The leader of Pyu Saw Htee, Hlaing Min, has confessed to participating in the mass killing of over 20 civilians in Nyaunglebin Township, Bago Region, including a case where a civilian was beheaded alive. He was captured by the People’s Defense Force (PDF) Strategic Command-27, Area-2 on April 15 when he arrived in Kyaikto Township, Mon State. According to his confession, military units including Infantry Battalion 20, Infantry Battalion 584, Light Infantry Battalion 51, and Division 77 committed mass killings of civilians in Nyaunglebin Township, with Pyu Saw Htee members participating under direct orders from military officers.
In a particularly gruesome incident on April 29, 2023, in Pazunmyaing village, forces working with Light Infantry Battalion 51 arrested three family members during an area clearance operation. Following interrogation, they burned down the house and executed all family members on orders from a captain from LIB 51. Additionally, while serving in Pazunmyaing village, Hlaing Min admitted to participating in the live beheading of a civilian around 30 years old, alongside a Division 77 soldier known as Htun. On May 12, 2023, Infantry Battalion 20 launched heavy artillery attacks on Hwet Hla Kone village based on reports of PDF presence, resulting in three civilian deaths. In July 2024, during a joint operation with Infantry Battalion 584 in Yay Phyu Kan village, they conducted raids that resulted in multiple civilian casualties.
The confession revealed further atrocities, including the execution of nine civilians returning from the market during security checks with Infantry Battalion 584, and the killing of seven farmers working in their fields. The military officers responsible for ordering these mass killings included Major Nay Lin, Captain Kyaw Swa Lin, Captain Chit Ko Win, and Captain Zaw Myo Htut, along with battalion commanders from Infantry Battalion 20, Light Infantry Battalion 51, Division 77, and Infantry Battalion 584. The People’s Defense Force has stated that due to the severity of Hlaing Min’s crimes, appropriate punitive measures will be taken against him.
