S.H.A.N has learnt that two villagers were detained and questioned by government soldiers at a checkpoint on 12th November because they were wearing Shan State Progressive Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) golden jubilee anniversary T-shirts.
The two villagers, Sai Sein and Sai Yone from Mong At Village in Wam Sot Village-Tract, Mongshu Township, Southern Shan State were detained at the Nam Ket Bridge Checkpoint at Tant Phel Village in Wam Sot Village-Tract.
They were detained for the whole day by government forces under the command of No.2 Military Operations Command (MOC), a close source said.
A member of the People’s Militia Force (PMF) which is close to the army said: “Nothing was seized from the villagers and the only reason they were detained for about half a day was because they were wearing SSPP/SSA T-shirts and carrying green pack packs.”
The government do not want people to have any association with the SSA said a prominent resident of Mongshu.
The villagers were released late that evening on the recommendation of the Wam Sot village headman according to an SSPP/SSA commander.
He said: “They should not do that to innocent people. If people will be arrested for showing support like that we can also arrest people who show support for the Burma Army, but we have never done anything like that.
“We only found out about this later on, as soon as we found out they were released on the recommendation of the Wam Sot Village Head.”
The SSPP/SSA is an ethnic armed group that signed a union level peace agreement with the government.
Translated by Aung Myat Soe English version written by Mark Inkey for BNI
