Seven civilians were abducted from a village in the Karen National Union (KNU) Brigade 3 controlled area of Nyaunglaybin District on 10 May to be used as human shields, according to the KNU Committee Member Pado Saw Kleh Say.

The four men and three women were taken from Yaeoesin Village, in Mone Township.

“A total of seven people, including three women, were taken as human shields, we do not know the exact situation yet. We are still observing the situation”, said Padoh Saw Kleh Say.

A junta military column massacred and burned 20 locals in Nyaungbinthar Village, in Mone Township on the evening of 10 May. They then went to the nearby village of Yaeoesin and arrested four men from Yaosin and three women, who were just visiting the village, to use them as human shields.

Padoh Saw Kleh Say said: “We believe that the seven locals are still marching with the column. It is because the military wants to use them as human shields. We know for sure that they have not been released until now.”

As of 16 May, the seven were still being detained six days after they had been abducted by the junta troops.

According to the KNU, the junta column is still stationed in Mone Township and the KNU is observing them to see and record if they violate any more human rights.

The soldiers in the military column in Mone Township are reported to be from the following Myanmar Army units: Infantry Battalion 73, Light Infantry Battalion 559, Light Infantry Battalion 590, Infantry Battalion 84 under Southern Region Military Headquarters, and Infantry Battalion 84 under No 6 Military Operation Command and Infantry battalion 15 under the Light Infantry Division 9.