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KHRG received these two photos from a local leader from Aa--- village, T’Hka Kloh village tract, Noh T’Kaw Township, Dooplaya District, on January 23rd 2026. On January 20th 2026, Burma Army Infantry Battalion (IB) #284 soldiers shot at a villager named Ma A---, while she was extracting latex at her rubber plantation, and killed her on the spot. The photo on the left shows Ma A---’s body in her house before the funeral. The photo on the right shows the place where she was fatally shot. [Photos: local leader]
Burma Army military activities in Seik Gyi Town and nearby areas
After the military coup in 2021, the Burma Army[2] frequently conducted shelling, and some shells landed near villages close to Seik Gyi Town, Noh T’Kaw Township, Dooplaya District. The Burma Army carried out shelling whenever they were attacked by the KNLA [Karen National Liberation Army][3] with drones. Sometimes, they [the Burma Army] also shelled indiscriminately, even when no attacks or fighting were taking place.
Seik Gyi Town and nearby villages are [mostly] under the control of the Burma Army. [The Burma Army’s] Infantry Battalion (IB)[4] #284 is stationed near Seik Gyi Town. After the military coup in 2021, soldiers from IB #284 have regularly patrolled the area surrounding their army camp to maintain security. During night patrols, the Burma Army has often fired machine guns, usually between three and ten times. As the Burma Army planned to hold an election[5] in January 2026, militarisation increased in areas under its control.
[Since the 2021 coup,] the Burma Army [also] restricted villagers’ access to Seik Gyi Town. They opened the gate [entrance checkpoint] at 6 am and closed it after 6 pm. In cases of medical emergencies, villagers were required to inform the Burma Army. Villagers were allowed to enter the town only after receiving approval from the Burma Army. The Burma Army provided the village head with a phone number for villagers to contact in case of [medical] emergencies. Due to these restrictions, some villagers faced challenges in accessing the hospital for treatment in Seik Gyi Town.
The Burma Army’s Infantry Battalion (IB) #284 army camp is [also] near Aa--- village, T’Hka Kloh village tract[6], Noh T’Kaw Township.
January 20th 2026: Burma Army soldiers killed a villager in T’Hka Kloh village tract
On January 20th 2026, Ma[7] A--- and her husband [from Aa--- village] went to their rubber plantation to extract rubber latex. At around 7 pm, soldiers from the Burma Army’s IB #284 shot at them multiple times, killing Ma A--- (41 years old) on the spot. She was struck on her left temple and died immediately under the rubber trees. After the incident, her husband carried her back to the village.
A village security guard, named U[8] B---, from Aa--- village, believed that Burma Army soldiers deliberately shot at Ma A---. He believed that Burma Army soldiers might have gone to a hut located near the incident site and shot the woman, because when he observed the incident place, the place where Burma Army soldiers stayed [during the incident], and the incident place are very close. U B--- expressed to KHRG: “They [Burma Army soldiers] should not shoot if they are not sure of their target. If necessary, they [Burma Army] should fire warning shots into the air. In this incident, the shooting was intentional.” He added: “Villagers rely on daily work to support their livelihoods, but following this incident, many are afraid to extract rubber latex. This fear creates serious livelihood challenges. If such shootings continue, villagers will remain afraid to work. The Burma Army must provide compensation to the victim’s family.”
Previously, there was no curfew in Aa--- village. After the incident, the Burma Army imposed a curfew requiring villagers to travel only before 7 pm. Some villagers were frightened and fled the village after the incident.
Further background reading on the situation of killings in Southeast Burma/Myanmar can be found in the following KHRG reports: