14 May 2021
Ta’ang Political Consultative Committee (TPCC) and Ta’ang Civil Society Organizations condemn the burning of 117 houses and the arrest of Ta’ang (Palaung) people in Namatu, Northern Shan State.
Certain village houses in Namatu township were burnt whilst the villagers are fleeing and some of them were arrested by RCSS so that it is urgently necessary to end these problems and to seek solution through discussion, told a spokesperson from TPCC.
“We can see clearly the highlighted situation from March 28 to the first week of this month (April). The highlighted human rights violation cases consist of arresting people, collecting fees forcibly from villagers and burning houses. We have the desire to negotiate with them if such negotiation can bring us peace. We are ready to discuss with any organization which can help us to avoid problems and seek solutions. We do want to avoid causing problems. The most important thing we need to do right now is to rehabilitate them and to help solving their difficulties.”
Due to the battles in Namatu township between Southern Shan RCSS/SSA and the joint force of Ta’ang (Palaung) PSLF/TNLA and Northern Shan SSPP/SSA by the end of March and to the beginning of April, the houses were burnt and 5 villagers arrested and then nearly 2,000 people fled to Hsipaw and Namatu cities.
“We need to arrange remedy for people affected by fire and to rehabilitate them. We have declared the concerned persons to be held accountable for their brutal acts. The reason why we issue such declaration is to let the international community know that even in this political turmoil of Myanmar, clashes are happening not only between Military Council and ethnic armed groups and but also between ethnic armed groups,” said a spokesperson of Ta’ang Student Youth Union (TSYU).
Locals say that 117 houses of displaced Ta’ang people have been burnt in Namatu township.
Namatu locals reiterate that a series of fires occurred after RCSS drove out those who left for guarding their village and then considerable evidences are also revealing that the perpetrators for arresting villagers and burning houses are the members of RCSS.
“The houses burnt include brick ones and wooden ones. Brick ones suffered more. There are few evidences that the fire has caught through ladders. The RCSS members drove out the guarding villagers first and they created the situation to be looked like a battle inside the village. There is however no battle indeed. They fired the houses in four villages such as Manli, Man Sar, Man Jet and Yay Oh,” recounted a local from Namatu.
One Ta’ang youth who is working for the arrested persons reported that two villagers from Man Sar were arrested on March 28 and three villagers from Yay Oh, including father and sons, were also arrested on April 6.
“Regarding the arrested five Ta’ang people, it has not been confirmed yet why they have been arrested, where they have been detained and whether they are still alive or not. We inquired the RCSS but it has been constantly refusing about the arrest. Though it is the fact that the RCSS members wore their uniforms and use their own Shan language at the time of arrest, the RCSS constantly refused about the arrest which implied that they were trying to deny accountability.”
Though local people and Ta’ang Civil Society Organizations declared that burning houses and arresting villagers in Namatu township had been caused by RCSS members, RCSS has been still refusing such accusation in the RCSS/SSA owned Tai Freedom website and social media network.
Ta’ang Civil Society Organizations demand RCSS/SSA to terminate firing houses intentionally, to take actions upon those committing the arson, to release five detainees immediately and also urge Shan Community Based Organizations and Political Parties that are working for truth and justice to cooperate in solving the problems.
Sent by NMG