Burma Army Continues Killing, Looting and Displacing Kachin Civilians

The frontline humanitarian organization, Free Burma Rangers, released a report that supports statements made by the Kachin Women’s Association Thailand (KWAT) that the Burma Army is targeting civilians in Northern Burma.

The Free Burma Rangers said that “on August 11th the Burma Army launched an unprovoked attack against civilians in Kasung Village, west of Myitkyina, Kachin State.

The FBR said that “At 11:00 the Burma Army soldiers began to mortar the village. At 11:30 the indirect fire ceased and 200 Burma Army ground troops raided the village, spraying rifle fire at fleeing villagers.”

FBR said that Kasung Village is without any “active Kachin Independence Army (KIA) installations nor military significance.”

As a result of the Burma Army assault, FBR said that “one villager was killed and numerous villagers were injured by beatings from the soldiers.”

FBR named the Burma Army units involved in the killing as “Light Infantry Battalions (LIB) 381 and 384 under MOC-3, headed by Tactical Operation Commander Colonel Aung Than Htwe.”

The FBR said that villagers sought safety in the surrounding jungle during the Burma Army offensive.

The FBR named the dead villager as Mr. Lamau Awng Nu, who was “shot and killed… a school teacher and eleven other villagers [who were] unable to escape were held captive for two days before the army left them.

FBR said that the Burma Army “soldiers also killed multiple cattle and a pig, which they subsequently ate. Most homes were looted. After the Burma Army had taken the village it proceeded to fire into the surrounding tree line, forcing any villagers that had lingered into displacement.”

FBR said the Burma Army stopped the displaced villagers from receiving aid or help “until August 13th.”

FBR said that “once the Burma Army withdrew, locals and religious groups began helping their people. More than 1000 people were displaced during this assault against a civilian population. On the 22nd villagers began to return to their homes.”