The Pa-O National Organization (PNO) people’s militia under the military council has forcibly evacuated and detained over 6,000 civilians from two village tracts in Hsihseng Township, Pa-O Self-Administered Zone in Southern Shan State, according to Khun Rain Yan, Information Officer of the Pa-O National Liberation Army (PNLA) Information Department.
On June 7, the PNO militia issued orders requiring residents from multiple villages including Tapyu, Kaung Htoe, Lwei Ngon, Naung Bo, and Pin Sak villages in Naung Kyaw village tract, as well as six Naung Htaw villages and Kalar Lam village in Taung Shae village tract, to completely evacuate their homes by June 15. Furthermore, the displaced villagers were prohibited from seeking refuge in farmlands or IDP camps and were ordered to stay only within the Mwe Taw Pagoda compound in Phaya Phyu village, Hsihseng Township.
The PNLA spokesperson emphasized that this forced evacuation violates the rights of civilians seeking to escape from conflict zones. While the PNO originally emerged from among the people, it has now transformed into a subordinate of the military dictatorship and is oppressing civilians, according to local residents. Some of the villages targeted for evacuation are under the control of revolutionary forces, while others are in PNO-controlled areas.
The PNO signed a ceasefire agreement in 1991 and transformed into a military-controlled people’s militia in 2009. Currently, it operates in the interests of the military council while allegedly violating the rights and freedoms of local Pa-O people, according to revolutionary forces. Local residents say this incident represents another example of the military council’s oppression of civilians through its affiliated organizations.
