The junta-aligned Pa-O National Organisation (PNO) militia group is putting pressure on displaced people (IDPs) sheltering in Nawngparyin Village, Hsihseng Township, southern Shan State to return to their homes.
The IDPs sheltering in Nawngparyin Village, which is in the Pa’ O Self-Admistered Zone, fled from other areas of southern Shan State. Most came from two villages, Loipaw Village, about 124 miles (200 km) away in Pekon Township and Taungpoetkwe Village about 80 miles (129km) away in Nyaungshwe Township. The rest of the IDPs came from the villages of Hsawngpyaung, Lenhkan, and Huwoe in Pinlaung Township.
Nyaungshwe and Pinlaung Townships are also part of the Pa’ O Self-Admistered Zone in Southern Shan State.
The IDPs first arrived in Nawngparyin Village on 12 June 2025. Then on 15 June the PNO imposed movement restrictions on the IDPs, forbidding them to leave Nawngparyin Village. Then on 20 June the PNO ordered the IDPs to return to their homes because they said that there was the possibility of fighting breaking out in Hsihseng Township.
A villager displaced from Taungpoetkwe Village said: “The PNO told us we have to go back to our homes because fighting might break out in Hsihseng. We explained to them that it’s not possible to return right now since the fighting is still happening there. But the PNO didn’t accept that. Now, many IDPs have already started leaving Nawngparyin Village.”
The PNO's order to leave Nawngparyin Village has caused significant challenges for the around 800 IDPs sheltering there.
A woman displaced from Loipaw Village said: “We faced a lot of obstacles just to reach Nawngparyin, and it cost us a lot of money. Even if we return home now, we’re not sure if our houses are still standing. If we have to move to another place, we need to seriously think about it. Since the PNO forced us out, we don’t have many choices other than going back. Some people who have family in downtown Hsihseng are taking refuge with them.”
Many of the IDPs who were sheltering in in Nawngparyin Village have relocated to forested areas outside Hmawbi Village in Nyaungshwe Township, about 40 miles (64 km) from Nawngparyin Village, but still about 136 miles ( 219 km) from Loipaw village and 64 miles (103 km) from Taungpoetkwe Village where most of the IDPs have fled from.
