Myanmar Military Massacre: Survivors Recount Torture and Execution of 70 Men in 2024

The Myanmar military's brutal treatment of civilians in the Rakhine State has come to light through the testimonies of survivors of a 2024 massacre. The incident occurred in the village of Byain Phyu, where soldiers surrounded the village and herded men to a location where they were tortured and killed.

The survivors, including three women, recounted their experiences to The Diplomat in February 2026. They described how the military surrounded the village on May 29, 2024, and instructed residents to assemble at the village center. The soldiers then divided the men into groups and herded them to a location near a tea shop, where they were blindfolded and their hands were tied behind their back.

The torture and killings began at 7 p.m. on May 29, 2024, with intermittent screams heard throughout the night. The men were shot dead, and their corpses were either buried or cremated at the cemetery and near the lake. The survivors also recounted how some residents were forced to drink the urine of soldiers when they asked for water, and those who protested were beaten with rifle butts.

The military's actions were reportedly motivated by a desire to avenge the deaths of military personnel and their family members in the battle for Kyauktaw. The Arakan Army had demanded the military's surrender before launching attacks on Sittwe, and the military had erected defensive installations around the city and relocated soldiers' family members to safer places.

The survivors' testimonies provide a chilling account of the military's actions in Byain Phyu. They described how the military had compiled a list of 11 persons from the village whom it suspected of being United League of Arakan functionaries, and these people were identified, asked to kneel in a row, and quizzed about their links with the rebel outfit. Not surprisingly, the officers were not satisfied with their replies, and they were beaten with chains and shot dead.

The incident in Byain Phyu is a stark reminder of the ongoing human rights abuses in Myanmar. The military's actions in the Rakhine State have been widely condemned, and the international community has called for accountability and justice for the victims and their families.

## The Aftermath of the Massacre

The survivors of the massacre have been left to pick up the pieces of their lives. Many have been forced to flee their homes and seek refuge in other parts of the country. The trauma of the event has left deep scars, and the survivors are still struggling to come to terms with what happened.

The incident in Byain Phyu has also raised questions about the military's actions in the Rakhine State. The military's claims that the village was collaborating with the Arakan Army and providing it with recruits and information about military formations in Sittwe have been disputed by the survivors. They claim that the military's actions were motivated by a desire to avenge the deaths of military personnel and their family members in the battle for Kyauktaw.

## The Need for Accountability

The incident in Byain Phyu highlights the need for accountability and justice for the victims and their families. The international community has called for an investigation into the military's actions in the Rakhine State, and the perpetrators of the massacre must be held accountable for their crimes.

The survivors of the massacre have spoken out about the need for justice and accountability. They have called for the military to be held accountable for their actions and for the perpetrators of the massacre to be brought to justice.

The incident in Byain Phyu is a stark reminder of the ongoing human rights abuses in Myanmar. The military's actions in the Rakhine State have been widely condemned, and the international community has called for accountability and justice for the victims and their families.

## Table: Key Figures and Events

| Figure/Event | Description | | --- | --- | | 70 | Number of men killed in the massacre | | 800 | Number of men herded to the periphery of the village | | 2,000 kyats | Amount of money allegedly paid by each household to the AA | | 11 | Number of persons from the village suspected of being ULA functionaries | | 300 | Number of military personnel who surrendered to the Arakan Army in the battle for Kyauktaw | | May 29, 2024 | Date of the massacre | | May 31, 2024 | Date of the end of the massacre | | February 12, 2026 | Date of the survivors' testimonies to The Diplomat |