Mizzima

Myanmar’s military has been accused of launching a coordinated arson campaign in Mandalay Region, burning five villages in a single day and leaving hundreds of families displaced.

Local action groups say forces under the Naypyidaw Command swept through northern Myingyan Township on 12 April, setting fire to Htain Pan, Ywar Thit, Kyi Pin Kan, Yong Htoe Swal and Sate Kone. Witnesses report near-total destruction: in Htain Pan, only a handful of homes remain standing out of more than 500, while Ywar Thit has been reduced to fewer than ten houses from over 400.

Officials from the Myingyan Township Public Action Committee said the military columns torched the villages before withdrawing, leaving them deserted. Around 300 troops are believed to have split into three units, advancing from different directions and combining arson with drone strikes on areas sheltering displaced civilians.

The attacks follow a deadly incident earlier this month in Phat Pin Ai village, where soldiers shot dead eight residents and three members of a local defence force. Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government described that assault as a war crime.

The latest burnings highlight the military’s escalating tactics in central Myanmar, where resistance groups remain active. Analysts say the use of arson and drone strikes is designed to depopulate contested areas and weaken local defence networks.

For villagers, the impact is devastating. Entire communities have been erased, with survivors forced to flee into makeshift camps or neighbouring townships. Human rights groups warn that such scorched-earth operations deepen the humanitarian crisis, compounding food shortages and displacement across the region.

As the conflict grinds on, the destruction in Myingyan underscores the scale of suffering endured by civilians. With villages reduced to ashes and families scattered, Myanmar’s war shows no sign of abating – and the toll on ordinary people continues to rise.

-2026-04-16

If only arson squads could be sent into Naypyidaw and destroy burmese Government buildings!