KNU’s brigade arrests and extorts a huge ransom from a local man

August 16, 2024

HURFOM: On August 9th, 2024, the 4^th Brigade of the Karen National Union arrested a 40-year-old local man named Ko Htalk in Thar Yar Mon village, Yar Phu village track, Yebyu Township, Tenasserim Division and demanded ten million MMK for his release.

The brigade found a bullet in his house and accused him of cooperating with other armed organizations. Then, they arrested him at his house.

“They came to my house at night and asked “where is Ko Htalk?”. Then, they searched the house from top to bottom. They found a bullet and arrested him. On the next day, they contacted me and said “If you want him alive, give us ten million MMK,” said his wife.

The wife was unable to pay the amount but after negotiation with the officials, she agreed to pay seven million MMK. He was released on August 11^th after the payment.

On August 5, the brigade also extorted 200,000 to 600,000 MMK from each truck driver or express bus driver at the entrance of Thar Yar Mon village.

“If we refuse to pay the money, they check ID cards and documents of every passenger to delay us. So many drivers had to sleep on the mountain,” said a truck driver who prefers to remain anonymous.

The 4^th and 6^th brigades of the KNU are active in Yebyu Township and they have arrested drug abusers and extorted money from them.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News