BANGKOK (AP) – Myanmar government troops rounded up villagers, some believed to be children, tied them up and slaughtered them, according to a witness and other reports. An opposition leader said the civilians were burned alive, as repression of resistance to a de facto coup takes an increasingly brutal turn.
A video of the aftermath of Tuesday’s assault – apparently retaliation for an attack on a military convoy – showed the charred bodies of 11 people, lying in a circle amid what appeared to be the remains of a hut.
Outrage spread both inside and outside Myanmar as graphic images were shared on social media of the assault, which Human Rights Watch said was similar to other recent attacks – and looked like it was meant to be discovered.
“This incident is quite brazen, and it happened in an area that was meant to be found, and seen, to scare people,” researcher for the group, Manny Maung, said. “Our contacts are saying these were just boys and young people who were villagers who were caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Opposition spokesperson, Dr. Sasa, said the attack began after a military convoy – which was raiding villages in the country’s northwest – hit a roadside bomb. Troops retaliated first by shelling the village of Done Taw, then rounding up anyone they could capture there.