29 January 2022

Burmese media (including Mizzima, Irrawaddy and RFA) reported that soldiers alleged to be from the Myanmar Army’s Sagaing Division entered Thit Sein Gyi village (သစ်ဆိမ့်ကြီး) in Wetlet Township at about 2am on January 29 2022 and arrested six villagers. The residents were claimed to have been used as human shields and subsequently killed. The events were reported after the military were claimed to have left the area on the morning of February 4.

Reporting from RFA, based on interviews with local residents, claims that the victims were all male, and that they were “handcuffed and burned”. Through interviews with local residents, The Irrawaddy identified the victims as Myint Aung (58-years-old) The Tun Aung (28), Ko Ko Lin Maung (28), Thura Tun (20), Zaw Min Tun (43) and Min Min Tun (35).

Myanmar Witness has collected evidence from social media showing what appears to be the site of where the bodies were burned. Myanmar Witness was able to geolocate footage showing a number of burnt bodies to a site just outside Thit Sein Gyi village (22.423056, 95.949964). Sentinel-2 satellite imagery of the site confirms that there were burn marks in the alleged location, acquired during the period when the military reportedly occupied the area. Sentinel-2 imagery shows no burn scars on January 30, but does show burn scars on February 4, indicating the burning happened at some point in between those two dates.

Read Myanmar Witness’ report for more information.