A junta sergeant from the Fire Department was captured by the Ye Belu group along the Ye-Mawlamyine Highway in Mon State, according to a spokesperson from the group.
The spokesperson confirmed that the sergeant was detained during a security checkpoint operation conducted by the group on the morning of January 16.
“We apprehended him on January 16 operation. We’ve issued announcements regarding such actions. This includes all local administrators and officials associated with the military junta. Based on the current situation, we’ll take appropriate measures. However, the punishment won’t be severe, considering he also serves as a social worker. Our objective is not to impose harsh penalties but to ensure that he no longer serves in his current capacity,” said the Ye Belu spokesperson in a statement to the Independent Mon News Agency.
The Ye Belu group has been actively targeting junta personnel, collaborators, informants, and those perceived to support the military junta in their operational areas, particularly in Ye Township. While some of those detained by the group have been released, others remain missing, according to local sources.
In December 2024, a video surfaced on social media showing a junta informant who had been captured by the Ye Belu group being brutally executed. This incident drew widespread criticism from human rights organizations and activists, accusing the group of violating international human rights laws.
Human rights organizations, including the Human Rights Foundation of Monland, have reported a rise in arbitrary arrests and detentions targeting civilians in Mon State and Tanintharyi Region since late 2024.
Commenting on the issue, Nai Aue Mon, director of the Human Rights Foundation of Monland said, “Based on their beliefs, they target individuals they suspect of collaborating with the junta. From a human rights perspective, targeting non-combatants and taking action against them violates international humanitarian law (IHL). However, if the individual is genuinely an informant for the junta, the situation becomes more complex. We cannot definitively comment without evidence. These actions blur the line between social work and clandestine activities, making it a challenging situation to assess.”
In a related incident, the Aung San’s Land Natmauk group recently detained six individuals, including a deputy director of the Fire Department and members of junta-affiliated families, along the Yangon-Mandalay Highway.
