as 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. The attack occurred after junta forces launched an offensive in the Tha Kyat village tract.

“Fighting is happening almost daily in Kywe Htain Kone, Sin Khaung, 5-Mile, 6-Mile, Ban Law, Ban Tin, and the surrounding villages,” said a resident.

The following day, on September 12th, the troops conducted another drone bombing in Kwin Thit village, damaging the home of a resident, U Thiha.

The Karen National Union has called attention to the urgent need for humanitarian assistance for civilians who are fleeing the area due to ongoing artillery and airstrikes. The displaced villagers are in desperate need of food, medicine, shelter, and other necessities.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under Monthly Report, News