Hsu/Htike San (NP News) - November 11
According to a local who spoke to The Statesman Journal, PDF groups sheltered at the foot of the Rakhine Yoma mountain range frequently raid nearby towns in Magway Region to kidnap people.
“Abductions by PDF groups occur frequently on the western outskirts of Mindon and Minhla towns. In one earlier incident, a vehicle belonging to Myat Saytanar Mon and its occupants failed to return after being abducted by PDF fighters. They have still not been released. There have been many other similar incidents as well,” the resident said.
The activities are reportedly carried out by groups of approximately 10 members, causing concern among locals.
“People are worried that they may enter their villages or neighbourhoods. Everyone is afraid because the threat is close to home. When the military learns of these incidents, troops usually arrive, but by then the PDFs have already left. The PDF groups make sudden incursions. They do not usually enter the towns on this side, but they frequently approach in groups of four, five, seven or about 10 members, carrying weapons. Their numbers generally do not exceed that,” the resident said.
According to the resident, PDF groups controlling villages near the Rakhine Yoma routinely threaten locals and extort monthly protection fees of 50,000 kyats per household.
“They need money for food, guns and ammunition, so they come down from the mountains to collect it. They also solicit donations online. This happens in villages behind Mindon and Minhla, particularly those near the Rakhine Yoma. The PDFs take shelter at the foot of the mountains. We have heard from people in nearby villages that they collect around 50,000 kyats per month. They have established control over those areas. The villages behind the Pathein–Monywa Road are among the places they visit. The PDF members do not remain in one place permanently. They come and go, returning to the foothills of the Rakhine Yoma after their operations. As mentioned earlier, residents are forced to pay 50,000 or 60,000 kyats in protection money. Those who cannot afford to pay are threatened with death, so people pay. The local population is living under their control,” the resident said.
The resident added that PDF groups exploit the absence of military columns to commit acts of violence against civilians.
“The military conducts operations and advances through the area from time to time. However, PDF members often disguise themselves as civilians, making them difficult to identify. Whenever military columns are not present, the PDFs resume their activities,” the resident said.
In another incident during the full moon of Thadingyut last month, a PDF group reportedly raided four Minbu businesses around 2 a.m., stealing 80 million kyats and kidnapping a deputy manager. –
