Junta Torches Villages Near Bagan, Forcing 20,000 to Flee

[geovalin]

CJ

 

 

More than 20,000 people have been forced from their homes in central Myanmar after junta troops launched a series of arson attacks near the country’s famed Bagan archaeological site—just weeks ahead of an expected visit by junta leader Min Aung Hlaing.

 

Since 8 July, around 150 regime soldiers have swept through 30 villages in Nyaung-U Township, setting homes ablaze and displacing entire communities. The affected area lies just 16km from Bagan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the few tourist spots still accessible since the 2021 coup.

 

“They torched all the villages they raided to instil fear. This is what they do,” said Oak Soe, a commander in the anti-junta People’s Democratic Army.

 

Residents from Zee Sar Myin and nearby villages described chaotic scenes as families fled into the forests or sought refuge with relatives. “We fled the military raids. Some of my neighbours hid in the forests, others are staying with relatives. Many have lost everything,” one villager told The Irrawaddy. Those returning face the near-impossible task of rebuilding their lives from scratch.

 

The military reportedly withdrew to Light Infantry Battalion 415 headquarters in Nyaung-U earlier this week, but fear lingers on the ground. Defectors say the operation is part of a broader push to "clear" the area ahead of Min Aung Hlaing’s visit to Bagan and neighbouring Yenanchaung—a tactic the junta has employed before, often with brutal consequences.

 

Meanwhile, resistance activity is on the rise. Eleven fighters were reportedly killed in clashes in Nga Thayauk earlier this month, as fighting intensifies across Mandalay Region.

 

Though Bagan has long been a symbol of Myanmar’s rich cultural history, it now risks becoming a backdrop to one of the regime’s most destructive campaigns in the region. For the thousands now displaced, the view of ancient temples means little in the face of scorched homes and uncertain futures.

 

-2025-07-19