Weekly Update in HURFOM Targeted Areas (Second Week of August 2021)

August 16, 2021

HURFOM, Mawlamyine: Arbitrary arrests continue to target local youth, largely with suspicions that they are linked with local People’s Defence Forces in Mawlamyine, Mon State. In some cases, civilians are even being kidnapped. On August 13th, six plain-clothed police officers abducted a civilian in Kyat Sar Pyin, Dawei, at 7 AM when they could not find the targeted individual who was involved in a recent motorcycle strike.

On August 11th, the junta also arrested five young men accused of participating in the various guerrilla strikes in Dawei. They are now in the detention center and have all been subjected to severe torture during their police interrogation.

The Junta Police in Mottama, Paung Township, Mon State, opened a case against 15 detained Thae-Eain-Su villagers under the Counter-Terrorism Law, Article 50(a), for associating with the local Karen National Union, which the local junta battalion designated a terrorist group. Fourteen men were arrested, including an underage boy and a woman. Most of them are Rubber Plantation workers.

HURFOM continues to receive updates on the death of those in custody. On August 14th, Ko Aung Yu, 35, a resident of Daung Ngu Ward, Dawei was killed during an interrogation by the Junta security forces. He was arrested on August 11 and accused of associating with those who shot a Police Corporal. His family claimed that he was innocent and not associated with any violent actions related to the armed groups in the area.

COVID-19 is also another burden on HURFOM communities, and people across the country. Oxygen shortages are killing people hourly in Mon State. Residents in some townships are struggling to build community-led oxygen plants with donations from communities after facing restrictions accessing oxygen and accessories. To date, more than 20 health facilities across Mon State have been under occupation by security forces.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under Analysis, News