35 Villagers, Including Women and a Child, Still Detained by Junta in Thaton Township

October 1, 2025

HURFOM field sources confirmed that 35 civilians from Kayin Lay Seik Village, Thaton Township, Mon State, remain in military custody after being forcibly taken by Junta troops on 28 September. Among those detained is a 13-year-old child and at least two women in their early fifties. Villagers reported that the group was abducted to be used as human shields at the frontlines.

According to eyewitnesses, junta troops, together with allied militia forces, stormed Kayin Lay Seik Village with nearly 50 armed soldiers. The raid was carried out like a full-scale military operation. Villagers reported that those detained were forced onto trucks and taken to the No. 9 Military Training School and later to Thein Seik Police Station.

“They came in heavily armed, surrounding the village as if they were going into battle. People were terrified. Since that day, none of those taken have been released,” a local resident told HURFOM.

Family members of the detained described deep fear for their safety. One relative said:

“The Junta forces deliberately targeted Kayin Lay Seik and nearby villages like Pathein Yoe, accusing us of helping the resistance with food and shelter. It has become routine — extortion, looting, forced conscription. This time, they even took women and children. We are terrified about what might happen, especially sexual violence against women.”

Villagers reported to HURFOM that Kayin Lay Seik and its surrounding communities have been subjected to repeated raids in recent months. Soldiers regularly demand ransom payments in exchange for releases, but many remain in detention. A local woman in her thirties expressed her concern:

“Usually, they take people and later demand money to release them. However, it’s now the fourth day, and they’re still holding everyone at the training school. We are deeply worried. They could be sent to the frontlines or forcibly conscripted. Our community is preparing for the worst.”

Residents also explained that the village’s proximity to the Asia Highway makes it an easy target for military incursions. Arbitrary arrests and ransom extortion have become common. “They come and go as they wish. In Pathein Yoe Village on September 14, 2025, about 18 people were taken. Last month alone, there were at least seven such raids,” said a local man.

Similar patterns were documented in late July and August 2025, when Junta forces raided Pathein Yoe and abducted more than 40 villagers. Some were released, but many remain missing. These incidents illustrate the military’s ongoing strategy of using civilians as leverage and punishment, deepening fear among families already caught in conflict.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News