The No. 318 Artillery Battalion of the Military Council, stationed in Abit village within Mudon Township, Mon State, detained and coerced eight individuals from the local community into transporting cumbersome equipment, reliable sources said.
In the early morning of July 10th, soldiers apprehended four Kalawtthawt villagers who were involved in the orchard business, operating between Abit and Kale-Tagundaing. These villagers were then coerced into transporting equipment along a jungle trail that leads to Kale-Tagundaing.
According to witnesses, four migrant workers who had previously been detained by soldiers the day before their arrest were also present during the journey, forced into labor against their will.
Eventually, on July 10th, both the Kalawtthawt villagers and the migrant workers were released from their detention, a local told IMNA.
"All eight individuals who were arrested were forced to transport the battalion's equipment between 6:00 AM and 10:30 AM. Once the soldiers reached their intended destination, they released all eight detainees and cautioned the villagers against returning to their orchards for the time being. The soldiers confiscated the SIM cards from the phones of those who were arrested. There was no physical violence, and the soldiers allowed everyone to go back once their labor was completed. Since they had to follow a jungle trail, the exact location they traveled to is unclear”, she said.Top of Form
Along the road linking Abit and Kale-Tagundaing, there is a Military Council checkpoint positioned on the Abit side. Conversely, on the other end, checkpoints have been set up by the Karen National Union (KNU) and the People's Defense Force (PDF). Currently, the traffic on this road is minimal due to recent arrests made in that area.
The road connecting Abit and Kale-Tagundaing serves as a vital route, connecting Mudon Township in Mon State with Kyainseikgyi Township in Karen State. This route is preferred by local residents due to its ability to significantly reduce travel time. As a result, it is extensively utilized by the community, particularly orchard workers who heavily rely on it for transportation.
Locals have made allegations that the artillery battalion stationed in Abit village has been conducting regular shelling of the Kyainseikgyi and Kale-Tagundaing areas on an almost daily basis.
On June 19th, an artillery shell fired by that battalion exploded in Tagundaing village, resulting in injuries to two young individuals aged 16 and 18. They were hit by shrapnel and sustained injuries as a result.
In addition to facing almost daily shelling, the residents of Pulein, Kale, Tagundaing, and Nanthainghtun villages in Kyainseikgyi Township have been compelled to abandon their homes and seek refuge due to the ground operations carried out by the Military Council. The situation has led to the displacement of thousands of residents.
