Mizzima News

New Delhi (Mizzima) - A boy belonging to Kachin State sustained serious injuries and was hospitalised after he was brutally assaulted by soldiers of a Burmese Army battalion following a clash with local youths.

Hpawan La San (14), was among the unlucky youths, who were severely beaten up on May 31 by Burmese soldiers of battalion 372 based in Mayan village, about 20 miles west of Myitkyina town, capital of Kachin state in upper Burma.

A local resident of the village, requesting anonymity, said, on May 31, a group of Kachin youths had a fight with a few Burmese soldiers at a local video parlour. Following the fight, the soldiers who were beaten up went back to their barracks only to return in greater numbers led by their commander Lt-Col. Ye Yint Twe.

“They [soldiers] went around the village and started beating up everyone,” said the local.

The soldiers began assaulting everyone on the streets. They even entered a few houses and pulled out youths and men and beat them up at random. Hpawan La San was one among the many who were beaten up by the soldiers, the local said.

Hpawan La San, who is from Myitkyina town and was visiting the village, was at the railway station waiting for a train to return home when the soldiers caught him and started beating him up.

“He is in a serious condition and has been hospitalised in Myitkyina,” the local said.

Naw Din, editor of the Kachin News Group based in Thailand told Mizzima that Hpawan La San’s condition is critical. He has been bleeding from the mouth.

Naw Din said, following the incident “More than 30 people are still in hiding. The situation is still tense in the village”.

Meanwhile, the youths, who had assaulted the Burmese soldiers, have reportedly fled after the fight at the video parlour.

Naw Din said, soldiers are still patrolling the village with knives and sticks. Lt-Col. Ye Yint Twe has reportedly threatened the locals not to speak about the incident to anyone outside.

In July 2008, Burmese soldiers raped and murdered a 15-year old girl, Nhkum Hkawn Din, of Nam Sai village. Despite the girl’s parent’s complaints, military authorities closed the case after handing out compensation of Kyat 500,000 (USD 500).