Episode: KPN 06-06-2026

6 Muslim family members shot dead while fleeing Sittwe

The deceased were members of the family of Maung Hla Myint, son of Sergeant (Clerk) Nu Maung, who had served at the Zedi Pyin Village Police Station in Rathedaung Township.

Maung Hla Myint and seven other family members had been living in Sittwe since 2023 due to the health condition of their children. They had been receiving medical treatment in hospitals in Yangon and Sittwe, but their health condition had not improved, according to the family members.

After the fighting intensified in Sittwe, there were calls to evacuate, but the family members were forced to stay because of the military situation.

On May 23, 2026, at around 10 p.m., while carrying their sick daughter, the family members said, they were walking to the boat when a flash of lightning struck and the military commission members found them and shot them.

The next day, those who arrived at the scene found the youngest son, aged 4, alive.

A person close to the family said, “When the Muslim militia and the military commission members went to the scene, they found the youngest child still alive, hugging his father’s body. The Muslim militia members begged to let the child live, but the military commission members shot him twice in his dying father’s arms, saying that he was an enemy and that he could cause trouble.”

He continued, “They had many sick people and no income. As the situation in the war worsened, they thought of fleeing to survive. No one thought that the entire family would lose this much.”

The bodies of the six victims were then buried in a pit, and the family took more than 40 million kyats in cash, gold jewelry and other belongings, according to sources.

The disabled daughter and the boatmen were fortunately rescued.

The brokers also allegedly took money to help them pass through the military commission checkpoints, which amounted to about 1.7 million kyats, including boat fares and other expenses.

The family members later demanded another 700,000 kyats to bring back their disabled daughter.

The brokers promised to clear the checkpoints, but they failed to do so, which is likely the reason for the entire family’s deaths, according to sources.

A family member of the survivor said, “The brokers took money saying they would make the checkpoints easier. We all left with the hope of survival. Now the entire family has lost everything. We want the truth to come out about this incident.”

Currently, Muslim militia groups and military commission troops are shooting at residents trying to flee Sittwe, according to locals and sources close to the area.

Therefore, concerns are growing about the security situation of civilians trying to flee the war.

Tagged as: Burma, Malaysia going boat, IDP camp in Arakan, Arakan Army, Myanmar, Military navy, Kutupalong, Cox's Bazar, Rohingya boat people, Maungdaw, Military Council force, Rakhine, IIMM, Rathedaung, ARSA, Rohingya, war crimes, Rohingya Refugee, Camp schools, Akyab, ICC, Rohingya refugee camp, community schools, APBn, ICJ, RRRC, foods shortage, Balukhali, accountability, Sittwe, hungers, Bangadesh refugee camp, Bangladesh, Teknaf, ration cut, BGP, Genocide Convention, Burma-Bangladesh border, Arakan, RSO, Buthidaung, BGB.