A Myanmar Navy vessel opened fire on displaced civilians fishing off the coast of Rakhine State on Aug. 3, killing one man and wounding another, according to a resident.
The attack occurred around 2:00 p.m. when two Navy vessels stationed near the mouth of Aung Taing Chaung creek, west of Nantha Island, targeted villagers fishing on Paw Kone, a small offshore island in Sittwe Township.
The deceased was identified as Nyunt Chay. A second fisherman sustained a gunshot wound to the leg and was hospitalized, while remaining fishermen fled in their boats.
"He was shot while on the island and died," a resident said. "The injured person was taken to the hospital, but the body of the deceased remains stranded on the island because continued Navy gunfire forced rescuers to retreat."
The victims were residents of Aung Taing village who had previously been forced to flee to neighboring Rathedaung Township after the Myanmar military evicted them, claiming advancing clashes with the Arakan Army (AA) were approaching their homes.
"They are just war-displaced civilians who rely on fishing to survive," the source added. "Even knowing the danger, they had no choice. Tragically, they were targeted and killed just for trying to feed themselves."
The Myanmar military has strictly prohibited offshore fishing along the Rakhine coast since armed conflict with the Arakan Army reignited in November 2023, severely impacting local livelihoods.
