In a recent crackdown, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) arrested more than 40 villagers in Hsipaw Township, Shan State, for allegedly violating a mobile phone ban. The arrests, which occurred in early February, have intensified fears among residents already living under stringent restrictions in the TNLA-controlled area.

The detained individuals, spanning various age groups, were reportedly apprehended in Sarm Pit village and along the main road. TNLA soldiers confiscated mobile phones from homes and intercepted villagers returning from areas where phone connectivity had been restored.

A local woman familiar with the incident told the SHAN, “More than 40 people were arrested yesterday in Hsipaw for using phones. The TNLA detained residents of all ages, including some who were caught on their way home.”

According to relatives of those arrested, phone signals had recently been restored in parts of Hsipaw Township and across the Hsipaw Bridge, an area controlled by the Kokang Army (Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army – MNDAA). Villagers reportedly traveled to these areas to make calls, only to be intercepted, interrogated, and arrested by TNLA soldiers upon their return.

The whereabouts of the detained individuals remain unknown, and none have been released as of this reporting. SHAN contacted TNLA’s spokesperson, Lwe Yae Oo, for comment. While she stated she had not received information about the arrests, she assured that an investigation would be conducted.

In addition to the phone-related arrests, the TNLA has faced accusations of forcibly recruiting soldiers in Hsipaw Township, primarily targeting the Ta’ang (Palaung) ethnic group. Reports suggest that parents are being abducted as replacements when their children are unavailable for recruitment.

The local woman from Hsipaw explained, “In Ywar Thit village, every Palaung household with two or three children is being forced to provide recruits for the TNLA. They are taking both men and women. For households where eligible recruits are absent, TNLA has reportedly detained parents in their place.”

When questioned about these practices, Lwe Yae Oo emphasized that the TNLA adheres to its published recruitment policies. She urged citizens to file complaints with the Public Relations Center (PRC) if they believe recruitment is being conducted improperly.

This incident follows a similar wave of arrests in late January, when the TNLA detained 16 civilians, including four women, in Kyaukme Township. The individuals, from villages such as Pinpaw, Long Kyiang, Kyaung Kone, and Naung Pyit, were accused of illegally cutting down a teakwood tree. Local residents reported that they were taken to the Nawnghkio police station.

The TNLA’s recent actions have sparked widespread concern among local communities, underscoring the ongoing tensions and hardships faced by civilians in conflict-affected areas of Shan State.