Residents from Ahryutaung and nearby villages in Ye Township, Mon State, were recently detained and forced to act as guides and human shields for the military column.
The detainees, including more than 20 plantation workers and some travelers, were eventually released on November 16.
On November 13th, a military column of over 70 troops conducting clearance operations along the Taung Soon- Aryutaung- Taungbon- Mawtkanin route reportedly detained travellers and plantation workers.
According to a woman close to the families of those detained, after being forced to act as guides and human shields during the military column’s operation, the detainees were released on November 16th.
“They have been released. More than 20 men were among them, including people from Aryutaung and other villages. My friend’s younger brother was also included. Yesterday, the military gave each of them ten thousand kyat and released them near Kyaungywar village,” a woman close to the families added.
Later, family members went to bring them home, and it was reported that no one appeared to have sustained injuries.
The detainees were local men, aged between 17 and 40, from Aryutaung, Taung Soon, Taungbon, and Paingwan villages. After using them as guides and human shields, the military kept them at the infantry Battalion 591, based in Kyaungywar villages.
A local plantation worker said that with the military column detaining residents, people in the Aryutaung and surrounding area were unable to go to their farms or move around freely, and had no choice but to wait and watch the situation unfold.
“Right now, we are afraid to go to the farms. If we don’t meet them, nothing happens. But if they come out to the area and run into us, we could get into trouble. I haven’t been going to the farm much lately. The situation isn’t good,” said one plantation worker.
The military column responsible for the arrests continues its clearance operations in Aryutaung and nearby villages, including Ywarthit, Ywarkalay, and Taung Soon.
Using civilians as human shields during military operations violates international humanitarian law and is prohibited under IHL Rule 97.
