June 28, 2022
The military and Pyusawhti militia burned down parts of Ywar Gyi Taw village in Chaung-U Township, Sagaing Region, for the fifth time on the morning of June 28, according to U Nanda, the abbot of Chaung-U Monastery. At around 9 AM on June 28, approximately 30 soldiers from the military, accompanied by Pyusawhti militia from Kan Gyi village, raided and set fire to Ywar Gyi Taw village. This marks the fifth arson attack, with a total of nearly 60 homes destroyed in the series of attacks. Over 20 homes were lost in this most recent raid, according to local sources. “Counting today’s attack, around 60 houses have been burned down so far. The attackers were soldiers and Pyusawhti members from Kan Gyi Kone. This is the fifth time they’ve set fire to the village. There were about 30 of them, and the raid began around 9 AM,” said U Nanda. Locals report that residents of Ywar Gyi Taw, displaced since the first attack, have been unable to return home due to the ongoing threat of violence. The military and Pyusawhti militia have entrenched themselves in nearby Kan Gyi Kone village, leading to fears of arrests and executions for anyone who attempts to return.