30 April 2026 By Wadi
In the dark corners of pro-military Telegram channels in Myanmar, a chilling phrase has become a recurring command: “Burn it to ashes” (Pyar Cha Pay Par).
This is not a call to dispose of waste. It is a direct incitement to destroy the homes and lives of civilians. To burn a home is to destroy more than just a structure; it is an attack on the very foundation of society, wiping away memories, histories, and the hard-earned sanctuary of families.
The Human Cost of Arson
In Myanmar, the term “home” represents a lifetime of physical, emotional, and spiritual investment. Yet, under the shadow of the military coup, these foundations are being systematically razed. The sight of charred remains and blackened pillars in once-thriving villages has become a haunting symbol of the nation’s collective trauma.
According to data from Data for Myanmar, a monitoring group tracking arson attacks, the scale of destruction is staggering. In the five years since the 2021 coup, approximately 125,328 civilian homes have been destroyed by fire.
Between December 2025 and February 2026 alone, 4,748 homes were torched across six states and regions. The Sagaing Region remains the hardest hit, accounting for 63% of all reported arson cases, followed closely by Magway, Mandalay, and Rakhine State.
Propaganda as a Weapon
Monitoring of military-affiliated social media shows a disturbing pattern: arson attacks are often preceded by online incitement. Pro-military influencers label villages as “resistance strongholds” or “rebel supporters,” providing a digital green light for ground troops to move in.
The scorched-earth policy intensified during the lead-up to the military’s 2025 sham elections. Troops conducted “clearance operations” in areas where the junta could not establish control, leading to mass displacement, arbitrary killings, and the systematic burning of entire communities.
New Leadership, Old Brutality
Despite the transition in military leadership—with General Ye Win Oo taking the helm as the new Commander-in-Chief following the 2025 political shifts—the violence has not waned. In April 2026 alone, more than 23 villages in Myingyan and Taungtha townships were raided and torched by military columns.
The junta frequently denies responsibility for these acts, often employing a “blame the victim” narrative. State-run propaganda regularly claims that resistance forces, such as the People’s Defense Forces (PDF), burn down villages as they retreat—a claim that locals and observers describe as a blatant and low-effort fabrication.
A Summer of Ash
The recent destruction of Mrauk Lu Kan village serves as a grim example. On April 12, 2026, nearly 500 homes were reduced to ashes. While the military claimed it was a forest fire, the village had been occupied by troops since 2024. Despite its proximity to the Pakokku airport and available firefighting resources, the village was allowed to burn to the ground.
As Myanmar enters the peak of the hot season, civilians in conflict zones face a double heat: the scorching summer sun and the internal fire of anxiety, never knowing when their village will be the next target.
In a country where building a home represents a lifetime of labor and an immense cultural attachment, the loss is immeasurable. For the people of Myanmar, a home is the ultimate blessing—a place to eat, sleep, and find peace. But as long as the command to “burn it to ashes” continues to resonate in the halls of power, the dream of returning home remains a dangerous uncertainty.
