SPDC arrests member of insurgent group, and his family

September 4, 2009

HURFOM: On August 5th, Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No.273 arrested a member of a Mon insurgent group, Nai Chan Dein, and members of his family.

A Thet, 29 years old, had served in the Nai Chan Dein group for 4 years. He was arrested with his family in his home village of Alaesakhan, Kaleinaung sub-township, Tenasserim division.

According from source in the area, A Thet was often seen around the village before he was arrested. The arrest was precipitated by an unknown tip off to LIB No. 273.

Not only A Thet but also his younger brother and mother were arrested by the soldiers. “A Thet’s brother, A Dein, and his mother, Daw Mi, were also arrested because of A Thet,” a HURFOM field reporter learned. “The LIB.273 arrested A Dein when he went to see his brother.”

Additionally HURFOM was told, “The LIB.273 also tried to arrest his [A Thet’s] father U Aung Than but he ran away and hide himself. Still, the LIB hasn’t been able to find U Aung Than.”

LIB No. 273 transferred the three prisoners to Kaleinaung town on August 6th. Kaleinaung is home to the area police station where people are detained before being taken to court.

One resident who witnessed LIB No.273’s transfer of the three prisoners to the town said, “I think the soldiers beat them a lot. When they were brought to Kaleinaung town, I felt very sorry for his [A Thet’s] mother. She had a lot of injuries on her face.”

“The Burmese military is very satisfied when they get insurgents like this, they are very proud of themselves,” an Alaesakhan villager said. “It’s certain that Da Mi will loose her property because of her son’s actions.”

At this time, HURFOM has been unable to confirm weather or not the three victims of this arrest are still alive or not. Soldiers from LIB No.273 still have not been able to find U Aung Than yet.

Because of abuses like Torture, forced labor, arbitrary taxation and extortion of money, some residents have joined with insurgent groups like Chan Dein and Rehmonnya.

In third week of July, because LIB No. 273 pressed villagers into working as forced labor in the area, 5 villagers made the decision to join up with the Rehmonnya group that has been active in the area.

“That kind of group should be active around this area,” An Alaesakhan villager stated. “When our villagers are brutally tortured by the Burmese soldiers, we can join with them [insurgent groups]. As there is more torture, more people will join with the insurgent groups.”

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News