It is reported that security force members managed to evacuate 30 villagers from towns and villages of Sagaing region who were forcibly taken hostage by PDF terrorists, affiliates of NUG/CRPH on 9 August 2023. The hostages were safely evacuated from two houses in Ywarthan village of Khin-U township.
On 5 August, PDF terrorists forcibly abducted 21 local farmers working at paddy fields two miles west of Bonekone village of Shwe Bo township of Sagaing and also took their property of carts and animals of cows, sheep and goats. As the terrorists demanded ransoms for the hostages, the local villagers contacted local military unit and asked for help to evacuate the victims.
To answer the call of the local people, security personnel acting on the strong information raided Ywarthan village where PDF terrorists were temporarily hiding around 1:00 am on 9 August. During the operation, security personnel managed to evacuate 29 local people and a firefighter totaling 30 at 5:10 am morning. Moreover, security personnel seized three improvised mortars, 42 home-made grenades, 12 improvised rockets, four homemade guns, 16 assorted explosive mines and other related items.
The accounts of villagers who were taken hostage by PDF terrorists are as follows –
- On 5 August, PDF terrorists tied and blindfolded the local farmers and took them somewhere they did not know. They also took cattle, herds of sheep and goats over 300 together with their boys caring the animals. The victims were threatened that they would be shot dead if they tried to escape.
- After that, PDF terrorists asked them to try to escape. But they were afraid to do so and therefore, decided to stay together no matter of live of death.
- The PDF terrorists then asked them for ransom if they wanted to go home. They do not have saving money. Although they could sell their animals for ransom, they were in great trouble as the PDF terrorists took all of their cattle and herds of animals.
- They also witnessed that the terrorists asked for ransom from the hostages abducted from some villages, and those who failed to pay ransom were beheaded, and the dead bodies were thrown into Hmu stream.
- They expressed heart-felt thanks to the people’s soldiers who managed to evacuate them safely alive on 9 August.
- Although some media outlets create fake news as if PDF terrorists are providing protect to the people, in reality, the PDFs are committing all kinds of crimes including tortures, bullies, murders, and robberies. The villagers were suffering from such crimes.
Terrorists’ acts of forcibly arresting innocent villagers and civil servants constitute war crimes according to Geneva conventions and International Law. In this regard, it is reported that security force members will take the action of counter-terrorism to ensure the perpetrators are taken legal actions for the war crimes they committed as per provisions of Counter-Terrorism Law and existing laws, and people are also requested to secretly report information about activities of terrorists to concerned authorities.
Source: Myawady Daily Newspaper (10-8-2023)
- Security personnel managed to evacuate 29 innocent local civilians and one firefighter who were taken hostage by PDF terrorists in two houses in Ywarthan village of Khin-U township and also seize weapons/ammunitions and related items.
- On 5 August, PDF terrorists tied and blindfolded the local farmers and took them somewhere they did not know. The victims were threatened that they would be shot dead if they tried to escape.
- Terrorists’ acts of forcibly arresting innocent villagers and civil servants constitute war crimes according to Geneva conventions and International Law.
- Security force members will take the action of counter-terrorism to ensure the perpetrators are taken legal actions for the war crimes they committed as per provisions of Counter-Terrorism Law and existing laws.