Weekly Overview: Human Rights Situation in Mon State, Karen State and Tanintharyi Region

November 20, 2023

HURFOM, Third Week of November

A weekly update by the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) on the situation on the ground. Summary data includes Mon State, Karen State and Tanintharyi region.

As the conflict intensifies across Burma, civilians in the Southeastern part of the country also continue to face immense threats to their safety. Women and children are among the most vulnerable who have been routinely displaced. Their security is not guaranteed in IDP camps or temporary shelters as military aircraft can be heard circling above with the possibility of an attack imminent. There is trauma and widespread uncertainty as families struggle to cope amidst worsening circumstances.

Over the last week, children were among the primary victims in the regime’s war on terror. The junta has murdered at least 400 children since the failed coup as fighting intensifies nationwide. According to residents, two children were injured as a result of the explosion of the artillery weapons launched by the military junta in Mee Thway Gone village, Kyikemayaw Township, Mon State.

On the evening of November 16th, around 6:00 pm, after a drone bombed the Mawlamyine Southeast Regional Command, the Mudon-based Artillery Battalion launched artillery weapons into the Chaung Hna Kwa area where the PDFs were fighting, and two children were injured.

The shells fired by the Artillery Battalion fell and exploded in Chaung Hna Kwa, Mee Thway Gone, and Tha Yet Gone, including Paw Law villages. During the fighting in Kyikemayaw Township that started on Nov 10, the artillery weapons of the junta, as well as the air attacks, caused at least 30 houses to be damaged by November 17th. More than 5,000 residents are fleeing the war and require emergency food and medical aid. The fighting continues in Taung Kalay.

During the fighting that took place on November 12th, due to an air attack by the military junta, 7-year-old Ma Hnin Thet Wai from Paw Law village and 8-year-old Ma San Yadi Oo were killed. In addition, on the night of November 16th, the PDFs detonated and destroyed the bridge of Chaung Hna Kwa-Atram River, which was occupied by the military junta.

In a separate but related case, on the morning of November 12th, 2023, two children were killed, and four homes were damaged due to an airstrike by the military junta in Kyeikmayaw Township, Mon State. On November 10th, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and joint forces attacked the Chaung Hna Khwa bridge gate and the police outpost in Kyeikmayaw Township, and the fighting continues intensively to this day.

The military junta used airstrikes to bomb Paw Law village and killed 7-year-old Ma Hnin Thet Wai and 8-year-old Ma San Yati Oo. After that, four houses were damaged.

“The situation in our village is not good at all. People from the whole village have to evacuate to a safe place. We all have to gather in our neighbourhood in Taung Kalay. There is also a military junta camp in the east,” said a local.

The growing presence of soldiers is in response to the junta losing the war on the battlefield. Civilians are paying the ultimate cost with their lives. The military junta launching its operation in Long Lone Township burned houses and shot some villagers.

On November 9th, a fierce battle broke out between the military junta troops and the People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) near Ka Yin Gyi village. It was confirmed that some men had been shot, but the details of who and where they came from and which town were not yet known. After that, the regiment marched to Kan Pa Ne village, which is on the same road, and burned down at least two houses.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under Analysis, News