1. On September 30th, 2024, the Northwest Regional Military Command of the junta’s forces suffered significant causalities in a clash with revolutionary forces in a clash near the Sipar village, Budalin Township in Sagaing Region. After the heavy loss, they started employing the tactic of arresting civilians as human shields, raiding nearby villages, killing civilians, and burning civilian houses.

2. A column of more than 100 forces from Northwest Regional Military Command raided 17 wards and villages of Budalin Township between October 11 and October 20. At least 24 civilians were brutally killed during raids, arson attacks, mass killings, and airstrikes. Among those killed were three children, three women, and an elderly person. The most striking killings were dismemberment of six civilians in Sipar village on October 17th, with the bodies hanging on fences of civilian houses. In addition, at least 60 civilians were arrested and taken as human shields throughout their operation.

3. To add up to the inhumane killings committed by the ground forces, the junta forces launched an aerial bombardment on five villages.

4. The indiscriminate attack was carried out after junta leader Min Aung Hlaing’s warning during a meeting of civil servants in Taunggyi City, Shan State, on September 3rd, 2024, that depending on the situation and tip-off, they would attack the city and villages where the revolutionary forces are forcibly residing in to ensure the safety and security of the people. Following the warning, the violence against civilians increased significantly and openly.

5. For years, the terrorist military junta has utilized the tactic of targeting civilians as revenge for losses sustained during armed conflicts against armed resistance forces of different ethnicities. This strategy has already been documented in many different cases across the country. Targeting civilians and carrying out violent killings and arson attacks on the villages in Budalin Township could be seen as part of the military tactic as the junta leader had admitted.

6. If the international community continues to allow the military junta to operate with impunity, such an institution with inhumane strategy, tactics and doctrine will persist and embolden. Therefore, we request the international community to make efforts to hold the military junta accountable for their atrocious crimes.