Extrajudicial killings believed to be on the rise in Mon State

May 20, 2025

HURFOM: Since the military coup began in 2021, Burma has experienced a failure of the rule of law and numerous new armed groups have emerged across the country. One consequence has been the number of arbitrary arrests and extrajudicial killings is on the rise.

The military junta has been targeting individuals with connections to revolutionary armed groups, while the resistance groups have been punishing military informants and military supporters.

On March 10^th, 2025, two 25-year-old young Mon men were shot and killed at the entrance of Ka Log Thaw village, Mudon Township. Local sources said both individuals had been frequently punished for theft and robbery.

There is speculation they were ambushed and killed by a local militia group operating under the sanction of the military junta, however, no evidence has surfaced to confirm the speculation.

“There is no regiment in the village. The militia group has been patrolling the village. Bullet cartridges were found near the dead bodies,” said a local source.

On April 2^nd, 2025, a 20-year-old young man from Moke Kha Malt village, Kyike Hto Township, was shot and killed by two unknown gunmen at his home. On April 4^th, a 50-year-old U Kyaw Aung, who operated a fish farm near Soup Pa Nuu village, was also shot and killed by unknown gunmen.

On April 4^th, a 45-year-old local man from Ka Mar Wet Town, Mudon Township, was shot and killed at his hut on his farm. Locals said he was notorious for dealing with illicit drugs.

On April 8^th, a 40-year-old makeup artist called Ah Pell from Sein Taung Ward, Ka Mar Wet Town, was connected with the drug trade. She was shot and killed by two unknown gunmen at their beauty salon.

“Both of them were frequently warned not to deal with illicit drugs (by armed groups). The authority came to check the incident but told the family members nothing,” said a local source.

There is a belief that villagers notorious for either trade in illicit drugs, or theft, and robberies have not been brought to the courts, instead, there is a growing suspicion such individuals have been extrajudicially killed by unknown gunmen.

On May 2^nd, 41-year-old U Thein Soe aka Ko Thar Gyi from Htin Shuu village, Thanbyuzayat Township was shot and killed by six unknown gunmen at his motorbike repair shop.

Pro-military lobbyists accused him of being shot and killed by the “Yay Balue Group”, a local revolutionary armed group active in Ye Township, but there has been no concrete evidence presented to support the allegation.

On May 5^th, a 30-year-old young man from Taung Kyar Ward, Thu Wunna Wa De Town, Thaton Township was shot and killed at his home. Locals said he too had a connection with an illicit drug deal.

On the same day, two other 20-year-old local men were shot and killed on a jungle route near Thaton Town.

“Three men were shot and killed on the same night. But both the military junta and the revolutionary groups said nothing. No one knows who is responsible for the killings,” said the locals.

The military junta has stated that 7,099 people, including monks, members of political parties, government staff, and military retirees, were killed by revolutionary armed groups from February 1^st, 2021, to May 6^th, 2025.

On May 15^th, 2025, the Assistance Association for the Political Prisoners (AAPP) stated that the military junta had killed 6,682 people, including pro-democracy activists since February 1^st, 2021.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under Feature, News