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Military Council to Prosecute 10 Local Residents Despite Signed Pledges, Refuses Release
4 April, 2026
The military council has said it will not release the 10 detained local residents who had signed a pledge, and will instead prosecute them.
In Nyaung Vake village, Hopong Township, Pa-O Self-Administered Zone, southern Shan State, 10 Pa-O local residents who were arrested are set to be charged today (April 30) at the Hopong police station under the military council, according to people close to the case.
The 10 individuals were arrested for protesting against the military council’s order to relocate Nyaung Vake village.
A woman close to the detainees said, “We understood that if they signed the pledge, they would be released. But now they say they will be imprisoned, so we will lose both our homes and our people. It’s like suffering twice. We don’t expect anything anymore. If they have power, they do as they please.”
On the night of March 30, forces under the military council, including the Pa-O National Army (PNA), local administrators, and land brokers, came to Nyaung Vake village. A confrontation occurred with residents, and 12 people were arrested.
Out of those arrested, 2 were released yesterday (April 2), but locals say they remain worried about the remaining 10 detainees.
A farmer from the village said, “When they were first arrested, we heard they were not given food. We don’t know the situation now. We are not allowed to meet them.”
Among the 10 detainees are 8 men and 2 women, including a village leader, and most are elderly.
Nyaung Vake village was established over 50 years ago, even before the Pa-O National Organization (PNO) was formed, and the land belongs to the village.
Although the land was designated as military-owned in 1992, it was reportedly transferred to the Pa-O Self-Administered Zone leading body in 2015, just before the Thein Sein government handed over power.
However, after the military coup, locals say that the PNO party under the military council and land brokers are colluding to divide and sell off village land.
#Peopleradiomyanmar
Military Council to Prosecute 10 Local Residents Despite Signed Pledges, Refuses Release
4 April, 2026
The military council has said it will not release the 10 detained local residents who had signed a pledge, and will instead prosecute them.
In Nyaung Vake village, Hopong Township, Pa-O Self-Administered Zone, southern Shan State, 10 Pa-O local residents who were arrested are set to be charged today (April 30) at the Hopong police station under the military council, according to people close to the case.
The 10 individuals were arrested for protesting against the military council’s order to relocate Nyaung Vake village.
A woman close to the detainees said, “We understood that if they signed the pledge, they would be released. But now they say they will be imprisoned, so we will lose both our homes and our people. It’s like suffering twice. We don’t expect anything anymore. If they have power, they do as they please.”
On the night of March 30, forces under the military council, including the Pa-O National Army (PNA), local administrators, and land brokers, came to Nyaung Vake village. A confrontation occurred with residents, and 12 people were arrested.
Out of those arrested, 2 were released yesterday (April 2), but locals say they remain worried about the remaining 10 detainees.
A farmer from the village said, “When they were first arrested, we heard they were not given food. We don’t know the situation now. We are not allowed to meet them.”
Among the 10 detainees are 8 men and 2 women, including a village leader, and most are elderly.
Nyaung Vake village was established over 50 years ago, even before the Pa-O National Organization (PNO) was formed, and the land belongs to the village.
Although the land was designated as military-owned in 1992, it was reportedly transferred to the Pa-O Self-Administered Zone leading body in 2015, just before the Thein Sein government handed over power.
However, after the military coup, locals say that the PNO party under the military council and land brokers are colluding to divide and sell off village land.
#Peopleradiomyanmar
