More than 2,000 people are fleeing the burnt fish village in Khin Oo Township

The army and Pyu Saw Htee raided Nga Tin Gyi village in Khin Oo Township, Sagaing Division on April 3, destroying about 250 houses and forcing more than 2,000 people to flee to their homes, according to locals. A soldier from Nga Tin Gyi village, who did not want to be named for security reasons, explained that the army and Pyu Saw Htee joint forces stormed the village around 7 am on April 3 and set it on fire twice on the same day. 

"They came in from the top of the village at around 7 in the morning, firing their guns and heavy weapons," he said. People are having breakfast. From there, they ran while eating because they were running. Running is just a big crowd. Some of them ran away carrying small items and food. The first part of the fire started at about ten o'clock. They stopped to eat. Once, the fire started again at about two o'clock in the evening. I have to watch from a distance. "

In the summer, it is difficult to find fodder for animals. Cattle and buffaloes that had been stored for a summer were also burnt. There is no food for the cows.

There have been frequent clashes between the military council and the People's Defense Forces in the area of ​​Nga Tin Gyi village tract these days. It is unknown at this time what caused the fire.

The junta left Nga Tin Gyi village on the morning of April 4 and some villagers returned to the village today and are still fighting the blaze. Homes left unburned said they were carrying some food from their homes. This is because some villagers have been returning to the village for a while and have not yet dared to return to the village for fear of another return from the military council. They are still hiding in the fields.

A villager in Nga Tin Gyi explained that he was devastated when his house was set on fire.

"Smoke billowed up and I could see the flames," he said. The sound of gunfire echoed through the air. No one dared to enter the village. Agricultural products; All the grain and cattle were lost. There is no other clothes. Paddy There was no food because of the rice. There is no oil. To live in the present Not a brick was left to build, and not a grain of sand was left. After years of losing my savings, I no longer really wanted to do anything. I can not feel anything in my stomach when it is so cruel. "

The convoy, which was leaving Nga Tin Gyi, was attacked by local people's defense forces near Sai Gaung village in Khin Oo Township on the afternoon of April 4.

Locals say the military council then set fire to a school in Sai Gaung village.

Today, the battalion set fire to three houses in Ohn Pin Gone village, Khin Oo Township.

General Zaw Min Tun, a spokesman for the military council, responded that the arson attacks were carried out by the military on a one-sided basis.

"The Tatmadaw is working on security measures. They are using the term 'Pyu Saw Htee', which is their accusation, to repeat what they just set fire to and flee, using Pyu Saw Htee. There is no Pyu Saw Htee.

"No one dared to enter the village because of the sound of gunfire."

"It will not be easy for them to rebuild their destroyed lives," said a villager.

“From the beginning, we have to start our own farm. If you still have a small plot of land, you have to start over. I can represent myself. To be able to drink After making a living, gradually build a house. It is not possible to start immediately from the tent. It takes thirty or forty years to make that happen. "

On the night of March 3, the military council cut off the internet in some townships in Sagaing Division.

In Khin Oo Township alone, 43 houses were destroyed in Tin Dan Kone village in March alone. 38 in Mantaw village; 2 in Kyunle village; 13 in Thet Pay village; 103 in Tamot village; A total of 447 units were burnt in 118 units in Kala Lu village and 130 units in Sha Lwin village in one month.

About 250 houses in Nga Tin Gyi village and three houses in Ohn Pin Kone village were set on fire, leaving about 700 houses in Khin Oo Township. 

Prior to the coup, villages in ethnic areas, including Rakhine, were set on fire by genocide, and now the practice has become the norm for the military, according to an anonymous victorious lawmaker from Sagaing Division.

"It simply came to our notice then. Sure. This is undeniable. In the Rakhine conflict and in other areas. Kachin State It is certain that the same thing was done in Chin State. "Practicing the old way has become their tradition."

According to Data For Myanmar, which monitors the destruction of the military council, from February 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, there were 7,973 houses destroyed by the military and its affiliates across the country. Of those, 4954 houses in Sagaing Division were the most burnt down.

Various theories about the Thingyan festival have arisen 

No traditional Thingyan festivals have been held in Burma since 2020, when the coronavirus began. Last year, after the military coup, there were shootings and shootings. Democracy movements and Thingyan festivals were not widespread. But this year, the coup junta is planning to hold a Thingyan festival. I can see and hear the activities.

"We have nothing to say about the traditional donations that people make in their own villages."

Nang Lin, a leader of the Alumni Movement, said the military council was trying to use the Thingyan to deceive the international community, saying the situation in Burma was stable.

“Actually, Thingyan is something we really value. However, this year's Thingyan is for the sake of their political image. They are in control. Thingyan is being organized with fun to show that the people are back to normal. We urge you to take part in the Revolutionary Thingyan, which is totally unacceptable. The main thing is that we, the people who are currently fighting in this Thingyan, Comrades in prison We will continue to issue proclamations to our fallen comrades in the form of a revolution that will show that we are with them. We have nothing to say about the traditional donations that people make in their own villages. But it's a party to start with. They want to have their wards. In this program

Meanwhile, the General Strike Coordinating Group (GSCB) issued a statement urging the coup junta not to participate in any celebrations that the junta is trying to politically exploit for the Thingyan festival.

Meanwhile, some members of the Peacock Generation Armored Corps, an annual group of students, have been seen fighting in the liberated areas these days.

There are differences among Burmese expatriates. Aung Aung, a Burma activist, says Singapore does not have the Thingyan festival as it did in previous years.

“Recently, the monastery announced that this year there will be no Thingyan at all. He said he would do as much as he recited.

Japan In Tokyo, Burmese are preparing to celebrate Thingyan. Myo Thant, the leader of the Mingaladon group, who has been participating in the Tokyo Thingyan for 28 years, held the event to raise funds for the revolution. He told RFA that the show was aimed at attracting a large audience.

“This year's Thingyan is not like our festival. It was a spring fundraiser. We will donate everything we get from this event. As for Thingyan, it includes armor. This year too, my own armor. "We have the current Dhamma and Dhamma of Burma on our armor."

United States of America, In Los Angeles, California, some traditional Burmese plans to hold a Thingyan festival have been canceled due to protests by pro-democracy activists.