Myanmar troops accused of rape and killings in Yaw

Myanmar’s military has been accused of committing fresh atrocities in the Yaw region of Magway, with reports of rape, forced recruitment and the killing of six civilians, including a Buddhist monk.

According to a statement from the Yaw Defence Force (YDF), junta troops have been sweeping through towns and villages, arresting residents to use as human shields and coercing young men into joining their ranks. The group urged locals to flee to safer areas, warning of escalating violence.

The offensive, which began earlier this week, has seen thousands of soldiers deployed alongside airstrikes and artillery fire. In Saw Township, six people were killed in Tabyint and Ywartha villages along the Pauk‑Kyaukthu‑Mindat road. Victims included respected teachers from the Civil Disobedience Movement, a mentally ill woman, and a villager from Ywartha.

Witnesses told Radio Free Asia that more than 1,000 troops raided the two villages, burning homes and abducting residents. The scale of the assault has drawn condemnation from resistance groups, who accuse the military of systematic war crimes.

The Arakan Army, the YDF and allied forces continue to resist the advance, but the junta’s campaign in southern Yaw and neighbouring Chin State has intensified. Reports of sexual violence, arbitrary arrests and destruction of property add to a growing list of abuses documented since the 2021 coup.

Human rights organisations say the latest incidents highlight the military’s reliance on terror tactics to suppress dissent. For communities caught in the crossfire, the message from local defence groups is stark: evacuate now, before the violence spreads further.

-2026-05-29