Nine massacres expose Myanmar’s sham civilian regime

The Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s military has carried out nine massacres in just two months, killing more than 100 civilians and injuring 26 others, according to figures compiled by The Irrawaddy. The atrocities come despite the junta’s attempt to rebrand itself as a civilian government under coup leader Min Aung Hlaing.

Between April and early June, regime forces unleashed scorched‑earth assaults across five states and regions. Chin State suffered three attacks, Karen and Sagaing two each, Magwe one, and Mandalay one. Thousands of homes were torched, more than 80,000 people forced to flee, and entire villages reduced to ashes.

One of the deadliest incidents struck Myit Chay in Magwe Region, opposite the UNESCO heritage site of Bagan. Troops killed at least 24 civilians and burned around 1,000 houses during a three‑week campaign. Satellite data confirmed widespread arson in neighbouring villages, driving tens of thousands from their homes.

Another massacre hit Kyaukkar village in Sagaing during the Thingyan New Year festival. Gyrocopters bombed the area on 16 April, killing 24 civilians. In Chin State, airstrikes on Khawpuichip village killed six, including children, and injured nine.

Six of the nine mass killings were carried out by airstrikes, underscoring the regime’s reliance on aerial bombardment against resistance‑held areas. The attacks continued even as Min Aung Hlaing issued “peace overtures”, giving ethnic armed groups 100 days to enter talks while simultaneously vowing to eliminate the People’s Defense Force.

The violence highlights the contradiction at the heart of Myanmar’s rebranded regime. Elections held in April were widely dismissed as a sham, excluding Aung San Suu Kyi and leaving the coup commander in charge as “civilian president”.

For civilians, the reality is clear: relentless military assaults, mass displacement, and mounting casualties. Analysts warn that until the junta halts its scorched‑earth tactics, any claims of normality or dialogue remain little more than propaganda.

-2026-06-15