Fifteen local residents living in Myauk Khin Yan Village, Ganggaw Township, fled on January 30, and one resident was killed when she stepped on a landmine planted by the junta army outside the village.
“The main thing is that I heard that there is a shortage of food. Since they are completely destitute inside, they have connections on this side where livelihood is convenient, so they went out to live freely,” said Nway Oo from the Hnan Khar Youth Group.
It is known that the junta troops and Pyu Saw Htee militia have illegally locked up the local people in the village, and fearing that they will flee from the village, they have planted mines around the village.
“People don’t want to live under military rule anymore, so the junta army set up landmines in the village to prevent them from fleeing to the liberated area. A woman was hit by a landmine, and both of her legs were cut off. We went to save her life, but we didn’t make it in time,” said Nway Oo.
He added that the administrative team of the Gangaw Township has arranged to connect the residents of Myauk Khin Yan, including the children left behind by the woman who died due to landmines, to their close relatives, to place them in safe areas, and to help their livelihood.
“Villages dominated by Pyu Saw Htee militia are surrounded by landmines, and the people are locked inside. The junta troops and its militia locked up villagers without letting them to go. Because of doing this, the people lost their lives while they were running,” Nway Oo continued.
It is reported that the people in the village are suffering from food shortages due to the restrictions on entry and exit of the village by the junta army, which have stopped transportation and commerce.
“Everything is difficult. We can’t even sell rice and sesame seeds. Mainly, there is a shortage of goods and food, starting with salt and fish paste. We can’t buy them anywhere,” said a person who escaped from Myauk Khin Yan village.
Myauk Khin Yan Pyu Saw Htee Village is a large village with nearly 2,000 houses and is the stronghold of Bullet Hla Swe, a former MP of the USDP under the military in 2010.
At the beginning of 2022, more than 400 local residents who did not want the formation of the Pyu Saw Htee Militia in the village left Myauk Khin Yan village.