Six farmers were detained by ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) in Kyaukme Township, northern Shan State.

According to a local source, the four men and two woman taken by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) are former soldiers of the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), which is fighting with other groups in the region over territory.

“They’ve already resigned from the RCSS and are now working on a tea farm,” he told SHAN. “I think the TNLA and SSPP have arrested them because they fear they’ll report their movements to the RCSS, but they’re living peacefully in Pan Lin.”

TNLA spokesman Col Mai Aik Kyaw told SHAN that they don’t harass civilians. “We don’t arrest ordinary civilians, but we do arrest other members of the armed forces.”

Pan Lin (Pang Hleng) residents have to cook rice and curry for the TNLA and SSPP every day. Last month, two villagers were attacked by an unknown armed group after they sent food to the Ta’ang and Shan soldiers.