MYAT MOE THU 16 JAN 2019
Three men who had been forcibly recruited by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) escaped on January 9, according to the head of Kyan Kyar Kyaing village in Kunlone township, northern Shan State.
The village head was among those who escaped.
“The MNDAA ethnic Kokang troops asked me to provide 15 villagers, and if there were no men, they said they would take women. As I couldn’t turn my villagers in, I told them to flee, and I and two other men from the village went with them,” said village head U Chan Phu.
Sixteen people were forcibly recruited by the armed ethnic group – three from Kyan Kyar Kyaing and 13 from two other villages. Among those taken were four men over the age of 60, according to those who escaped.
Over 500 people fled their villages on January 6 to avoid being forcibly recruited. Those who fled are receiving assistance from the Tatmadaw (military) battalion in Kunlone, the Red Cross and civil society groups.
“The three who escaped are staying at the [Ho Li village] ward office as they are afraid to go back to their villages. When they were abducted, they were told that villagers would be killed if they spoke about the forced recruitment. Other ethnic Myaung Zee people who fled also do not want to go back. We reported the matter to the township administrator, who reported it to the Tatmadaw. The villagers returned home on Saturday with a military guard,” said Ho Li village leader U Maung Sein.
The villagers said they are worried a recurrence and asked the military to station troops at an old base near the villages, he added.
Efforts to reach the MNDAA for comment were unsuccessful.
Myanmar Times/News/Villagers escape armed group.
Three men who had been forcibly recruited by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) escaped on January 9, according to the head of Kyan Kyar Kyaing village in Kunlone township, northern Shan State.
The village head was among those who escaped.
“The MNDAA ethnic Kokang troops asked me to provide 15 villagers, and if there were no men, they said they would take women. As I couldn’t turn my villagers in, I told them to flee, and I and two other men from the village went with them,” said village head U Chan Phu.
Sixteen people were forcibly recruited by the armed ethnic group – three from Kyan Kyar Kyaing and 13 from two other villages. Among those taken were four men over the age of 60, according to those who escaped.
Over 500 people fled their villages on January 6 to avoid being forcibly recruited. Those who fled are receiving assistance from the Tatmadaw (military) battalion in Kunlone, the Red Cross and civil society groups.
“The three who escaped are staying at the [Ho Li village] ward office as they are afraid to go back to their villages. When they were abducted, they were told that villagers would be killed if they spoke about the forced recruitment. Other ethnic Myaung Zee people who fled also do not want to go back. We reported the matter to the township administrator, who reported it to the Tatmadaw. The villagers returned home on Saturday with a military guard,” said Ho Li village leader U Maung Sein.
The villagers said they are worried a recurrence and asked the military to station troops at an old base near the villages, he added.
Efforts to reach the MNDAA for comment were unsuccessful.
Myanmar Times/News/Villagers escape armed group.
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