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Army bombs and kills villagers in advance of Dawei visit by Junta chief

HURFOM: On September 18^th, 2025, the junta’s chief Min Aung Hline joined the opening ceremony of the City Hall of Dawei City, Dawei Township, Tenasserim. He also had a meeting with local business persons after the event.

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Prolonged armed conflict creates suffering and hardship in Yebyu

HURFOM: Since early July, 2025, the military junta has launched indiscriminate artillery attacks on Ma Yan Chaung and Kaw Hline villages, Yebyu Township, Tenasserim Division, citing that Mon and Karen revolutionary forces are active in the area.

Between August 17^th and September 10th junta regiments have battled with Mon and Karen revolutionary forces.

Displacement

Due to the military’s advance and heavy armed conflict, tens of thousands of residents from ten villages including Kaw Hline, Thar Yar Mon, Ma Yan Chaung, 60-Mile, Yar Phu, Pha Yar Tone Zu, Kywel Tha Lin, Log Tie and Kyauk Ka Din villages have fled from the area.

“Some villagers who can’t run away are still left in Yar Phu village. Yesterday (September 8^th), the army launched an artillery attack and advanced into Yar Phu village. Armed clashes break out very often. The army is still launching artillery attacks,” said a displaced villager from Yebyu Township.

As the conflict continues displaced villagers are experiencing numerous livelihood and health problems.  They are urgently in need of food and medicine.

“The displaced villagers in Ye Twon were supported with rice. Now, it is the rainy season and some children are suffering from illness. As we have to stay in others’ houses, we have to be careful with our behavior,” said a displaced villager.

HURFOM was informed that both the junta’s army and the revolutionary forces broke into empty houses and stole things of value.

“As no one is left in the village, they do as they like. Even if we go back we aren’t allowed to enter the village. Every belonging is made by our hard labor. But we can do nothing,” said a local man from Thar Yar Mon village.

Armed conflict is also getting intense in Phar Chaung village track, Kan Bauk region since the last week of August and about 500 residents from Zell Eain Zu, Taung Yin Inn and Phar Chaung villages have fled from their homes.

Arbitrary arrests

On August 24^th, the junta’s regiment arrested 20 villagers including a monk in Thar Yar Mon village. On August 28^th, 25 additional villagers were arrested. Eight Yar Phu villagers were arrested on September 8^th while three Kywel Tha Lin villagers were arrested on the next day – September 9^th.

“As I heard the sound of gunfire near our village, I was packing my belongings. The army entered the village and they stopped their truck in front of my house. They said “You all are supporting the rebels” and tied my hand and arrested me,” said a woman from Kywel Tha Lin village.

Injuries and Casualties

During the armed conflict in Yebyu Township, four civilians including two children were killed by junta artillery fire and landmine explosions,  and ten others were injured.

From September 6^th to 9^th, the junta’s regiment shot and killed a truck driver, the driver’s assistant and a three-year-old baby girl. They also injured a local man.

A landmine explosion killed a three-year-old child and injured three other villagers.

“All the villagers ran away but we decided to stay. That’s why my daughter has to face the horrible incident. It broke my heart,” said the mother.

On July 8^th, the junta’s regiment targeted Kaw Hline village with artillery attacks and artillery shells exploded in nearby plantations. The explosions killed three children and a villager and severely injured their mother.

Property Destruction

Since August 8^th, indiscriminate artillery attacks launched by the Ka Lane Aung based 282^nd Light Infantry Battalion destroyed at least six houses including a monastery.

“As soon as the situation is getting stable, the regiment starts launching artillery attacks. Some artillery shells dropped in the plantation while some others hit houses in the village. The houses were destroyed and the villagers were injured. Now, the junta launches the artillery attack first before they start the military advance,” said a local source.

From August 24^th to September 2^nd, the regiment that conducted military operations in Phar Chaung village track, Kan Bauk area destroyed and burnt down about 20 houses in Taung Yin Inn village.

According to a report by the FE5 Tanintharyi, in July, junta artillery and airstrikes destroyed more than 40 residential houses.

The growing number and intensity of armed conflicts in the Tenasserim Division is increasing the number of displaced villagers. The military junta is blocking transportation routes resulting in a scarcity of commodities. Prices are rising causing increased hardships for displaced villagers and other civilians.

Dragged Into War: Junta’s Mass Arrests Target Young Men in Conflict Areas

The military Junta has escalated its campaign of fear by carrying out widespread arrests of young men across Mon State and the Tanintharyi Region, forcing many into military conscription. In towns and villages, young men between the ages of 18 and 40 are being targeted in late-night raids, checkpoints, and workplace sweeps. Families say their loved ones have been taken without warning and, in many cases, disappeared into military training camps, leaving entire communities gripped by fear and uncertainty.

On July 26, more than 40 young men were rounded up in Pu Tane Yoe village, Thaton Township, Mon State. They were taken to Thaton Town Police Station, Thein Sake Police Station, and the 9th Military Training Camp. A relative of one of those detained recalled:

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Junta conducts mass arrests to collect conscripts

HURFOM: In what appears to be a reckless and desperate move, the military junta is now conducting mass arrests of young men in the 20-40 age range in Mon and Tenasserim regions.  This development appears to be the next step to forcefully collect conscripts for the 16^th batch of military training for conscripts.

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Conflict comes and goes but jeopardy persists: Livelihood struggles in Kyone Long village four months after an armed clash

HURFOM: In January, 2025, there was a two-week-long armed clash between the military junta and the joint forces of the Mon and Karen revolutionary groups in Kyone Long village, Ye Chaung Pyar Region, Ye Township, Mon State.

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Extrajudicial killings believed to be on the rise in Mon State

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.

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Junta’s Armed Force Day recalls grievances for Dhammasa’s residents

HURFOM: Dhammasa village, Kyikemayaw Township, Mon State is located on the border separating Karen and Mon states and is surrounded by a green forest. The village is situated beside the Gyaing River and has big wood and brick houses. The village has a good economy and villagers celebrate the “Ta Saung Tie Festival” – a famous religious festival every year.

Dhammasa village had more than 1,000 houses but on March 7th, 2024, military junta torched many of the homes. That day of fire and destruction coincided with the 79^th Armed Force Day.

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Arrest of undocumented Burmese citizens on Thai – Burma border reaches record levels

HURFOM: Since February 1, 2001 the date marking the military junta’s attempted coup, Burma has faced political and armed conflicts, economic crisis and unemployment hardships. On February 10^th, 2023, the military council enacted an unlawful and forced “public conscription law”, which has made a bad situation much worse.

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Local authorities exploit weak rule of law and organize profit making gambling events

HURFOM: Since the attempted coup in 2021, the rule of law is getting weaker across Burma. This is equally evident in Mon State and Tenasserim Division. Local authorities are exploiting the situation by organizing gambling events in pagoda festivals, music and dance shows, traditional and spiritual events, all in order to extract profit for themselves.

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Crack down on call scam gangs creates serious consequences for locals

HURFOM: In order to crack down on call scam gangs and human trafficking along the Thai – Burma border, the Thai government has cut off the distribution of electricity.  The cut affects five locations along the border and authorities have, without exceptions, banned the transportation of gasoline beginning at 9 am on February 5^th, 2025.

The electricity blackout and gasoline ban has created serious consequences in Three Pagoda Pass Town, Kyarinnseikyi Township, Karen State all of which are on the Thai – Burma border.

Shortage of drinking water

The lack of electricity has forced drinking water factories to cease operations leading to a shortage and a dramatic rise in the cost of drinking water throughout the towns.

Mya Pan – a local drinking water factory stopped their production and their prices rose significantly. A bottle of drinking water was priced at 10 Thai Baht before the blackout but now, local people must pay up to 25 Baht for a bottle of drinking water. The cessation of the company’s operations has also led to a shortage.

“We have no electricity so we can’t operate our water pump. We have to buy water for our daily use,” said a Three Pagoda Pass resident.

High price and scarcity of gasoline

After experiencing a blackout for ten days in Three Pagoda Pass, the price of gasoline began to rise.

One liter of gasoline was priced at 35 Baht before the blackout but now, the price of the same amount of gasoline has risen to 60 Baht. Shortages are also now commonplace.

“At the moment, most of the gas stations in Three Pagoda Pass have put up a notice saying “no more gasoline to sell” and closed their operations,” said another resident.

Mon national schools alongside the border

The students from the Mon national schools in Japanese Well and Kyan Taw villages which are under the control of the New Mon State Party and which are located on the Thai – Burma border have also suffered from a serious consequence of blackout by the Thai government.

“Now, we have no electricity so we have to go to the well to get water. The well is very far from our school. Instead of doing their studies, students have to spend all their time collecting water,” said a national school teacher.

The blackout has also created problems for students who are about to take their final exam.

“The final exam is about to come. But we don’t have electricity to print out the question papers. The children have to do their studies by candle light. They have to buy the candle with their pocket money,” said a schoolteacher from Japanese Well village.

The Mon national school in Japanese Well village has 150 students and the Mon national school in Kyan Taw village has 47 students.

The DKBA – Democratic Karen Benevolent Army which controls Three Pagoda Pass released a statement on February 9^th, 2025 claiming they would try their best to get back electricity and gasoline from the Thai government.

Armed groups have also promised to crack down on call scam gangs and unlawful gambling centers, which are dominated by Chinese peoples in Three Pagoda Pass. The group issued an order urging Chinese citizens in Three Pagoda Pass Town to leave town no later than February 28^th, 2025.

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