By The Stateless Rohingya

The Battalion 378 of Myanmar Military began firing a heavy artillery over several villages in Buthidaung township on April 27.

The heavy firing that began at 4:45am local time, woke up Rohingya villagers in fear and desperation. The firing lasted until 5:15am. A video leaked from the ground showed an artillery system firing mortars in thunderous sound over the dark sky of frightened Rohingya civilians.

According to an unnamed junior military officer, the office of Commander-in-chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has commanded the battalion to launch the artillery at the exact location on the specific time.

It is also understood that the launch will commence again in the morning of April 28.

In between are a number of Rohingya villages where the civilians have been trapped in the fighting between Myanmar Military and Arakan Army for several months.

Rohingya civilians are in fear of being targeted and victimised in the months-long fighting. Scores of Rohingya villagers were hit with Myanmar Military’s mortar shells, gunshots and landmines. Several civilians have lost their lives.

Many shops are now being closed down since Saturday.

Following the well-orchestrated campaign of genocide in August 2017, Rohingya civilians, particularly in Buthidaung, face the complete restriction of movement – preventing them of farming, fishing and seeking livelihood to support families. The campaign in Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships have destroyed over 390 villages and forced more than 745,000 Rohingya to flee into Bangladesh.

Fear still remains high in Rakhine State.

During his visit to Russia on April 23, General Min Aung Hlaing personally inspected the assembling of six Sukhoi SU-30SM fighter jets worth US$204 million that the military ordered last year.

Civilians express concern over possible use of these powerful jets in Rakhine State.