The military council has arrested 17 female teachers who joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), a ward administrator and some civilians in Palaw Township in Tanintharyi Region, according to locals.
Around 10 pm on 21 February, the military council conducted surprise checks on the houses in four wards in Palaw and then arrested them, locals said.
“This morning, I heard the news that the military arrested them for allegedly funding the People’s Defense Forces (PDFs). Most of the detainees are female Senior Assistance Teachers (SATs),” a 40-year-old woman said.
The detainees are 17 CDM teachers and the civilians from No.1, 2, 3 and 4 wards in Palaw Township, a local from No.2 ward said.
The military council also arrested U Phoe Than Chaung, the military-appointed administrator from No.2 ward, a betel chewing seller, a civilian and a father of a female CDM teacher.
This is the first arrest since the declaration of martial law in Palaw and Tanintharyi Townships on 2 February, a local from No.2 ward added.
Following the declaration of martial law, the military council is carrying out the deployments of troops and weapons at Palaw-based Light Infantry Battalion-285 and Palaw police station, according to locals.
The PDFs have warned CDM teachers, civil servants and those related to the PDFs to flee swiftly as the military council continues to arrest them.
The PDFs said they will welcome and help those in need of help.
Sent by NMG