Military Council troops arrested 30 civilians last week in Mhaw Si Sar village of Longhkin village tract, Hpakant Township, and detained them in the compound of the Thura Jewelry Company.

A 30-strong column of the Tatmadaw entered Aung Thar Yar No. 1 Ward in Mhaw Si Sar at around 4:00pm on February 15th and detained more than 30 civilians including company

employees, jade scavengers and women. A Longhkin local man told KNG that the detainees have not been released yet.

“They still haven’t been released. I checked again this morning, and they are still in custody. I heard that they are still being held in the compound of Myanmar Thura Jewelry Company in Nahmma Phyit village. I don’t know why they were not released”, a reliable source said.

Locals say that the Military Council is demanding ransom for the detainees, but these claims cannot be independently verified. Those arrested are 5 women from Aung Thar Yar No. 1 Ward, 13 miners from Min Naing Soe mining company, and the rest are jade scavengers.

In Hpakant, the regime soldiers often arrest or beat up civilians, as well as tightening security and conducting extensive searches.