Myanmar Junta Kills over 50 Civilians in Rakhine State Raid

The ethnic Arakan Army insurgent group announced that Myanmar’s military junta has murdering 53 civilians, including 48 men and 5 women, during a raid on the village of Byain Phyu in Rakhine State last week, RFA reported.

According to the Arakan Army, the junta troops abducted villagers and beat three to death before the violence escalated.

The junta has claimed troops were conducting searches after finding bunkers in the village, and that three men snatched guns and were killed in a shootout, with 25 suspects being interrogated in connection to the incident.

Arakan Army, one of Myanmar’s most powerful guerrilla forces, has been fighting the junta for self-determination in Rakhine and neighboring Chin State, where the military is accused of brutally attacking civilians suspected of supporting the rebels.