The Karen National Union (KNU), administering Kaw Thoo Lei territory, says 20 civilians were “heedlessly” arrested from 6-11 July by the Military Council with 18 of them sentenced to jail, according to a 12 July KNU statement.

The Military Infantry Unit (264) arrested and detained civilians who went to buy food in Kyauktada Town. The KNU has a list of the 19 people arrested.

Among them, only Maung Htet Htet was released and 18 were imprisoned, said a family acquaintance.

The whereabouts of Zaw Oo, another civilian who was arrested by the military on 11 July, is not known. The civilians are the residents of Kyaukmaw Payagyi Village, Padekaw Village, Burma Wethlataw Village, and Darkular Village. The arrested were said to have been detained at the Kyauktada Police Station.

Clashes between junta troops and the KNU have been happening in KNU Kaw Thoo Lei Administrative Territory.

Due to the brutality of the military regime, the number of displaced people in the area has reached 599,400 and they are facing many obstacles. Now that it is the rainy season, the displaced people are facing insufficient shelter, food and accommodation. Thus, urgent humanitarian aid is needed, the KNU states.