Three Pyu Saw Htee members from Kan Ni village in Myaing Township, Magway Region, have defected with their families and exposed the sexual violence perpetrated by their leader against young women in the village. The defectors, including two men in their thirties and one in his twenties, along with three children, fled from Kan Ni Pyu village on May 7 and contacted local defense forces expressing their desire to defect. 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 concubines.
The defectors revealed that several of these women are now pregnant, and these abuses have been ongoing since the previous year. The situation has become increasingly dire as the military-backed Pyu Saw Htee members continue to oppress local residents, leading to frequent escapes from the village. The defectors’ testimonies highlight the systematic nature of these abuses, where the leader uses his position and weapons to intimidate and exploit vulnerable women in the community. The revelations have shed light on the broader pattern of human rights violations being committed by military-affiliated groups in rural areas.
Currently, the Kan Ni Pyu Saw Htee camp is under blockade by People’s Defense Forces, resulting in severe food shortages within the camp. This situation has contributed to the increasing number of defections, as many Pyu Saw Htee members can no longer endure the military’s oppressive conditions and abuse of power. The ongoing violence and exploitation by military-backed Pyu Saw Htee leaders have severely impacted the security and rights of local civilians, creating a climate of fear and oppression in the region. The defectors’ brave decision to speak out has exposed the brutal reality of life under military-affiliated control and the urgent need for intervention to protect vulnerable civilians.
