Three family members, a grandfather, his daughter, and grandson, were killed in Payathonzu, a town along the Thai-Myanmar border, according to local sources.
The incident occurred on the evening of November 19th, when the bodies were found with stab wounds in a rubber plantation along the road to Makkatha village in the Payathonzu area.
“The victims were Rakhine nationals. People in the area referred to him as ‘U Rakhine.’ They had lived in Payathonzu’s No. 2 Ward for over 20 years. He was a retired EPC (Electric Power Corporation) staff member but was an ordinary civilian. He was an honest, decent person. His daughter’s husband is working in Thailand. A group of unknown individuals abducted him, his daughter, and his grandson while they were heading towards Makkatha Village. We don’t know why they were killed,” said a local resident.
The deceased have been identified as U Rakhine, a retired electrical worker residing in Payathonzu’s No. 2 Ward, his 30-year-old daughter Daw Thaint Thaint Thu, a schoolteacher, and his 8-year-old grandson, a student, according to local accounts.
The family was reportedly abducted by unidentified individuals in a Honda vehicle and later found abandoned with knife wounds near the roadside leading to Makkatha village. Passersby discovered the bodies early on November 20th.
Payathonzu is marked by lawlessness, with frequent crimes, robberies, and killings occurring amidst the presence of various armed groups. Authorities have not been able to apprehend those responsible for such incidents.
“After armed groups became more active in Payathonzu, crimes like robberies and murders have increased. Yet, perpetrators are never caught. Armed individuals move freely in the town. This case is no different; we have no idea who committed this crime,” said a local resident.
Currently, Payathonzu is home to multiple armed groups, including the Karen National Union (KNU), New Mon State Party (NMSP), Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), Karen Peace Council (KPC), Border Guard Force (BGF), People’s Defense Forces (PDF), and the Military Junta.
In response to the activity of various armed groups, the DKBA, which controls parts of Payathonzu, recently issued a 12-point directive prohibiting its members from carrying weapons in public.
