State Administration Council (SAC) Kills 38 Civilians in Kachin State During May, Violating International Laws

Pajau Media

June 4, 2025

The military junta, which has seized power and continues to violate international laws without compliance, killed 38 civilians in Kachin State last month, breaching warfare regulations, according to a report by Kachin Human Rights Watch (KHRW).

The SAC killed 38 civilians in Kachin State, while five others sustained severe injuries from gunfire, and seven were unlawfully arrested. However, ground reports suggest the actual figures may vary.

On May 8, an airstrike by the SAC on a temple compound sheltering displaced civilians in Bhamo, Kachin State’s second-largest city, resulted in the deaths of at least 30 people.

Additionally, in Waingmaw Township between May 16 and 18, three civilians were injured due to landmine explosions and artillery shelling by the military.

Among them, 32-year-old Ko Ar Mu Tu stepped on a landmine on May 16, losing his right leg. On May 18, 10-year-old Ya Li was hit by artillery shrapnel, sustaining back injuries, while 65-year-old U Pawng Yin also suffered injuries from shelling.

In another incident on May 24, in Hepa Village, Mohnyin Township, 62-year-old U Chan Maung and his 58-year-old wife, Daw Khin Pyone, were killed when an artillery shell exploded. Fifty-year-old Daw Tin Nu, who suffered leg injuries, died five days later while receiving treatment.

Moreover, on May 27, in Seng Hpra Village near Hpakant Township, two brothers—12-year-old Sut Seng Aung and 10-year-old Sut Seng Naw—were killed while playing with an unexploded artillery shell.

On May 28, the SAC executed five civilians in Hpakant-Lone Hkin Village, while around seven others detained as human shields were injured. Another individual was shot dead near Rainbow Mobile Shop.

Meanwhile, ongoing conflicts in Kachin State have forced thousands of civilians to flee, urgently requiring humanitarian aid.

News – Htu Seng