A military column of over 200 soldiers arrested nearly 20 locals from Seikchaung and Nyaungchaung villages in Dawei Township of Tanintharyi Region as human shields on 20 April, an official of Dawei Ashaetaw People’s Defense Force (PDF) told the Than Lwin Times.
The military column marching towards Myitta town of Dawei Township abducted locals from the villages along the road.
The PDF cancelled its plan to ambush the military column which came to replace other troops as the army used locals as human shields, an official of Dawei Ashaetaw PDF said.
The detainees are Karen ethnic people. The army council has not released the detainees yet.
The military arrested locals Pakaryi village in Dawei Township on the morning of 19 April and released 10 locals in the afternoon.
There have been frequent clashes between the military council and the revolutionary forces in Dawei Township since the coup.
Since then, the military council has been carrying out artillery shelling, the arrests of locals as porters and human shields.
Sent by Than Lwin Times
