Two young men, bloodied and shackled in wooden stocks, endure torment from their captors demanding information about the People’s Defence Force. Despite their humiliation, they defiantly label their tormentors as "dogs." Bound and dragged across rough terrain, they are then hoisted up a tree and a fire is lit beneath them, their screams and agony echoing as flames consume them, capturing their final moments of unimaginable horror on video for all to witness.
Phoe Tay was 21-years-old, Thar Htaung just 20.
The two, left their family farms in northwest Myanmar to join a local armed resistance group after the 2021 military coup, aspiring to bring peace and democracy to their country, as per their fathers' accounts to CNN. Captured during a battle against the military on November 7, they were subjected to torture and killed by a pro-junta militia under the surveillance of Myanmar army soldiers, as witnessed by multiple sources. CNN's investigation, incorporating testimonies from villagers, witnesses, and analysts, alongside video and picture analysis, implicates the ruling military in the killings, despite their public denials. Although awful, their killings are regrettably not unique occurrences in Myanmar, where the military terrorizes people as part of an expanding armed uprising that seeks to overthrow it.
Following a rebel offensive launched five months ago, which led to significant losses and defections for the military, attacks in Myanmar have surged, as confirmed by multiple sources. Employing terror tactics such as burnings, beheadings, mutilations, village torchings, and a widespread aerial bombing campaign that has displaced nearly three million people, the Myanmar military seeks to assert control and sow division among the populace through fear and brutality, according to witnesses and analysts. United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Türk recently described the situation as a "never-ending nightmare," highlighting the "chilling disregard for human life" exhibited by trained soldiers against their own people.
Despite CNN's request for comment, Myanmar's military junta spokesperson has remained silent regarding the killings and attacks on civilians. The military consistently denies targeting civilians, often attributing violence to resistance forces. Army chief Min Aung Hlaing's coup on February 1, 2021, ousted the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi's party, plunging Myanmar into turmoil and violence. Suu Kyi, now serving a 27-year sentence after secretive trials, led the deposed government. Widespread public opposition to the military's takeover and crackdown on protesters has escalated over the past three years. A nationwide armed resistance movement, including powerful ethnic rebel armies, now poses a significant challenge to the junta's rule. In the Yaw Valley, nestled between the Chin Hills and central Myanmar's Dry Zone, locals express shock at the inhumanity of recent killings, underscoring the brutality inflicted by the military.
In the midst of intense fighting between the military and resistance groups, including the People's Defence Force (PDFs), Phoe Tay and Thar Htaung, alongside the Yaw Defense Force (YDF), embarked on a mission to target a hospital suspected of being a military weapons cache in Myauk Khin Yan village. Trapped by heavy fire, the group attempted to retreat but became separated, with Phoe Tay and Thar Htaung among those missing. Reports later revealed they were captured alive by the military in a pro-junta stronghold. Despite receiving warnings not to pursue them, the YDF learned of the gruesome fate awaiting the captured men, sparking outrage among their comrades who never anticipated such brutality in their struggle.
The morning of the incident, local villager Zaw Zaw recalls waking to gunfire in Myauk Khin Yan village. Pro-junta militia members then demanded one person from each household witness the capture of two alleged rebels. Zaw Zaw describes seeing the men dragged from the hospital, their hands and legs bound with chains, before being hanged from a tree and doused with gasoline and diesel. Around 100 villagers were forced to watch as the men were burned alive, pleading for mercy. Their charred bodies were left hanging from the tree branch. Zaw Zaw recounts the trauma of witnessing the executions, which left him unable to eat or sleep for days. Following the gruesome event, the militia imposed a lockdown on the village and threatened those attempting to leave with death.
Myanmar's military junta has refuted involvement in the November 7 executions in Myauk Khin Yan, dismissing them as the result of "malicious media" according to state mouthpiece Global New Light of Myanmar on February 8. While acknowledging the affiliation of the victims with the resistance, the junta labeled the video as "fabricated," attributing the killings to alleged imposters posing as regional guard unit members—an accusation vehemently denied by the Yaw Defense Force. Confirming an attack occurred that day with Tatmadaw troops stationed in the village, the junta describes it as an assault by "People’s Defence Force terrorists," resulting in heavy losses on their part, with no arrests made.
On March 5, Myanmar's junta once again denied responsibility for burning the two men to death, asserting that examination of the video showed weapons not typically used by the Tatmadaw. However, CNN's analysis geolocated the execution video to a tree near the Myauk Khin Yan hospital on November 7, 2023, when the regime held full control of the village. Comparing the leaked video to satellite imagery and militia training footage, obtained from the Burma Affairs and Conflict Study, CNN corroborated the location and timing of the incident. Villagers consistently identified Myauk Khin Yan as a militia stronghold since the 2021 coup, with no resistance force claiming control. Testimonies from four members of the Yaw Defense Force supported the events leading to the killings. Initial photos of the victims in captivity were circulated on pro-military social media platforms. Independent Myanmar researcher Kim Jolliffe emphasized the consistency of the atrocity with the military's doctrine of fear and intimidation, suggesting strong evidence implicating the regime despite its denials.
Myauk Khin Yan has witnessed a series of horrific killings, reportedly carried out by the militia and Myanmar military stationed in the village. In March 2022, local media reported the gruesome death of a villager who was chained to a vehicle and dragged until he died. While CNN cannot independently verify these incidents, they align with witness testimonies regarding the brutality of the militia and military in the area. Yaw Lay, a YDF fighter, describes a culture where brutal killings are glorified, including beheadings, dismemberment, and organ removal. These armed militias, like the Pyu Saw Htee operating in Myauk Khin Yan, have become integral to the military's efforts to suppress the nationwide resistance. Analysts suggest the military's deep involvement in training and arming these militias, often composed of ultra-nationalist Buddhists, USDP members, and army veterans, who partake in joint operations alongside the military.
The United States, United Kingdom, and Canada have imposed sanctions on individuals accused of supporting militias, including Hla Swe, a former senior member of the USDP and ex-military official. Myauk Khin Yan, once a village, has seen hundreds flee since becoming a militia stronghold post-coup, with the exodus continuing after the burning incident. Seventeen-year-old Phoe Ei Thu lost her leg to a landmine while escaping in January, describing worsening conditions and tight militia control. Former villagers reveal forced labor for the army and pressure to join the militia. Despite the challenges, Phoe Ei Thu expresses relief at leaving the oppressive environment. The military's actions since the coup, condemned as war crimes and crimes against humanity by UN investigators and human rights groups, continue to prompt international scrutiny and sanctions.
The researcher, Jolliffe, stated, "The scale and the intentionality of the way that the Sit Tat, Myanmar military, does these things is just completely extreme." "Terrorist groups like ISIS are typically the ones that display such behaviours."
The junta's grip on power in Myanmar has never been absolute and now faces its most significant challenge yet, with reports of mass defections and territorial losses. Analysts describe a military resorting to punitive measures against civilians out of frustration, as evidenced by a surge in verified cases of brutal violence. Since the coup, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) has confirmed 186 instances of burning people to death, including 82 last year, with victims as young as 5 years old. The AAPP has also documented 22 beheadings, while Myanmar Witness, a project documenting military abuses, has recorded over 400 reports of burned bodies and more than a dozen beheadings, signaling a disturbing pattern of violence in areas accessible to junta forces.
Troops are reportedly laying siege to villages, systematically torching homes and decimating food sources as they advance, leaving behind a trail of destruction. Particularly in the Dry Zone, considered Myanmar's heartland, well-armed military units of up to 120 men are deployed to wreak havoc. Additionally, a massive aerial bombing campaign targets ethnic minority areas and anti-coup resistance strongholds, causing terror from the skies. Analysts and human rights groups denounce the military's indiscriminate airstrikes and artillery fire, which seem aimed at displacing populations and maintaining chaos rather than reclaiming territory.
Banya Khung Aung, founder of the Karenni Human Rights Group, reports that only one hospital remains unscathed by bombings in southeastern Kayah state, where approximately 80% of the population has been displaced at least once. Analysts suggest these attacks aim to instill fear rather than establish legitimacy. Despite widespread reports of civilian abuse, junta chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing has not addressed or acknowledged these issues publicly. Dr. Miemie Winn Byrd, a retired US Army Lt. Col. and professor, describes the Myanmar military as a criminal gang rather than a professional military, as tactics of brutality become ingrained in their culture. Analysts note signs of failure in the military's reliance on heavy weapons and brutality due to stretched resources and the high cost of maintaining airpower.
As the Myanmar junta faces increasing challenges, including deteriorating aircraft and manpower shortages, analysts warn of heightened risks to civilians, underscoring the urgent need for international intervention. While sanctions are crucial, broader efforts to cut off the junta's access to resources and armaments are necessary. The junta's extreme violence has galvanized much of Myanmar's populace to intensify efforts to remove the military from power, reflecting a widespread determination for change. Despite their families' anguish and inability to bury their loved ones, the deaths of Phoe Tay and Thar Htaung have fueled the resolve of those fighting for democracy, showcasing the resilience of the resistance against the military's brutality.
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