At least seven members of social aid organizations, who were abducted by the military council in Mon state, are still missing, with no information regarding their current whereabouts, according to sources familiar with the organizations.
In June and September this year, the military council abducted at least 12 members of social relief groups in the Kyaikto and Thanbyuzayat Townships of Mon State.
Some of those who were arrested were released after paying hefty ransoms, while others were sentenced to lengthy prison terms.
A local from Thanbyuzayat said, “Those who were released had to pay a large sum, more than five million kyats per person. However, three people were not released despite paying the money. The junta kept them in detention, accusing them of being linked to revolutionaries and providing armed support. The junta has opened the case against them.”
Currently, seven members of the social organization who were arrested in Kyaikto and Thanbyuzayat Townships have been unable to contact their families and their whereabouts remain unknown, according to sources close to the families.
A local from Kyaikto, who is close to the family of the detainees, said, “We are not allowed to meet them, not even family members. I don’t know exactly where they are being held, but as far as I know, they are detained in Mawlamyine. One of the four members has been sentenced to prison.”
He added that the arrested social relief members are in life-threatening condition, as they have been subjected to severe beatings during interrogation by the military council.
The joint forces of the military council arrested eight members of the Thanbyuzayat-based “Ownerless” Social Organization. While five members were released, the remaining three have been charged under sections of the Counter-Terrorism Law.
The military council abducted four members of Kaw Sa Naing social organization based in Kyaikto. One of them was sentenced to a long-term prison term under the Counter-Terrorism Law at the end of November, while the rest of the members are still in detention.
The military council has conducted a series of arrests of social organization members across Ye, Thanbyuzayat, Paung, Bilin, Kyaikto, and Thaton townships in Mon State, areas with strong resistance forces. The arrested ones are accused of having links to, providing information for, and funding revolutionary forces.
Due to these conditions, social aid organizations have been forced to suspend their social relief and healthcare activities.
Sent by IMNA
