Three Pyu Saw Htee members from Kan Ni village in Myaing Township, Magway Region, have defected with their families and exposed the systematic sexual abuse of young women by their leader. The defectors revealed that the Pyu Saw Htee leader had been using weapons to threaten and sexually assault young women in the village, forcing them to become his concubines. The group of defectors included two Pyu Saw Htee members in their thirties, one in their twenties, and three children.
On May 7, the group fled from Kan Ni Pyu village and contacted the local defense force expressing their desire to defect. Officials from Battalion 15 in Pakokku District subsequently provided them with protection and conducted interviews. During the questioning, the defectors disclosed that the Pyu Saw Htee leader had been using his weapons and position of authority to coerce and sexually abuse young women in the village, forcing them into non-consensual relationships.
According to an official from Battalion 15 in Pakokku District, the Pyu Saw Htee leader had been forcing young women in the village to become his minor wives through intimidation and threats. Some of these women are now pregnant, and these abuses have been occurring since the previous year. However, the exact number of affected women has not been determined. The situation highlights the ongoing pattern of human rights violations perpetrated by military-affiliated groups against civilians.
Currently, the Kan Ni Pyu Saw Htee camp is under blockade by People’s Defense Force members, resulting in food shortages within the camp. Additionally, due to the torture and abuse inflicted by the military-controlled Pyu Saw Htee members, many people frequently attempt to escape from the camp. These circumstances reflect the broader pattern of human rights violations and violence perpetrated by military council-affiliated forces, demonstrating the ongoing oppression faced by civilians under military rule. The defectors’ testimonies provide crucial evidence of the systematic abuse of power and sexual violence being committed against vulnerable populations in conflict-affected areas.
