- Myanmar soldiers killed at least 50 people in a raid
- The military council denied the accusations
- The villagers were forced to flee
Myanmar soldiers killed at least 50 people in a raid on a village in Rakhine State, according to local residents and opposition forces.
Witnesses described two-and-a-half days of terror, during which soldiers blindfolded and beat them, poured burning petrol on their skin, and forced some to drink urine.
The soldiers were searching for supporters of the Arakan Army (AA), an ethnic fighting force that has gained control of much of Rakhine State.
The National Unity Government (NUG) reported that 51 people aged 15-70 were “violently tortured and killed”, while the AA estimated the death toll to be over 70.
The military council denied the accusations, which would be one of the worst atrocities in the three-year civil war.
Witnesses described soldiers singling out men with tattoos supporting the AA for harsh treatment, including cutting out the tattooed skin, pouring petrol on it, and setting it alight. The villagers were forced to flee, with many seeking shelter in Buddhist monasteries in Sittwe.
The NUG promised to bring those responsible for war crimes to justice, while the AA accused the military of “vicious cruelty” and gang-raping women in the village.
The military claimed it was conducting “peace and security” measures in the village. Independent investigation is impossible due to the conflict and isolation of Rakhine State.
