KACHIN STATE – It is reported that at least 20 people were arrested looking for unwashed stones from the jade blocks in the Mamong Layan group of Phakant, where the junta’s soldiers were patrolling.
A 53-year-old man who was searching for unwashed stones said that the junta’s soldiers entered the Balakha Ward of Mamong Layang Village at around 9:00 last night while firing their guns and entering in two columns.
“They fire all the bullets in the cartridge. I heard that they would enter by the column at first. I thought they were not coming, so I went to work, and now I had to run away because they shot. There are people who have been arrested,” he said.
A 56-year-old male worker at the jade working area said that “because of the junta army column entering, the jobs have been stopping at Hmaw Sisa village’s jade working area.”
“The responsible persons were chased and shot in lower magical areas, as they called and informed us about the junta army column. We stopped our work because they came,” he added.
Residents said that they do not know where the junta’s council column took the arrested people.
A military council force of more than 30 people raided the Urusai guest house in Lonkhin village on the morning of May 25 and abducted at least five men.
Also, on May 24th, in Hpakant City’s Hwaw Wun Ward, an administrative officer of the Public Security Organization under the Kachin Liberation Organization (KIO) was raided by the junta’s council troops and arrested along with his family members.
On May 16, at least 30 local residents were arrested by the Junta’s Council column in Nan Tane Village, Hpakant.