Burma Army soldiers beat villagers and then used them as human shields during fighting against a civilian resistance group in southern Shan State.

The military broke down a door of a church and abducted five villagers in Pwe Kon-3 ward of Moe Bye (aka Mobyel) town, near the border of Karenni (Kayah) State on June 4.

Soldiers stole a phone and money from the pastor. The Army abducted an additional five villagers from the area.

A family member told Kantarawaddy Times the military abducted their father and blindfolded him and the other civilians with sarongs, forcing them to stand between the Army and Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) during a clash.

“After the fighting was over, they tied their hands behind them with rope and forced them to sit on the street.” Soldiers made some of them carry explosives, the source explained, but not their father, who managed to escape once it got dark. “Soldiers shot at my father when he ran away. He suffered minor injuries.”

According to KNDF, it killed at least four Burma Army soldiers, wounding four others during fighting on Friday from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

Two resistance fighters sustained injuries. Artillery fired by Burma Army destroyed several homes. Shells landed close to a camp for civilians who fled earlier episodes of fighting.

The military committed crimes against humanity, KNDF said, abducting, torturing and killing civilians.

Locals told Kantarawaddy Times fighting in Moe Bye continued on Saturday.