Three Pyu Saw Htee members from Kan Ni village in Myaing Township, Magway Region, have defected with their families and revealed that their leader has been sexually assaulting young women in the village at gunpoint. The revelation came after they contacted the local People’s Defense Force (PDF) on May 7, expressing their desire to defect. Upon investigation following their rescue, these allegations came to light. The defectors included two Pyu Saw Htee members in their 30s and one in their 20s, along with three children.
According to their testimonies, the Pyu Saw Htee leader in Kan Ni village has been using weapons to threaten and sexually assault young women in the village, forcing them to become his minor wives. Some of these victims are now pregnant, with these incidents reportedly occurring since the previous year. The defectors disclosed these details during their interrogation by the authorities of Battalion 15 in Pakokku District.
Currently, the Kan Ni Pyu Saw Htee camp is under blockade by People’s Defense Force members, resulting in food shortages within the camp. There have been frequent defections due to the oppression and abuse by the military council-affiliated Pyu Saw Htee members. These incidents of violence and human rights violations by military council-affiliated armed groups have caused significant fear and security concerns among local residents. The situation highlights the ongoing pattern of abuse of power and violence against civilians by military-affiliated groups in the region, leading to increasing instability and suffering for local communities.
