June 10, 2024

In Sagaing Region’s Pinlebu Township, intense fighting has led to the burning of civilian homes by the military junta as clashes continue, according to reports on June 9.

The conflict in Pinlebu began on May 23 when combined forces of the military junta, Pyu Saw Htee militia, and the Shan Nationalities Army (SNA), also known as the Shan Red Army, entered the town and established positions. The combined forces, numbering over 200, have been engaged in fierce battles with local People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) for the past 19 days, with no end in sight. Reinforcements for the military junta have been sent from Wuntho, a town 30 miles away.

Residents of Pinlebu have been unable to determine the number of casualties or identify the victims due to the ongoing violence, with many seeking refuge in safer areas. The exact scale of civilian casualties and property damage remains unconfirmed.

Eyewitnesses report that the military junta and allied forces have been setting fire to government offices and buildings in Pinlebu, and there are allegations that the bodies of deceased fighters are being burned inside homes.

As the situation in Pinlebu remains dire, the civilian population continues to suffer from the destructive impact of the ongoing conflict.