Myanmar Witness

Since the 2021 coup, CIR’s Myanmar Witness project has been collecting and analysing data which shows cases of extreme violence and destruction throughout the country. According to Myanmar Witness’ findings, Myanmar’s central-northwestern Sagaing region is most heavily affected by the internal conflict, repeatedly showing the highest levels of violence in the entire country. This makes Sagaing the so-called “epicentre” of Myanmar’s conflict and a region facing an urgent humanitarian crisis. We explain:

On 1 February 2021, the military launched a coup d'état in Myanmar. Within hours, General Min Aung Hlaing seized power and arrested elected leaders, overthrowing Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratically elected government.

An analysis of events involving burnt remains of victims in the Myanmar conflict from March 2022 to September 2023.

https://www.myanmarwitness.org/post/burnt-bodies-kanpetlet-chin

Fires, airstrikes and mass displacement reported in 13 villages

Satellite imagery analysis reveals the impact of fire across Sagaing

17 claims involving the burning of victims or their bodies in Myanmar (July 2021 - August 2022). This list is not exhaustive and includes some credible but unverified claims where further evidence is required.

Vehicle Burning can seem insignificant when compared to other reports coming out of Myanmar.

There were multiple reports of villages and towns being set on fire in Myanmar during September 2021.

However, some of the videos that were going viral were from different countries or different moments in time altogether.

The village of Kinma (Pauk township, Magway region) was heavily damaged by fires following clashes between SAC forces and local fighters. Photos circulated on social media have been geolocated by Myanmar Witness to the village, and correspond with the location of the heat signature of the fire picked up by NASA. There are reports of 2, and potentially 4 casualties.