Kantarawaddy Times
The PNO-affiliated People’s Militia, operating under the Myanmar military council, has ordered residents of Naung Kyaw and Taung Shay village tracts in Hsi Hseng Township to leave their villages by June 15.
Although the evacuation order was issued on June 7, locals only became aware of it by June 9, prompting many to begin relocating later that day, according to reports.
However, residents face additional challenges while relocating due to the ongoing crackdown on unlicensed motorcycles and vehicles in Hsi Hseng town. A representative from the Pa-O Youth Organization stated that the unlicensed vehicle checks are making it difficult for displaced residents to move freely.
“There are checkpoints in Hsihseng where unlicensed cars and motorbikes are being seized. That has created problems for people trying to relocate. In many cases, if caught, authorities demand money as a bribe,” the representative told Kantarawaddy Times.
Residents reported that authorities were seizing unlicensed vehicles and demanding money in exchange for their release. These conditions have raised serious security concerns for those fleeing their homes.
The relocation order was reportedly issued because resistance groups were present in the area, and the militia claimed that civilians had to leave so “clearance operations” could be conducted.
“When we asked about the reason, they said resistance forces were active in the area and that the relocation was necessary for territorial clearance and to ensure security in the region,” the youth representative added.
The PNO has also restricted the displaced civilians from seeking shelter in southern farmlands or at existing IDP camps. Instead, they were ordered to gather in a single designated location.
Villages affected by the forced relocation include Tapu Htu, Kaung Htu, Loi Ngay, Naung Bo, and Pin Set from the Naung Kyaw village tract, as well as Naung Htau 6 and Kalar Lehfrom the Taung Shay village tract. The villages are required to be vacated entirely, and as the relocation process is still ongoing, it has not been possible to gather precise information at this time, according to the Pa-O Youth Organization.
