CNI News
May 27, 2026
Local residents from Pakokku told CNI News that Pyu Saw Htee militias in Pakokku Township, Magway Region, are conducting forced conscriptions (portering) and extorting money from wealthy youth and middle-aged business owners.
As a result of these forced conscriptions and extortion cases, business owners in Pakokku have been forced to relocate to other cities. Locals noted that these activities are being carried out specifically by the Pyu Saw Htee militias, rather than the military or police forces.
A business owner from Pakokku told CNI News that the militias usually demand between 5 million to 10 million MMK (50 to 100 lakhs) from individuals with moderate wealth, and between 50 million to 100 million MMK (500 to 1,000 lakhs) from merchants, brokers, and large business owners.
"Every time the Pyu Saw Htee arrest someone for portering, we have to go and ransom them. We have to pay the ransom at the large fire station on the bypass road near the eastern side of the town. Sometimes, we have to go to other locations they specify. This has nothing to do with the military or the police; it is just the Pyu Saw Htee causing trouble. They are the ones everyone is afraid of, which is why people are fleeing the town. If a business is even slightly large, the Pyu Saw Htee want to extort money from them. They usually come around 8:00 PM or 9:00 PM at night and say, 'Come along with us for a moment.' Even I had to flee. Most of the wealthy people have moved to other cities; they are no longer here. To ransom an arrested business owner, it costs 50 million or 100 million MMK. You cannot get them back with just 5 million MMK. The ransom depends on the scale of the business. That is why most wealthy individuals have already relocated," he said.
It is also reported that when arresting and demanding money from business owners, the militias threaten them by falsely accusing them of having ties to the Arakan Army (AA) or the People's Defense Forces (PDF), claiming they will report them to the Myanmar military.
Local residents of Pakokku
Currently, these forced conscriptions occur at any time of the day or night within Pakokku. Just a few days ago, two men aged 37 and 48 were reportedly taken. However, because the two victims were acquaintances of the Pyu Saw Htee members who detained them, they were released without having to pay any money.
A Pakokku resident told CNI News that these forced conscriptions have led to labor shortages at local commodity exchange centers, and the number of people moving around the town has drastically decreased.
"The forced conscriptions are getting worse. Knowing they can extort money, they just pick up anyone they see on the streets. They especially like to arrest youths in their 20s and 30s. Last night, they caught older individuals aged 37 and 48, so they didn't do anything to them and released them. They brought them back with their hands tied behind their backs and their eyes blindfolded.
Right now, it is only the Pyu Saw Htee doing the arrests. They drive around the town in cars to abduct people. The town has become so quiet and deserted that it feels like a ghost town. There is practically no one around," the resident said.
According to local sources, the fear of forced conscriptions has significantly reduced the presence of young people outdoors. Furthermore, residents from nearby villages have almost completely stopped coming into the town to buy or sell goods, causing local trade and commerce to plummet.
