Rohingya Human Rights Initiative
Arakan, Myanmar (Burma) – December 29, 2023
News by: Rohingya Human Rights Initiate
In a harrowing incident, four Rohingya civilians lost their lives, and five others sustained severe injuries when the Myanmar military junta unleashed artillery fire on Zedi Taung village in Buthidaung, Arakan state. The tragic incident was reported by our ground sources from Arakan.
According to rights activists from the village, the military junta initiated the assault on the Rakhine militants (Arakan Army - AA) on Thursday, December 27, targeting the medical clinic of the militant group. The artillery barrage persisted until the compilation of this report. On the evening of December 28, 2023, the junta forces indiscriminately fired around 30 heavy artillery bombs from a military encampment in Sansiparang Village, aiming at the Rakhine militants situated to the east of Zedi Taung village.
Tragically, 26 of the bombs fell indiscriminately inside Zedi Taung Village, claiming the lives of four Rohingya civilians. One of the bombs struck Zafor Hussain's (55) house, resulting in the deaths of Zafor, his two children, and another family member. Additionally, three Rohingya children from the village were injured due to fragments of bombs hitting nearby areas.
The casualties and injuries identified are as follows:
- Zafor Hussain (55) – Killed
- Mohammod Amin (25) – Killed
- Soyed Amin (17) – Killed
- Noor Amin (14) – Killed
- Zafor Hussain's Daughter (17) – Injured
- Nomad Rofik (8) – Injured
- Alom Shal (6) – Injured
- Mohammad Soyed (9) – Injured
- Son of Shomshu Alom (8) – Injured
Our sources further indicated that two Rohingya houses, including Zafor's and his neighbour’s, were destroyed by the bombardment. On December 29, villagers reported an additional 6-7 bombs fired from the military post towards Zedi Taung and nearby forested areas, where Rakhine militants may have hiding.
Since the supposed truce in 2021 following the military coup, tensions between Rakhine militants and the junta have persisted. The recent escalation in hostilities, beginning on November 13, has witnessed both groups allegedly using Rohingya villages as shields, resulting in the death of at least 30 Rohingya civilians and the injury of more than a hundred.
The ongoing conflict has had severe repercussions, causing lockdown in the region and spike in the prices of essential commodities, including daily necessities in Arakan. The community remains caught in the crossfire, facing the tragic consequences of the power struggle between the military junta and Rakhine militants.
Since the beginning of last month, arm conflict between Rakhine militants and Military Junta have forced at least half a million civilians displaces within two months.
Video evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eda93hcDcg