SAA event in Myanmar on Wed 5th August 2026

A Myanmar Navy vessel opened fire on displaced villagers from Aung Taing on Sunday, killing one fisherman and injuring another.

The incident occurred while the victims were fishing near an offshore island in Sittwe Township, according to a local source familiar with the matter. A local resident identified the deceased man as Nyunt Chay.

On August 3 at approximately 2:00 PM, two Navy vessels stationed at the mouth of Aung Taing Chaung creek, located west of Nantha Island, opened fire on the displaced villagers as they fished on an island locally known as "Paw Kone Island."

"He was shot while on the island and died. The other person was injured. The remaining fishermen fled in their boats. The injured person has been taken to the hospital, but the body of the deceased man remains stranded on the small island," the villager stated.

The fishermen attempted to retrieve the body from the island but were forced to retreat due to continued gunfire from the Navy.

The residents of Aung Taing village were previously forced to flee to the neighboring township of Rathedaung.

The Myanmar military evicted them from their homes, claiming that active clashes with the Arakan Army (AA) were closing in on the village. "They are just fishermen who were fleeing the war in Rathedaung Township. Even though it is dangerous, fishing is their main source of survival. It is deeply tragic that they were targeted and killed by the Navy today just for trying to fish," the source added.

The surviving victim sustained a gunshot wound to the leg and is currently receiving medical treatment at a nearby hospital. The Myanmar military authorities have strictly prohibited offshore fishing along the Rakhine coast since armed conflict reignited in the region on November 13, 2023.