More than 340 civilians were arrested across Tanintharyi Region during December 2024 due to intensified military operations and escalating conflicts, according to a report by FE5 Tanintharyi.
In November 2024, 208 civilians were reported arrested. However, the number rose significantly in December as the military junta ramped up forced conscription and intensified military campaigns.
The arrests included 90 individuals from Dawei District, 110 from Myeik District, and 140 from Kawthaung District. Of those detained, 107 were later released, while five individuals reportedly died in custody, the FE5 Tanintharyi report revealed.
Civilians in villages along military convoy routes were detained and used as human shields. Some suspected individuals were beaten, tortured, or killed. Arrests have now extended to urban areas as well, according to an FE5 Tanintharyi official.
The report also highlighted incidents involving other armed groups. In Dawei District, 16 individuals were arrested, and one was killed by the People’s Defense Forces (PDF). In Myeik District, seven individuals were detained. Additionally, in Kawthaung District, the Kawthoolei Army (KTLA) reportedly detained and interrogated multiple villagers.
The region saw over 65,800 residents displaced in December 2024 due to aerial bombings, artillery shelling, and ground offensives by junta forces.
In Yebyu and Launglon townships, clashes between the military junta and resistance forces have intensified daily. Civilians have faced arbitrary arrests, executions, and torture, with human rights violations becoming more widespread.
According to the Mon State Humanitarian Network, these incidents reflect an alarming surge in human rights abuses in Tanintharyi Region during December.
