IMNA has learnt that four inhabitants from Hkawza sub-township, who were kidnapped by an unidentified armed group, were released on 13th October after being held for nearly a month.
Four men and two women town elders were kidnapped while they were preparing alms for the Mahadoke ceremony (a Buddhist merit making ceremony) at the lower-monastry of Hkawza on 19th September.
Two were later released but the other four were held captive till 13th October.
A family member of one of the recently released victims said: “They are all free now. Our families can stop worrying because their lives are not in danger anymore.”
He said that even though the kidnappers had demanded 75 million Kyats the families had paid nothing.
He would not give any further details because he was worried that doing so would put the victims and their families in danger.
Another Hkawza resident who refused to give his name said: “Kidnapping gangs can take anyone at anytime in this township. There are many strangers here and we cannot tell whether they are kidnappers or not. The police and army just stay in their camps.”
Hkawzar Township is 24 kilometers from Ye Township in the far south of Mon State. Its status was raised from village tract to township after Infantry Battalion 31 established a base there. Following that government offices were opened there.
Mi Myint Than, the member of parliament for Ye Township said IMNA that Hkawzar Township and the surrounding areas are unsafe.
