24 December 2023

Statement No(5/2023)

Hpruso

Statement on the Second year of memories of the Mass Burning and Killing of Innocent Civilians and Border Guard Force Members near Moso Village, Hpruso Township, on 24 December 2021

On 24 December 2021, Christmas Eve, troops from Infantry Battalion (LIB) 108, under Light Infantry Division (LID) 66, deliberately and brutally burned and killed more than 40 internally displaced civilians, including women and underage children, near Moso Village in Phru So Township, Karenni State; the victims also included four members of Border Guard Battalion (BGB) 1004 and two staff members of Save the Children, along with three Dampa trucks, three small vehicles, one tractor, and five motorcycles, all of which were burned together with them, as this horrific incident has now marks its second year of memories.  

Even today, we still feel deep sadness together with the families who lost their loved ones in that incident. For the people of Karenni State, the mass burning and killing near Moso Village still feels like a terrible nightmare, even after two years.

Till today, those responsible for the above incident remain unpunished. The  Interim Executive Council of Karenni State will continue its efforts to ensure that the mass burning and killing of civilians near Moso Village, as well as other war crimes and human rights violations committed by terrorist military groups in Karenni State, are brought to an end as soon as possible, and the perpetrators are held accountable, and justice is served for the victims. We are also seriously promising to stand and struggle together with the entire Karenni people until a federal democratic union is established.

We strongly urge the international community to take a firm stand against the violent military group and to work in close cooperation with the Karenni people in implementing effective actions. 

Interim Executive Council of Karenni State