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SHAN (SOUTH) STATE – Locals stated that the junta council and their subordinates, Pa-O National Army (PNA) militia are said to have headed to the front line, towards Loiwoetoke Village, Hopong Township, Shan (South) State on March 9 at around 8 a.m. dressed in Pa-O National Costume while fully armed after forcibly dragging eight civilian vehicles from Hopong Town.
“All of them were wearing the Pa-O National Costume. We could verify them as Pyi Thu Sit since they were fully armed. We object this as the costume is related with the entire Pa-O Nation,” one of the Hopong locals said.
Moreover, the junta council and PNA joint forces were reported to have committed extortion, screaming and cursing the civilians in Hopong downtown and threatened that they will come and take the civilians for military service in the upcoming week.
“This might be a trap to create social conflict by the junta council. Pa-O civilians should heed the situation carefully. It seems they (junta forces) disguised themselves as civilians and misconstrue as if the revolutionary forces were harming the civilians,” one of the Loiwoetoke locals stated.
In addition, intense battles have been engaged between the junta council, PNA coalition and Pa-O National Liberation Army (PNLA) in the villages between Hopong and Mongpawn starting from February 21.
Currently, only one-tenth of the population is said to be living in the Loiwoetoke Village as most of the locals have been displaced.