The junta-aligned Pa-O National Army (PNA) militia has barred people in the villages of Nangtawng and Thitpinkauk, in Nyaungshwe Township, southern Shan State from leaving their villages.
Although there has not yet been any fighting in the area of Nangtawng and Thitpinkauk villages the PNA has said none of the villagers can leave due to security concerns and has threatened to shoot any who do attempt to leave.
This means that the villagers have challenges getting to work and are struggling to earn their livelihoods.
A villager from Nangtawng said: “They won’t let us leave the village or even go to work. They don’t allow us to fish in Inlay Lake either, even though that wouldn’t take us outside the village.”
As well as imposing a travel ban, the PNA has also banned villagers from using motorised boats, even in areas where there is no fighting. According to locals, they are likely doing this to disrupt resistance force supply lines.
The aforementioned Nangtawng villager said: "When fighting broke out in Pekon Township in southern Shan State, villagers from communities on the western shore of Inlay Lake were barred from accessing the boat docks. Motorboats are no longer permitted in the area, and if militia members see any [motor] boats passing by, they often open fire. Their main goal is to prevent the transportation of goods and supplies by motorboat, as they want to stop anything from reaching the other side. They are also trying to cut off food supplies to the resistance forces by blocking villagers from leaving the villages”
Due to the PNA’s blockade all fishermen in Nangtawng and Thitpinkauk villages have had to stop fishing which has caused them to lose food and income.
The only exception to the ban on the use of motorised boats is the ferry that takes children to school which is allowed to travel every day between Nangtawng Village and the school, as long as it flies a white flag.
A resident of Hpayartaung Village, close to Nangtawng Village said: “That motorboat [going to the school] is only allowed because the village abbot requested it on behalf of the students. The PNA's actions seem aimed at trapping all the villagers, putting them at risk of being killed if war breaks out.”
The villages of Nangtawng and Thitpinkauk are currently being guarded by PNA troops led by U Htwet Ohn. They have also demanded that each village supplies them with five conscripts each before the end of October.
There is fighting close to the villages of Nangtawng and Thitpinkauk, in the nearby villages of Moeoo and Namhparmu. Though the fighting appears to be spreading to surrounding areas, villagers from Nangtawng and Thitpinkauk are unable to flee.
