November 7, 2024 – In Shwebo, Sagaing Region, two individuals, Ko Paing Shwe and Ma Nwe Nwe Htwe, were arrested by the military under the accusation of being supporters of revolutionary forces. The military reportedly subjected them to physical abuse during their arrest, and to date, their family members have been unable to establish contact with them, according to their friends.
The two individuals were detained on October 26, 2024, near the Aung Chan Tha market at the Shwebo Wharf, under the pretext that they were linked to revolutionary groups. Ko Paing Shwe and Ma Nwe Nwe Htwe, who were from Sountan village, were known to be engaged in the yarn and fabric trade. The military’s claim was that they were supporting rebel forces.
A friend of the arrested individuals stated, “We have lost contact with them. Although we requested permission to visit them at the military base and the training center, we were denied access. Initially, Ma Nwe Nwe Htwe was arrested, and her phone was searched. Then, Ko Paing Shwe was arrested after his phone number was found on Ma Nwe Nwe Htwe’s phone.” The source also explained that the two were apprehended while traveling to Shwebo city for their business.
The military has claimed that their arrest was related to a PDF connection found in the individuals’ phones. According to the military, they were arrested after interacting with the resistance group through PDF communications. Additionally, on the same day, four women from Sin Inn village, also involved in the yarn business, were arrested by the military. These women were later released after paying a bribe of 100,000 kyats, as reported by local residents.
