A Buddhist monk was shot and killed as he tried to stop junta troops from setting fire to Thapyay Thar Village in Sagaing Region’s Wuntho Township on the night of 23 April, according to a local resident.

Unfortunately, he did not succeed. The soldiers burned the village to the ground and also killed another woman there.

On the same day junta soldiers also abducted villagers from the nearby villages of Kyaing Khwin, Sein Lei and Aung Kone in Wuntho Township, according to locals.

A representative from the Wuntho Revolution (WR) group explained that junta troops had been clamping down in the area since 23 April because they were suffering losses to local defence forces. He said: “Junta forces keep picking on us because they are being defeated. They have already set fire to about eight villages. Some villages have been burned to the ground. Some people have been shot and killed, others have been abducted.”

According to reports the atrocities are being committed by about 50 soldiers from Battalion 111 based in Wuntho Township.

Since 23 April they have completely burned down two villages in Wuntho Township, Thapyay Thar and Shan Su. They have also set fire to another seven villages in the township, these are: Sein Lei, A lei Khone, Aung Kone, Oake Shit Khone, Kyauk Pauk Khone and Kyun Hla Khone.

Between 23 and 26 April they destroyed 147 houses and paddy fields.

This has led to some 25,000 villagers fleeing from 40 villages in Wuntho Township. They are all currently in need of aid and food.