Two newly elected village administrators from Kawtbein and Nawnghkit villages in Kawkareik Township, Karen State, were reportedly arrested and taken away by an armed group, according to local residents.
Nai Myint Aung, 50, who was appointed on May 4 as secretary of the Kawtbein village administration group, was reportedly arrested along a road on May 6 by an armed group, a Kawtbein resident told IMNA.
“He is a former village administrator. This time, he was also elected as the secretary. Villagers said he had close ties with the military junta and was often seen travelling together with military junta members. That is why the situation surrounding him remains unclear,” the resident said.
Similarly, on May 6, an armed group reportedly arrived at the home of Nai Hla Tun from Nawnghkit village, near Kawtbein village, and arrested him after he had been nominated to serve as village administrator. According to local residents, he has remained out of contact since the arrest.
“They also came and arrested Nai Hla Tun, who had been nominated to serve as village administrator. He lives in the eastern part of Nawnghkit village. I heard he was arrested at his home. The village administrator selection process was not organised by the military junta but led by members of the New Mon State Party (Central). We still do not know why they arrested them,” a Nawnghkit villager said.
Kawtbein village and nearby areas are located in Thaton District, an area controlled by the New Mon State Party, where party officials are currently overseeing the village administrator selection process, according to local sources.
Residents said the two village administration members were reportedly arrested by members of the Ramanya Mon Army (RMA), which is active in the area. However, IMNA has not yet been able to independently verify the claim.
A similar incident occurred in Kawtbein village in late April when Nai Karein, also known as Nai Mon Hla Tun, a former reporter for the military junta’s media department based in Kawkareik, was allegedly arrested by an armed group and later died, according to residents.
