CNI News

6 February 2025

Around 700 local Shanni people from Kyaung Le and Pinkha Villages, Banmauk Township, upper Sagaing Region, are being abducted and tortured by a group allied with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), released Shanni CSOs on 3rd February 2025.

Nearly 300 local Shanni ethnic people from Kyaung Le Village, Banmauk Township by were forcibly abducted and taken away by a joint group led by the KIA on 29th January 2025. 
In the same way, nearly 400 local Shanni ethnic people from Pinkha Village, Banmauk Township were also abducted by force by joint forces led by the KIA 30th January 2025, reported the Shanni CSOs.

" Among the Shanni villagers who were abducted were included children eight months to three years, whose parents had to flee to China, young women and elderly people as well as Buddhist monks. Joint forces led by the KIA committed many inhumane acts such as dousing the Shanni villagers who were tied up with hot water including assault with gun butts, beatings, and torture." said in the statement released by the Shanni CSOs.

According to some villagers who escaped, joint forces led by the KIA fired into the village with heavy weapons and damaged monasteries, and the joint forces were digging trenches under cover of religious buildings.

The statement was jointly released by the Shanni Nationalities Unity Association (SNUA), the Shanni Youths Network (Waingmaw), the Shanni Youths Network (Banmauk), the Shanni Youths Network (Mohnyin), the Shanni Youths Network (Mogaung), and the Tai-Leng Students Union (TSU).

The KIA-PDF joint forces attack Kyaung Le and Pinkha Villages and are making military preparations to capture Banmauk Town.

The Myanmar Tatmadaw, the Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA) and the KIA-PDF joint forces are being active in Banmauk Township, and the KIA-PDF joint forces are fighting against the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the SNA in the township.

KIA-PDF is using detained Shanni ethnic people as human shields during the battles, reported the Shanni CSOs.