New Delhi: A Christmas Eve massacre in eastern Myanmar reportedly left more than 30 people dead, and photographs of the aftermath being shared on social media have led to widespread outrage and condemnation for the military, media reports said.
The incident took place near Mo So village in Kayah State Friday, and the victims included women and children whose charred bodies were found in vehicles that were burnt to ashes.
A senior UN official said he was “horrified” by the reported killings, and urged the authorities to investigate the matter.
While opposition activists have blamed government soldiers for the alleged massacre, the ruling military has not made any comment.
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According to the state media, news agency Reuters reported, soldiers fired on and killed an unspecified number of "terrorists with weapons" who were fighting the military that took power in February this year.
Quoting a villager who claimed to be an eyewitness, An Associated Press report, however, said the victims were people who had fled the fighting going on between armed resistance groups and Myanmar’s army near Koi Ngan village, located next to Mo So, Friday.
They were arrested by the troops as they headed to refugee camps in the western part of the township, and killed, the villager was quoted as saying.
The report also said two members of Save the Children, an international humanitarian group, had been missing since the massacre.
The group said in a statement that the staff members were travelling home for the holidays when they were “caught up in the incident”.
“We have confirmation that their private vehicle was attacked and burned out. The military reportedly forced people from their cars, arrested some, killed others and burned their bodies,” Save the Children was quoted as saying.
It has since suspended operations in the region.
UN Official Calls For ‘Thorough And Transparent’ Probe
Meanwhile, Martin Griffiths, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said civilians “including at least one child” were among the dead, and that the reports of killings were credible.
"I condemn this grievous incident and all attacks against civilians throughout the country, which are prohibited under international humanitarian law," Griffiths said.
He said there should be a "thorough and transparent" investigation, and also called for the protection of civilians.
“Millions of people in Myanmar remain in dire need of humanitarian support,” Griffiths said, and added that the UN and its humanitarian partners would continue to provide help.
The Myanmar military overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1 this year, and there has been turmoil in the country ever since.
According to the Association for Assistance of Political Prisoners rights group, over 1,300 people have been killed and more than 11,000 jailed since February as the military cracked down on protests.
The military, however, disputes the group's death toll, according to the Reuters report.