Junta troops shot and killed seven folks arrested in Mrauk-U, a member of the family of one of many victims informed Radio Free Asia on Monday. The victims included a journalist and a well known social media commentator.
Their actual dates of loss of life are nonetheless unknown, however their our bodies have been found after the Arakan Military captured Mrauk-U on Thursday, in response to an Arakan Military assertion on Sunday night time.
Many of the victims have been of their 20s to 40s, it added. Kyaw Zan Wai, also called Phoe La Pyae, was widespread for criticizing the junta by way of jokes on Fb. Myat Thu Tun, who usually revealed beneath the identify Phoe Thiha, was a former reporter for media outlet Democratic Voice of Burma. The opposite civilian victims have been Kyaw Thein Hlaing, Kyaw Win Hlaing, Ko Nyunt, Win Naing and Pyae Sone Win.
The our bodies have been buried and the victims’ households weren’t knowledgeable of their deaths, in response to the Arakan Military’s assertion. Junta troops arrested the lads in late 2023 and all have been held in custody on the Mrauk-U Police Station.
They have been transferred to Mrauk-U-based navy Battalion 378 when combating broke out between the junta and Arakan Military on Dec. 24, 2023, in response to members of the family.
When combating escalated on Jan. 31, two troopers shot the seven prisoners and buried them in a bomb shelter close to Mrauk-U Hospital, the Arakan Military’s assertion claimed.
Myat Thu Tun was in touch together with his household till Dec. 25, however after Christmas, they didn’t hear from him, his spouse Ohn Mar Shwezin Myint informed RFA on Monday.
“When Mrauk-U metropolis was captured by the AA, I used to be so completely happy that he was about to be launched,” she mentioned. “However once I got here to know that that they had been killed and buried, I used to be devastated. It hurts.”
Myat Thu Tun labored for 7Day Information Journal, Democratic Voice of Burma, The Voice, Improvement Media Group and different home and worldwide information businesses.
“I used to be so unhappy,” she mentioned. “They have been introduced into the navy battalion when the combating broke out in December. I nonetheless received in contact with him round Christmas. He mentioned he was protected. That was the final I heard.”
Regime troops additionally tried to cover the our bodies of two different civilians, in response to the Arakan Military. After capturing Mrauk-U and Minbya townships, resistance troops found the our bodies of Nyi Nyi Aung from Rathedaung township and Kyaw Nyunt from Minbya township. Each have been killed on Jan. 19 by Minbya-based junta infantry Battalion 379, the assertion mentioned.
The junta has not launched any info concerning the deaths. RFA phoned Rakhine state’s junta spokesperson Hla Thein, however calls went unanswered on Monday.
Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn.