Three civilians receive medical treatment for serious wounds in Rakhine State

Three civilians from Kyauktaw and Mrauk-U Townships in Rakhine State received injuries from artillery shells on Saturday.

By Khaing Roe La 17 Mar 2019

(U Yin Maung, who got artillery injury, from Khaung Tote village in Kyauktaw Township.)

DMG, Sittwe

Three civilians from Kyauktaw and Mrauk-U Townships in Rakhine State received injuries from artillery shells on Saturday.

U Yin Maung from Khaung Tote village in Kyauktaw Township suffered injuries to his nose on March 16 night at about 9:40 p.m. He has been receiving medical treatment at Kyauktaw hospital, U Than Maung, administrator of Khaung Tote village, said.

He got the injury when he was running into the bomb shelter under his house when he heard the sound of artillery fire and guns near the village.

The firing was an alert of the brigade in Kyauktaw, also destroying a house in the village, U Than Maung said.

In addition, a woman and a man from Taung Oo village in Mrauk-U Township got injuries on March 16 while a Tatmadaw convoy was conducting clearance operations in the region. They have undergone medical treatment in Mrauk-U hospital.

Daw Moe Ta Pway, a pregnant woman from Taung Oo village, had her thigh injured on the afternoon of March 16 while U Sein Hla Tun had both his legs injured on the same night at about 9:15 p.m, U Tun Thar Sein, Mrauk-U Township State Hluttaw representative, said.

“The pregnant woman has recovered now. However U Sein Hla Tun’s legs by need closer examination using radiography,” U Tun Thar Sein said.

The DMG called several times Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun from the Tatmadaw True News Information Team and Colonel Win Zaw Oo from the Western Command for comment regarding Tatmadaw troops’ firing that have resulted in wounded civilians, but they could not be reached.

Authorities should take responsibility for civilian causalities, said Ko Zaw Win, who is doing volunteer work for social activities in Kyauktaw Township.

“The government or military officers need to take action with these kinds of cases. Otherwise, there might be similar scenarios that are much, much worse,” he said.

Currently, villagers’ fear and displacement has been increasing because of the firing of heavy weapons and guns in Rathedaung, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw and Mrauk-U Townships.