June 9, 2022
In a raid on Botae village, Wetlet Township, Sagaing Region, the military killed an 18-year-old named Zeya Kyaw and took five civilians as human shields on June 8.
The military, with around 100 troops coming from Shwebo, entered Botae village around noon and proceeded to kill one villager while taking five others as hostages. “My son was initially hiding with us in a safe place. When the gunfire stopped, he went home, thinking it was safe. Since then, we lost contact, and last night we found his body among the burned remains,” said Zeya Kyaw’s father. Reports indicate that the military searched through homes, seizing valuable items and taking those who were hiding as hostages. “They took four women and one man as hostages. They raided the houses and forced the elderly who couldn’t run to give up their belongings,” a villager stated. The military left Botae village around 6 PM and set up camp in Thipayaw village for the night.