Thousands of villagers in the west of Tabayin Township flee their homes
At least 25 people were killed by regime forces in the west of Tabayin Township in Sagaing Region on Friday.
At least 25 were killed in shootouts.
Shootouts took place when the civilian resistance People’s Defense Force (PDF) defended Satpyarkyin village against some 150 artillery-supported regime troops on Friday morning.
During prolonged shootouts, at least 18 PDF members were killed and more than 10 injured, the PDF announced. The group said four junta soldiers were killed.
The group said at least 40 artillery shells were fired at the village. A boy was detained by troops while trying to escape.
A villager said more PDF members and four other civilian bodies have since been found, increasing the death toll to 25.
He said the resistance fighters were only armed with traditional firearms and withdrew on Friday night.
“We can’t retrieve all the bodies as regime raids continue,” he said. “Food and medicine are urgently needed for the displaced as they couldn’t take anything while fleeing their homes.”
Thousands of residents of 11 villages, including Satpyarkyin, have left their homes due to the junta’s artillery bombardments.
Tabayin (also known as Depayin) was the site of a massacre by pro-junta thugs who attacked Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s convoy in 2003. About 70 people were killed and others severely injured, although Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s vehicle managed to escape.
She was subsequently detained and returned to house arrest and other survivors were jailed for many years.
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