September 5th, 2022
Members of the Pa-O National Organisation (PNO) have reportedly abducted residents of the model village of Hsaikhkawng in Hsihseng Township, southern Shan State, since late August under the pretext of drug connections.
Since late August, the ethnic militia members have been extorting money from three local youths from the model village of Hsaikhkawng under the pretext of drug use, a woman from the village told the Shan Herald.
“They’ve visited the ward three times, and arrested the youths for alleged drug use. Last Saturday, they arrested three youths for drug abuse. Each of them had to pay MMK 500,000. But one of them had to pay more,” the woman said.
It is reported that youths from Yankin ward in the model village of Hsaikhkawng are often abducted and extorted by PNO militia under the pretext of drug use.
In a similar case, PNO members also abducted a 30-something-year-old man from Aung Thukha ward on September 1st, claiming he was involved with drugs, a man from Hsaikhkawng told The Shan Herald.
“He’s about thirty years old. He was hunted down for allegedly taking drugs. They [PNO members] demanded bail of MMK 50 lakhs for another. We’re not sure if they have released him yet,” the man said.
Local residents also said that a 25-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man from Yankin ward were also abducted and extorted by the ethnic militia members on the pretext of drug use.
Since the military coup, the Pa-O National Army (PNA) has reportedly been working with the military council and also recruiting new soldiers.
Sent by The Shan Herald