Two innocent villagers arrested and tortured by junta council soldiers: 70 households flee in fear

May 16, 2023

HURFOM: The Junta troops attacked the People’s Defense Armed Forces and arbitrarily arrested and tortured the local residents in townships of the Tenasserim Region.

According to a HURFOM field team report from May 9th, an eyewitness confirmed that two men from the village of Wae Yit village in Thayet-Chaung Township, Dawei District, Tenasserim Region, were stopped and searched. They were then arrested under false pretences and beaten by the junta troops.

An eyewitness from Wae Yit said, “The victims, Ko Myo Myint Lay, (estimated to be more than 40 years old) and Ko Kang Kang, 30, live from hand-to-mouth. Their hands were tied behind their backs and severely beaten by the soldiers with their gun butts, and kicked with the soldiers’ boots.”

A 25-year-old resident familiar with the incident said, “The troops must be from Infantry Battalion No.403 or 404. Right now, they are the only ones patrolling around this village and enforcing the military offensive against the PDFs in the areas.“

No explanation was evident as to why the two male villagers were arrested and beaten. According to a source close to the victims, allegations are likely made connecting the men with a local PDF group.

“The forces that arrested and beat Ko Kang Kang were junta military stationed at Tha Win Wa village Police Station. They were from IB No.403. When they went down to Ya Nge village, they met Ko Myo Myint Lay again and beat them both up. Friends of Ko Kang Kang confirmed that he suffered a fractured head, and Ko Myo Myint Lay had a broken rib due to the beating. “I am pretty sure that both of the detainees were not associated with any political movements or armed groups,” he continued.

On May 9, around 9:30 pm, about 50 fully armed military council soldiers stationed at the Ya Nge village monastery in Thayet-Chuang Township went around the village to forcefully raid homes. As a result an estimated 70 households decided to flee their homes.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News