A Kachin civil society organization has called on the Myanmar government to immediately release civilians arrested by military forces in the Mong Ko area of Muse township in northern Shan state, RFA reported on 1 December.
The Kachin Peace Network (KPN) wants the military to free civilians who have been detained since Nov. 20, when fierce fighting broke out in Muse, as well as ensure the protection of life and dignity of local residents, according to a statement the group issued on Tuesday.
During the hostilities that occurred near Mong Ko, Myanmar’s armed forces arrested 70 civilians who were on their way to a wedding in Hpau Jung Pa village, the statement said. Authorities released a dozen of the detained who were relatives from China on Nov. 21, and freed another two from Myanmar on Nov. 25. Security forces are still holding the others.