The Pa-O National Army (PNA) – a Pa-O militia – burned down houses in Nar Hkaik village in Hsihseng Township in the Pa-O Self-Administered Zone, southern Shan State after the militia entered the village with 150 members, according to residents.
A resident of the village said: “The junta troops first fired artillery at the village. Then the junta-aligned PNO troops entered the village and started burning the houses. Six houses were burned down on 6 July. We are still trying to get information about what happened after that. Some houses were saved from the fire because monks and residents put out the fires”
The PNA troops entered the village around 9am on 6 July and started burning houses. They not only burned down six houses, but also confiscated vehicles, motorcycles and valuable jewelry belonging to the villagers, according to local residents.
The PNA members also physically assaulted more than 10 villagers. One resident named U Phu Taung was seriously injured and is currently in hiding, his survival status is unknown, according to villagers.
The PNA troops also ordered the villagers to pack food parcels for 600 people. When the food arrived, they threw it out in front of the villagers, according to an eyewitness.
“The food may not have been good, but it was obviously a deliberate mistreatment. They demanded 600 food parcels even though they don’t even have 200 people. It was like deliberate torture. They don’t do this in every village they enter. In places where they are present, they act like robbers. They demand food parcels and eat without cooking themselves,” said the witness.
On 21 April, the PNA troops had also burnt down seven houses in Nar Hkaik village, including the houses of the military chief of the Pa-O National Liberation Army (PNLA) and other members, and confiscated cars, motorcycles and valuable items.
Also on 3 July, PNA troops shot dead one of two people returning from a funeral in Htam Yan Taing village near Nar Hkaik village without questioning them. They arrested the other person and has not been heard from since, according to sources close to the family members.
Sent by NMG.