Junta Troops Shot and Killed a Civilian in Yan Taung Village, Thayet Chaung Township

July 22, 2025

HURFOM: A local man from Yan Taung village, located along the Dawei–Myeik highway in Thayet Chaung Township, Dawei District, was shot and killed by junta troops on the morning of July 19, according to eyewitnesses and residents.

The incident occurred around 9:00 AM when troops stationed at the monastery in the center of the village opened fire on Ko Win Aye, a man in his 40s, as he was riding his motorbike. Soldiers claimed he was attempting to flee after turning his vehicle around.

“Ko Win Aye was shot while riding his motorbike after spotting the soldiers. It happened very suddenly. On that day, the junta forces also fired small arms and artillery shells for about 15 minutes around the village,” said a local resident who witnessed the scene.

On the following morning, July 20, after the troops had vacated the area, villagers began searching for Ko Win Aye. His body was discovered buried near the monastery fence. Locals later exhumed his body and held a funeral and cremation that same afternoon.

The killing occurred amid ongoing military operations in Thayet Chaung Township, where local communities continue to suffer from arbitrary violence and widespread fear. Just days earlier, on July 16, junta troops detained four residents from Yan Taung and another four from neighbouring villages. These civilians were reportedly used as human shields for four days during the operation, according to a local woman familiar with the incident.

The detained villagers were taken as far as the Shwe Guu Taung bridge checkpoint before eventually being released.

In another operation on July 14, the troops split their forces between Nyaung Zin and Yan Taung villages, advancing toward several nearby communities including Tha Yet Hnit Kwa and Thin Kyun. During this offensive, three villagers were also detained and used as human shields. They were later released.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News