Over 90 Homes destroyed after Myanmar junta forces torch Baung Bin village in Myaing Township

Over 90 homes were destroyed by fire after a Myanmar military junta column raided and torched Baung Bin village in Myaing Township, Magway Region, on August 2, an official from the Anyar Myay Civil Society Organization (Myaing) told Mizzima on August 3. “Since the military column is still stationed in Yar Gyi Pyin, we cannot yet confirm the extent of the damage there. We have confirmed that it was torched yesterday. However, we did not see any new fires in Yar Gyi Pyin today. It is certain that the military column is still inside. We also heard reports of indiscriminate heavy artillery shelling,” the official said. The Anyar Myay Civil Society Organization (Myaing) released a statement on August 3 noting that junta forces conducting military operations in Myaing Township have burned and destroyed numerous houses since July 13. This includes 31 houses in Kan Net village and nearby forested settlements, 29 houses in Let Khoke Pin village, six houses in Nyaung Kone village, two houses in Kaing Taw Ma village, four houses in Htan Nge Taw village, and over 40 houses in Thin Ma village. In total, over 200 homes across seven villages in Myaing Township have been destroyed by fire from July 13 to date. Before entering Myaing Township, the same military column also burned down 47 homes and a power transformer in Htauk Shar Pin village, Pauk Township, Magway Region, on July 13, according to a statement by the Pauk Township Department of Social Affairs, Labor, and Humanitarian Affairs. “Judging by their movement, it is assumed that the military column is heading towards the Wetu oil field,” the Anyar Myay Civil Society Organization official added. Due to the junta’s military offensive, numerous local residents in Myaing Township have been forced to flee. At least 24 local civilians in Pauk and Myaing townships have been killed within the past two months, starting from June 23.