28 August 2017

Kachin State, Burma

On August 11th the Burma Army launched an unprovoked attack against civilians in Kasung Village, west of Myitkyina, Kachin State. At 1100 Burma Army soldiers began to mortar the village. At 1130 the indirect fire ceased and 200 Burma Army ground troops raided the village, spraying rifle fire at fleeing villagers. Kasung Village has no active Kachin Independence Army (KIA) installations nor military significance. One villager was killed and numerous villagers were injured by beatings from the soldiers. The Burma Army units involved in the raid were Light Infantry Battalions (LIB) 381 and 384 under MOC-3, headed by Tactical Operation Commander Colonel Aung Than Htwe.

The villagers fled into the jungle surrounding the village during the assault. A villager named Mr. Lamau Awng Nu was shot and killed and other villagers were injured and captured. A school teacher and eleven other villagers unable to escape were held captive for two days before the army left them. The soldiers also killed multiple cattle and a pig, which they subsequently ate. Most homes were looted. After the Burma Army had taken the village it proceeded to fire into the surrounding tree line, forcing any villagers that had lingered into displacement.

Following the assault locals attempted to help stranded villagers, yet the Burma Army stopped them from assisting until August 13th. Once the Burma Army withdrew, locals and religious groups began helping their people. More than 1000 people were displaced during this assault against a civilian population. On the 22nd villagers began to return to their homes.