Residents of Ywangan Township in southern Shan State say they are facing worsening insecurity and mounting civilian casualties as multiple armed groups operate across the area, turning the township into a volatile conflict zone where civilians struggle to survive amid competing threats.

Since the 2021 military coup, Ywangan has become a complex battleground involving numerous armed actors. Pro-junta forces active in the township include military council troops, Pyu Saw Htee militias, and the Pa-O National Organization (PNO). Resistance forces present in the area include the Danu State National Defense Army (DSNDA), the Danu People’s Liberation Army (DPLA), and local People’s Defense Force (PDF) units.

Residents say civilians and local administrators must constantly navigate shifting risks posed by the various groups. According to local accounts, military troops frequently carry out arbitrary arrests, force civilians into portering duties, and demand large sums of money in exchange for detainees’ release. In some cases, interrogations involving beatings have reportedly resulted in deaths.

“The more armed groups there are, the less secure we feel as citizens. The military arrests us or forces us to porter; the PDFs might kill someone accused of being a military informant; and unknown armed groups extort money from us. It isn’t safe like it used to be. We are just struggling to survive under all these pressures,” a local woman from Ywangan told SHAN.

In early January, junta forces reportedly raided Nwar Ban Gyi, Yay Chan, and Kyauk Ngat villages, arresting residents and demanding payments for their release. Those unable to pay remain detained, according to local sources.

Residents also report that military troops have confiscated civilian vehicles to transport soldiers to forested areas where resistance forces are active. Shelling has been heard near the outskirts of villages bordering these zones.

Violence has also been attributed to unidentified armed actors. During the final week of January, four residents of Lel Kaing village, aged between 40 and 60, were abducted by gunmen in civilian clothing. Approximately two weeks later, their bodies were returned to their families.

A DSNDA official urged civilians to exercise extreme caution and avoid proximity to junta troops and affiliated militias.

“There hasn’t been a moment of peace in Ywangan lately. The military is stationed in the villages. Some administrators and Pyu Saw Htee members are acting as informants, accusing innocent civilians of being connected to us in order to have them arrested. That is why we urge people to stay away from the military and their militias,” the official said.

Residents say that with multiple armed groups operating simultaneously and little protection for civilians, daily life in Ywangan has become defined by fear, uncertainty, and the constant risk of violence.