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SHAN STATE – The soldiers of Pa-O National Organization(PNO), a junta militia group, reportedly beat a resident of Southern Shan State, Yatsauk Township last Sunday (July 2).
The victim, Mr. Khun Tanit (46), a resident of Kyauktan Village in Yatsauk Township who currently is hospitalized at Pinphyit Hospital, reportedly ran into the PNO soldiers on his way back home from meeting his relatives at Satthay Village on July 2.
“On his way back home from Satthay Village, his motorbike broke down on the way. He was sitting near the bike (and waiting for the assistance) when the PNO soldiers beat him with the butts of their rifles. He had a lacerated wound on his eyebrow,” a local of Yatsauk Town retold the incident.
According to the locals, Mr. Khun Tanit was beaten by PNO soldiers (as soon as they saw him) without being questioned.
“The PNO militia in the area, led by Lieutenant Aung Thein, often do such violence, more frequently near the end of each month. They arrest the locals and then demand money, accusing them of being drug dealers. The public is loathing them already but dare not fight back as they are armed,” said the resident of Yatsauk Township.
He continued to say that the residents dared not file a case because they were afraid of being tortured by the PNO militia, and they still did not know how to end this violence yet.
When contacted about this incident by the media, the commander Khun Myint Aung of PNO reportedly made no reply.
Kyauktan Village, between Yatsauk Township and Satthay Village, has about 100 households. After the military coup, the PNO that joined hands with the military council is notorious for attacking the revolutionary forces, arresting and killing or extorting money from young people after accusing them of being PDFs.