The Karen National Union (KNU) Central Committee has released a statement reporting that military council troops arrested and killed Tee Saw La Htoo, a 52-year-old resident of Pinnetaw village in Thaton Township, Mon State. The incident occurred on May 29 when Tee Saw La Htoo went into the forest to search for mushrooms for his daily sustenance. He was apprehended by military council troops who were moving to change their position, and was subsequently beaten to death on the way. The KNU stated that this incident represents one of many brutal acts being committed by the military council against innocent civilians.
The military council column, comprising over 100 troops, had arrived at Pinnetaw village on May 28 and established a temporary base in the village. They stayed overnight at Strategic Command-8 base before proceeding to change positions to the Win Ta Pan military camp on May 29. During their movement, they encountered and arrested Tee Saw La Htoo, who was searching for mushrooms. The KNU statement indicates that the military council systematically carries out arbitrary arrests, torture, and killings of innocent civilians. The exact battalion and division numbers of the military council troops involved in this incident have not yet been confirmed, though investigations are ongoing according to the KNU Central Committee.
According to local residents, military council troop movements have increased in the area, leading to escalated threats and violence against the civilian population. Locals report that they face life-threatening situations even while conducting basic survival activities such as searching for mushrooms and vegetables in the forest for their daily needs. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by civilians in conflict-affected areas, where basic activities for survival have become dangerous due to the presence and actions of military council forces. The KNU continues to document and investigate such incidents as part of their efforts to record human rights violations committed by the military council against civilian populations in their areas.
