30+ Ye Township residents arrested to serve as human shields: Released only after paying ransom

October 2, 2025

HURFOM: On September 25th, a military column of over 250 troops entered Ye Township and abducted over 30 local men and women as human shields.

As the military entered the villages of Ah Dane, Wel Hine, Taung Soon, Yaw Kalay, and Sone Pa Dauk villages in Ye Township, local residents were captured and taken to be used as human shields.

“When the military convoy passed by our yard, we saw two men and four women being arrested. They were told to lead the way. I heard that they arrested more than 30 people in total,” said a woman who did not want to be named.

A local said that those who were arrested as human shields had to pay between 500,000 and 1,000,000 kyats each before being released on September 26^th and 27^th.

“To be released, they had to transfer money from (500,000) to (100,000) MMK to an account. Not all (30) of them had to pay, only the ones who were asked to make the financial transfer. As far as I know, some of them had to transfer up to (100,000) MMK. Now they have been released,” said a local woman.

In addition, some of the men who were held as human shields were beaten, he said.

Currently, the military junta is strengthening its presence in the Ye Township area, and stricter checks on local residents and arrests are being made.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News