June 4, 2024
The National Unity Government (NUG) strongly condemned the mass killing of villagers in Byine Phyu Village, Sittwe Township, Rakhine State, by the military junta. In a statement released on June 3, NUG denounced the brutal attack where over 170 junta soldiers entered the village on the morning of May 29, torturing and killing 51 villagers, including 48 men and 3 women.
NUG highlighted the inhumane treatment of villagers, including the elderly and children, who were forced out of their homes and subjected to violence. The statement emphasized that the junta’s actions constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. NUG vowed to hold all responsible parties accountable through legal means.
In response, the junta’s information department claimed that security forces found sandbag bunkers and bomb shelters in some houses and that three non-local men allegedly grabbed guns from security forces, leading to their deaths. The junta also mentioned detaining 25 additional suspects for questioning.
Student unions based in Yangon, including the Yangon University Students’ Union (UYSU) and the Student Armed Forces (SAF), also released statements on June 2, pledging to collaborate with all resistance forces to seek justice for the Byine Phyu Village massacre.
