Over 250 residents protested in northern Shan State’s Namkham Township on Wednesday demanding the release of twelve civilians who were allegedly arrested by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), according to a local source.

The protest arose in response to the abduction of villagers from Mongwi and Hopang villages by the TNLA troops on November 27 of last year and not seen since.

“They (TNLA army) arrested my brother,” said Nang Kham, a resident from Hopang who also joined the protest. “I don’t know where I can find him. I don’t know whether he is still alive or if he is dead.”

A representative at the protest said there has been no information about the abducted villagers since their arrests. They accused the TNLA of being responsible for their detention.

“Please release all of the detainees,” said Loong Sai, a resident in Mongwi village who also joined the protest. “We ask that all the leaders understand our situation and release our people.”

“Please don’t do any harm to them,” he added.

On December 6, the TNLA Information Department published a statement declaring that they had not engaged in the abduction of the civilians. They said they would not detain civilians because civilians are supporters of their cause.

The arrest came amidst fighting between the TNLA and the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army-South (RCSS/SSA-S), the latter of which is one of the eight signatories to Burma’s controversial Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA). The clashes between the two groups remain ongoing and have caused hundreds of villagers to flee their homes.

By SAI AW / Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N)