Certain women who were detained during the Military Council's operation in the Dawei Special Economic Zone were subjected to interrogations that involved sexual harassment, released villagers have claimed.
On the morning of May 15th, the Military Council deployed its troops to Mayin Gyi, Htein Gyi, and Pa Ra Dat villages in Na Bu Lel village tract within Yebyu Township. Approximately 10 men and women from the local community were subsequently apprehended and taken into custody.
The women who were detained experienced instances of sexual harassment by soldiers belonging to the Military Council and were subjected to distressing interrogations.
In the evening, the soldiers released the male villagers who had been apprehended. However, several women remained detained, allegedly due to the claim that their bodies needed to undergo thorough search. Disturbingly, these women were subjected to physical contact and body searches by the soldiers, who used their hands in the process, a relative of a detained woman told NMG.
Among those who were apprehended, there was a young male who was a minor. Furthermore, some of the men who were arrested endured physical assaults from the soldiers, resulting in injuries.
The women were subjected to sexual harassment by the soldiers while they were held in Mayin Gyi village, a local said.
Heavy fighting ensued on the morning of May 14th when the People's Defense Force (PDF) launched an attack on the Military Council's outpost near the Dawei Special Economic Zone Deep Sea Port in Na Bu Lel, according to locals.
Following the incident, the Military Council initiated airstrikes in the region and carried out raids on neighboring villages.
As a result of the Military Council's aggressive operations, over 600 households from Kha Maung Chaung, Wat Chaung, Ay Ka Ni, Mayin Gyi, Pa Ra Dat, Ba War, Le Shaung, Mudu, and Na Bu Lel villages have sought temporary refuge with their relatives residing in downtown Dawei and other distant villages.
On the morning of May 16th, the Military Council column, left by cars, halted its transit on the west side of Mudu village and proceeded to conduct searches within the village, locals said.
Yebyu Township, located in Dawei District of Tanintharyi Region, comprises 27 village groups and 4 wards.
