As the world celebrates Christmas, at least 30 people, including women and children, were killed in Myanmar's eastern Kayah state, according to human rights group Karenni.
Two members of the international Save the Children organization are also missing. The organization added that the "charred remains" were discovered and identified near the state's town of Hpruso on December 25.
Myanmar’s Government of National Unity (NUG) described what occurred in Karenni as a "Christmas massacre", noting that military forces "detained an unconfirmed number of villagers and destroyed their property."
The NUG reiterated its demands on the international community to take immediate action to end the escalating war crimes committed by the military junta against the people of Myanmar.
The Myanmar army said it had shot and killed an unspecified number of "terrorists with weapons" from the opposition armed forces in the village, according to state media, adding that the people were in seven vehicles and did not stop in front of the army.
The Karenni National Defense Force, one of the largest civilian militias, told Reuters that the dead were not its members but civilians seeking refuge from the conflict.
Follow the latest news on Google News
