Myanmar Junta Abducts Wife of Absent NLD Ward Chairman

By The Irrawaddy 20 August 2021

Myanmar’s military junta detained the wife of a National League for Democracy (NLD) ward chairman after failing to find him at their house in Kale Township, Sagaing Region, where civilian resistance fighters are battling the regime.

Junta troops came in five vehicles to the house of U Tha Tun, the NLD chairman in Aung Thitsar ward on Wednesday morning, and detained his wife instead. They also searched their house and took 7.8 million kyats (US$4,800), according to a Kale resident, who asked for anonymity.

Troops searched for a neighbor and took 4.8 million kyats from his house as he was also absent. They detained two other residents.

“They took a 50-year-old man reportedly for questioning. They released him that evening. They also took a 20-year-old man to the police station,” said the resident.

Junta troops have been making arrests after they were attacked with remotely detonated mines on the outskirts of Kale in mid-August.

On August 14, junta troops detained three teachers who have refused to work under the military regime in Kale town. The following day, they detained six men from villages in the township.

Twelve residents have been detained since early August on suspicion of anti-regime activities, according to residents.

The Kale People’s Defense Force has said junta troops have been active in the south of the township and warned civilians to avoid their outposts.

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