Junta soldiers and junta-aligned Pyu-Saw-Htee militia members are commandeering vehicles and violently beating villagers and car owners who resist, across Ywangan Township in southern Shan State.

Since the second week in December 2024 they have been demanding that every village in Ywangan Township provide them with three vehicles to use for four days. Though they promised to return the vehicles after four days they still have not returned them, according to villagers.

When junta and militia forces entered the villages to forcibly commander the vehicles some owners refused to comply. When that happened both the vehicle owners who refused to let the junta take their vehicles and other villagers were beaten.

A source familiar with the matter said: “When the junta troops came to our village to take the cars, the villagers initially refused, so they were beaten. That’s why the villagers eventually gave in and let them take the cars. The soldiers promised to return the vehicles after four days, but they still haven’t returned.”

Junta troops have been deployed in several Ywangan Township villages. They have threatened to arrest anyone found out at night and to use them as porters or conscripts. As a result, villagers no longer dare to venture out after dark.

Pyu-Saw-Htee militia members are often seen roaming around villages in Ywangan Township, demanding money and food, according to a woman who witnessed them doing this.

She said to SHAN: “In the villages, Pyu-Saw-Htee members often brandish their weapons to intimidate and demand money. The villagers have no choice but to give whatever amount they demand. They also frequently seize rice from villagers. When they came to our house, they demanded 50,000 MMK, and we didn’t dare to refuse. Living in constant fear of both them and the junta, we are gradually sinking deeper into hardships.”

Due to threats from junta soldiers and Pyu-Saw-Htee members villagers are too frightened to go harvest oranges from their orange orchards because they are located away from their homes.

The junta has also established checkpoints at the entrances and exits of Ywangan Town in Ywangan Township and increased inspections of trucks and passenger vehicles on the Mandalay to Ywangan Road.