Mizzima

Myanmar junta troops burned down 17 houses in Thapuyabinyoe Village, in Sagaing Region’s Yinmarbin Township, at about 4:30 p.m. on 29 August.

The junta soldiers had been extracting timber without authorisation on the border between Yinmarbin and Kani townships before they moved into Thapuyabinyoe Village.

A Thapuyabinyoe Villager said: “The soldiers from the Military Council conducted a military operation in the villages of Yinmarbin, even going as far as stealing children's bicycles from houses. Despite our village being torched by the junta, we are still unaware of whose houses were burnt to ashes as we are too afraid to return.”

According to a local resistance leader this was the first time that junta forces had set fire to Thapuyabinyoe, a village of about 600 households.

A local resistance leader said: “Due to the houses being close to each other, the fire in Thapuyabinyoe Village was fierce. Unfortunately, a total of 17 houses were completely burned to ashes.”

Following the torching of Thapuyabinyoe Village junta soldiers have stationed themselves in the nearby villages of Kyaukone and Kyaukmhaw. They claim that they have to be there for security reasons.

The junta army’s actions in the area have caused tens of thousands of worried villagers to flee from the three villages and the four villages of Sonechaung, Pantainpyin, Sithu and Nwarchankone, all on the border of Yinmarbin and Kani townships.

Currently, there is tension between the junta army and local defence forces in the area. As a result, the local defence forces have warned members of the public to be cautious when travelling in the area.