According to Htoo Khant Zaw (Amay Thar), the Information Officer for the Western Zone of Ye-U, at least eight women who went shopping in Ye-U town in Sagaing Region have been detained by military forces. The incident occurred on June 21 when the women from surrounding villages traveled to Ye-U town for regular shopping. The military forces arrested them without any justification, and as of now, they have not been released. The detainees were ordinary civilians who were simply conducting their daily business when they were arbitrarily arrested.
Reports indicate that the military forces commonly conduct such arbitrary arrests as a means of extorting money from local civilians. There is an established pattern where detainees are only released after their families pay ransom amounts. In response to these concerning developments, the Ye-U Township People’s Defense Force has issued a warning to local residents to exercise extreme caution when traveling to the town. The warning specifically emphasizes the need for heightened security awareness among those traveling for trading and shopping purposes.
These arrests not only disrupt the daily socioeconomic lives of local residents but also violate their fundamental freedoms. The military’s actions have created a climate of fear where civilians are afraid to even venture out for basic necessities such as shopping for daily supplies. Local residents are experiencing significant concerns for their safety and are avoiding non-essential travel whenever possible. This situation has severely impacted the normal functioning of civilian life in the area, with people being forced to limit their movements and activities due to the threat of arbitrary arrest and extortion by military forces.
