Unborn baby dies by gunshot

By Cha Lu Aung 22 Apr 2019

Cha Lu Aung / DMG

April 22, Buthidaung

A pregnant mother from Sinthaybyin Muslim village in Buthidaung Township was shot and her unborn baby died on the afternoon of April 21.

“The mother was struck in her abdomen by a stray bullet while she was worshipping. There was no battle but we heard firing between Sinthaybyin and Uyinthar villages. We could not go and see if the firing originated from the Tatmadaw or AA,” said Mamed Eleyet from Sinthaybyin village.

The wounded woman, 27, named Saynalrar, has three children and was pregnant. Her unborn baby died and she is battling a life-threatening injury, locals told the DMG.

A battle broke out near Aung Thar Chaung village, 2000 meters far from Sinthaybyin village, on that day, colonel Win Zaw Oo from the Western Command said.

“It is 2000 meters between Sinthaybyin and Aung Thar Chaung villages. Our troops are conducting regional clearance operations there. If there are AA troops present, there will be an armed engagement. In that situation, our troops must respond to any incursions that pose a threat to them. But they shoot into the forest areas where the AA are positioned and not villages,” he said.

Hearing the sound of non-stop artillery shooting, villagers from Uyinthar, Sangotaung, Nwayonetaung, Htatetoopauk and Sinthaybyin villages fled to refugee camps and other safe areas for their protection.