On 24 February 2022, two catholic priests and five people from Taunggyi who went to provide humanitarian assistance to the IDPs in Phaikhun township, Southern Shan State, were arrested by the Myanmar junta army and no contact could be made.

It was reported that those two priests and five civilians were taken away for questioning while they were on their way to the IDPs camp in Phaikhun township on 21 February 2022.

“The priests and other five people were arrested. They said they need to question these people and took them away. We have no contact with them yet. No information from the authority is provided. So, we lost the contact,” a catholic priest who lives in Phaikhun township told SHAN.

The arrested two priests are believed to be detained and interrogated somewhere in the Taunggyi city, and the location is still unknown.

Concerns are mounted for the civilians and priests being detained and questioned because no contact could be made.

“They are in Taunggyi city. However, we don’t know the exact location. We are worried because the authority does not tell us where they are being kept and no contact is allowed. We worry about the unknown – anything could happen,” the above priest added.

Due to the heavy gun fight between Myanmar army and local PDF in Phaikhun and Moebye since 15 February 2022, many locals have been internally displaced.