Woman and Two Children Killed, One Injured in Bomb Explosion in Paletwa Town

A woman and two children were killed in a bomb explosion in Paletwa Town, Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) has reported. A fourth man was injured and is being treated at Paletwa civil hospital.

Earlier today, at approximately 5 p.m artillery was fired into the middle of the town and exploded between the Myanmar Economic Bank and a nursery school which are located close to the town police station.

The victims were identified as Daw Ei Thandar, whose husband works at the Bank, together with her daughter, 4-year-old Elizabeth Moe Moe Aung, and another child, 9-year-old Maung Maung Win, the son of Daw Myat Lay Nwe.

According to a local resident, the victims’ bodies were all dismembered and strewn all over the place when they were discovered.

The blast took place as heavy fighting was reported inside the town between the Arakan Army and Burma Army who were exchanging fire from either side of the Kaladan River. Paletwa residents believe the artellery was fired from Burmese army positions from across the Kaladan River.

More civilian deaths from today’s fighting came a day after Burma’s state counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi issued a controversial public statement giving tribute to the Burmese soldiers who died fighting in Chin State’s Paletwa, drawing criticisms on social media across the internet.

Last week, on 15th April, a 40-year-old woman was reportedly killed as heavy artillery landed in Mee Let Wa at approximately 9 am, south east of Paletwa Town.

On the same day, 139 organizations from inside and outside of Burma issued a joint statement calling for the protection of civilians in the conflict and warning that the killings of civilians may constitute war crimes under international law.

At least 35 civilians have died since March when fighting escalated between AA and the Burmese military in Paletwa Township.#