Residents of Kyaukme Township in Shan State are reportedly being arrested amid the armed conflict between the two ethnic Shan armies – the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) and the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA).
On 29 and 30 April, local residents were arrested in Nawngpin village in Kyaukme Township, Kyaukme County, a local resident told the Shan Herald.
“I heard that the person who came for arrest was a member of the SSPP. Those arrested are said to have links with the RCSS. As far as I know, three people from Pinghtum village, including the village head, were arrested. There have also been arrests in other villages,” a local told the Shan Herald, wishing to remain anonymous.
Those arrested from Pinghtum include the village chief, a woman in her late 30s named Pa Nang Eain and another man, according to residents.
The man further said that the son of Par Nang Kho from Wanhtam village was also arrested.
“It is not yet known where they were taken. Some of their family members have fled their homes because they are afraid of being arrested as well,” he added.
According to reports, the SSPP forces have entered as far as Pinghtum, Taunghteik, Khanthkaing and Hkainghsin villages in Nawngping village tract.
When asked by the Shan Herald, a local SSPP/SSA official replied that they only wanted to interrogate the villagers if they were involved in the mine attacks on the SSPP/SSA on Intaw-Yatsauk Road.
“The current situation on the ground is very complicated. The mine attacks on our troops have increased. We have information that the villagers themselves have close relations with RCSS/SSA. Actually, we didn’t arrest them but only took them for questioning,” the SSPP/SSA official in Kyaukme Township told Shan Herald.
The ethnic army official further explained that they only arrested three or four of them, not many.
Since July 2021, the Northern Alliance, which includes the SSPP/SSA, has begun attacking the RCSS/SSA in Kyaukme Township.
The allied forces have chased the RCSS/SSA through Yatsauk Township and into Hopong, Laihka, Mongnawng, and Kyethi areas.
On 27 April, the SSPP/SSA conducted at least five mine attacks on RCSS/SSA in Kyaukme Township in northern Shan State and in Yatsauk, Kyethi, Mongnawng, and Namlan areas, according to SSPP Info.
Sent by Shan Herald.