Junta troops burned down more than 400 homes and killed six civilians during a 13-day military operation in Salin Township, Magway Region, according to a statement released by the Salin People’s Defence Organization (PDO) on 27 May.
The operation, which ran from 13 to 25 May, targeted several villages including Sanay Chaung, Gwey Kone, Ohthe, and Nga Than Khaung. Elderly residents who were unable to flee were among those killed, said Ko Aung San, spokesperson for the Salin PDO.
“Gwey Kone was set on fire twice. Almost the entire village was destroyed. Many houses in the other villages were also torched. The victims were mostly between 50 and 80 years old, who couldn’t escape. We don’t yet have full details about them,” he told Mizzima.
The extensive destruction has left hundreds of households displaced amid heavy monsoon rains, creating an urgent need for emergency shelter and food assistance, Ko Aung San added.
The attacking force included troops from Light Infantry Division (LID) 101 based in Pakokku, LID 88 from Magway, and Infantry Battalions (IB) 253, 254, and 255. On 13 May, two junta columns advanced south of Salin Creek – one from West Kanbaung village and the other from Myay Ni Kone – eventually linking up and moving through Aung Hlaing, Peinhnepin, and Nga Lin Pan villages.
Resistance forces positioned themselves on both banks of Salin Creek and engaged the junta in daily clashes that lasted until 20 May.
On 21 May, the military launched five airstrikes before entering the northern villages of Nga Than Khaung, Gwey Kone, and Htanaung Kone. Gwey Kone was set ablaze that same day.
Fighting escalated on 22 May when local resistance forces attacked junta positions in Gwey Kone and Htanaung Kone. The military retaliated with seven airstrikes and again torched Gwey Kone.
By 23 May, junta forces regrouped and entered Sanay Chaung village, where further clashes occurred and the village was subsequently set on fire. The following day, the troops split into two groups and moved on to Ohthe village, where another intense battle broke out.
“We heard the junta suffered significant casualties. Many injured soldiers had to be carried during their retreat. On our side, one comrade was killed and another wounded,” said Ko Aung San.
On 25 May, junta troops withdrew and returned to the Lin Zin police station. The next two days saw the dispersal of the troops as they began returning to their respective battalions.
The PDO has warned of continued threats to civilians and renewed offensives, while humanitarian concerns grow as displaced families face dire conditions with the onset of the rainy season.
