MAGWAY DIVISION – Local residents say that the military council of Chauk township and the ward and village administrators have formed militia groups called Pyu Saw Htee and are conducting arrests, interrogations, extortion, and looting.
An armed force was formed with around 40 men called Pyu Saw Htee, led by Kyaw Lin, the military council administrator of Kongyi village, and Htay Myint Aung, the administrator of Igyi village from Chauk township. Locals said that in addition to purchasing weapons themselves, the military council army also equipped them with weapons.
The people from nearby villages, including Nyaung Zin village, Ywama village, Kantai village, Kanthitkon village, Hteinsann village, Gwaypingyi village, Gwaypinlay village, Tone village and Kantaukkyaung village, are worried that the Pyu Saw Htee groups, led by the governor of Kongyi village and Igyi village, would attack.
On June 5th, the Pyu Saw Hội groups forcibly took the food and household items of the people from nearby villages and destroyed some houses. The village where the house was destroyed is Naywae Taw village, where the people’s motorcycles, valuables, and food were also taken.
“We are afraid of Pyu Saw Htee and the army. Even though it is peaceful in the villages, we are being bullied,” said a resident of Chauk township.
There are more than a thousand houses in the Naywae Yaw village where the Pyu Saw Htee members robbed and abused them. On June 3rd, Pyu Saw Htee Htee arrested 3 people from Kantai village, and 1 child from Naywae Taw village.