Junta soldiers arrested in China

_{By Hseng Khio Fah}
 
On 21 May, at 15:00, a tractor of Ai Hsa, 25, was blocked by 6 soldiers to take them through China. The soldiers were from Teung Her village, Muse township, north of Shweli River. They had been ordered to go to Hawng Tong village, Hard Hin village tract.
 
A truck of Chinese soldiers met the said Burmese soldiers on the way, arrested and detained them at Ziesiang, opposite Muse and Namkham townships, a source said.
 
"Actually, Teung Her and Hawng Tong villages are not so far. They could go there on foot. But the motorway passes through China. That's why they were caught. Wan Hio's Police authorities were called to Ziesiang yesterday to discuss about them. But so far the Chinese have yet to release them," said a villager in Shweli region.
 
On 17 May, Brig-Gen Hla Myint, Deputy Commander of Lashio- based Northeastern Region Command, went to Namkham and called a meeting with village headmen whom he ordered to set up fences around the villages. One person from each household has to take turn to guard the village from night to day. Soldiers and police were given the duty to patrol the villages. Anyone seen near the villages and those who run away will be fired upon.
 
"It is so difficult for families who don’t' have men, especially widows, who have to struggle for their livelihood. If they hire other people, they have to pay Kyat 6,000($ 5) per day. It is so hard," complained a villager.
 
Since the secretary of Namkham township Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) Sai Kyaw Myint, 57, was assassinated on 4 May while campaigning for public support of junta drafted charter which was soundly beaten in the township, the junta has placed more security forces in Kunhai-Hard Hin village tract, north of Namkham. Hard Hin village tract was guarded by a unit commanded by Second Lieutenant Aung Tin and Kunhai village tract by another unit commanded by Lieutenant Kyaw Aung, according to a source.