Armed conflict kills 75 civilians, destroys dozens of homes in Tanintharyi Region: monitoring group

By DMG 09 Jun 2022

DMG Newsroom
9 June 2022, Dawei, Tanintharyi Region 

According to the Southern Monitor, which tracks conflict in Tanintharyi Region, fighting between junta troops and anti-regime forces in the region has left more than 50 homes damaged or destroyed by fire and 75 locals dead over the past nine and five months, respectively. 

According to a statement released by Southern Monitor on June 9, clashes between the Myanmar military, local anti-regime forces and KNLA Brigade 4 set fire to 53 houses from September 2021 to May 2022. 

Broken down by township, that amounted to four homes in Dawei Township, 19 in Thayetchaung, 11 in Palaw, three in Yebyu, one in Myeik and 15 in Tanintharyi during the period, said a member of the Southern Monitor. 

“The Myanmar military burned down homes in some villages after a military convoy and military contingent were attacked with landmines,” the Southern Monitor member added. 

According to data collected by Southern Monitor, most of the affected houses were completely destroyed. 

In addition, 75 civilians were killed and 15 were wounded in clashes between the two sides in the five months from January through May, according to Southern Monitor. 

“The death toll is higher not only because of clashes between local PDFs [People’s Defence Forces] and the Myanmar military, but also due to the junta troops’ indiscriminate firing. The death toll is likely to continue to rise,” a local human rights activist told DMG, speaking on condition of anonymity. 

Local and international observers and local civil society organisations are urging armed groups to refrain from killing civilians during the conflict and to adhere to a military code of conduct.