Ma Mi Mi Karenni Chairperson of the Karenni National Women’s Organization has called on the Karen State military council to immediately release the female detainees.

The junta has arrested more than 80 females and youth in Karen State and opened cases against some detainees under Section 505 (a) of the Penal Code.

The military council is committing human rights violations against women, she added.

“Some detainees said the junta is instilling trauma and fear into them during the interrogation. The children and women feel afraid. There is a lot of reports that the junta is carrying out torture during interrogation. We call for all of them to be released” she continued.

On the evening of May 12th, the junta troops arrested 14 people including one aged below 18 while cracking down on the protest column in Narnattaw village in Loikaw Township.

The junta released eight of 14 detainees including one underage child and filed the case against the remaining six females under Section 505 (a) of the Penal Code.

An official from the Karenni State Consultative Council (KSCC) has called for the immediate release of six female detainees.

They were questioned at the court appearance in Loikaw Township on May 14th. The second court appearance will take place on May 26th. Currently, they are being detained in the Loikaw prison.

A daughter whose mother is detained said: “According to their rights, the detained women should not be beaten. I have heard the news that they are tortured during the interrogation. I feel worried as I cannot meet my mother in person. The junta should show women mercy.”

On April 30th, the army detained and arrested 74 youth who went home after attending the skill development course at the entrance to Phruso.

The spokesperson of the KSCC said: “The army has alleged that they are hampering the regional peace and tranquility and the ongoing peace process. They underwent training for physical and mental skill development. The course took over 10 days. From the military point of view, the army has already known that they cannot become fighters in just over 10 days.”

Every day, the junta is doing the brutal crackdowns on peaceful anti-coup protestors, the arrests, interrogation and sentencing of

them.