Four of 23 Pale Township villagers abducted by junta-allied Pyu Saw Htee militias in Sagaing Region have been tortured to death. The others were released with injuries after ransoms were paid.
Pyu Saw Htee militias from Inmahtee village detained 23 villagers from nearby Taung Ywathit and Kyaukkone Taw Tike villages on May 22.
Four males, aged 23 to 50, died on May 24, after two days in captivity. The others were released after 2.5 million kyats (around US$530), three boxes of beer and four boxes of spirits were handed over.
“They asked if we knew resistance fighters in the village and if we support them. They beat us regardless of what we said,” a victim told The Irrawaddy.
Eleven men and eight women were released. They reported being cut with knives, slapped with boots, beaten with sharpened sticks, punched and kicked for hours. They were forced to stand under the sun all day.
Ko Maung San, leader of Pale Township People’s Administration, said: “They didn’t hand back the bodies. Three were dragged away by their feet and the fourth was chopped up and dumped in a basket.”
Resistance groups claim to control much of the area.
Twelve People’s Defense Force “battalions”, loyal to the civilian National Unity Government, are based in Pale Township but some are operating elsewhere.
Ko Nay Min of a Yinmabin District group said: “The security is weak though we control much of the territory. Pale PDF and the People’s Defense Team take responsibility for security. But Pyu Saw Htee militias are robbing residents in nearby villages. The township PDF needs to improve security.”
Inmahtee and Zeephyukone villagers are held by Pyu Saw Htee militias. Hundreds of junta soldiers are deployed in Kandaunt village and Pale town.
Residents say there are many anti-regime fighters in the township but they are not coordinated and there is no security.
