The military has been detaining youths in Hpruso and Demawso townships who are suspected of being linked to armed civilian groups fighting against the regime in Karenni State.

An officer of the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF), one of the civil resistance groups fighting the dictatorship since May, warned of the dangers youths and active members of the Peoples Defence Forces (PDFs) face travelling to towns and advised against it unless it’s necessary.

“There are many informants who report to Burma Army (BA) in town. At the moment, BA is arresting people whether they are PDF members or not,” he told Kantarawaddy Times.

According to locals, BA arrested five youths in Hpruso Township on 5 December.

Kantarawaddy Times couldn’t independently confirm this information.

The KNDF calls on everyone to join the “people’s revolution against the military dictatorship”. At the same time, it warns against returning to the towns to get food or other things because of the recent arrests and instability in the state, where fighting can break out at any time.

Since the coup on 1 February, more than 150,000 people, over half the population of Karenni State, have been displaced by the violence. According to Karenni Civil Society Network, the regime’s forces have killed 132 people, injured 146 and arrested more than 257 civilians since overthrowing Aung San Suu Kyi’s government.

Human rights groups have pointed out that the army’s shelling of villages and churches, as well as attacks on volunteers bringing food to displaced camps and the destruction of food before it can reach people at risk of starvation, constitute crimes against humanity.