According to local sources, three more members of the Independent Social Welfare Association based in Thanbyuzayat, Mon State, have been arrested, bringing the total number of detained members to eight.
On September 20, the military junta troops arrested three members of the association at their respective homes.
On the night of September 18, the military junta force also raided the Independent Social Welfare Association office in Aung Mingalar ward, arresting the association’s chairman, U Ye Min Htike, along with U Ye Naing Oo, Ko Zaw Win, and two other members.
According to local sources, the military junta troops arrested the association’s chairman and members on allegations of contacting, supporting, and assisting with the transportation of weapons for the People’s Defense Force (PDF).
It has also been reported that the association’s detained members are being interrogated at No. 4 Military Advanced Training Depot (MATD-4) in Weakali village, Thanbyuzayat Township.
Family members are deeply concerned about the safety of the detainees, as they have been unable to contact them.
Earlier, on May 29, the military council troops also arrested five members of the Youth Philanthropic Group, including its chairman, based in Lamine town, Ye Township, but they were released a week later.
Since the military coup, members of social rescue teams in Mon State have faced increasing arrests. Two members of a rescue team from Thanbyuzayat and Mudon townships were previously sentenced to prison by the junta.
