This Short Update describes events in Ler K’Saw Township, Mergui-Tavoy District, including the forced recruitment of villagers. These incidents of forced recruitment began in December 2023 and are continuing to unfold at the time of publication, in April 2024. Soldiers from the State Administration Council (SAC) and an SAC-affiliated village militia in A--- village, B--- village tract, Ler K’Saw Township, are forcibly recruiting villagers. Villagers in A--- village were threatened with being forcibly evicted from the village if they refused to join the militia. In addition, the SAC and this village militia force seven villagers each week to keep watch...

This Situation Update describes events occurring in Ta Kreh Township, Hpa-an District, during the period between August to October 2023. It highlights the livelihood difficulties faced by villagers due to extortion by the Border Guard Force (BGF) at checkpoints. In addition, there has been a rise in gambling activities and drug use, specifically amphetamines, which have increased theft and looting. Although villagers have reported these problems to the local village authorities, no action has been taken to address them. Teenage drug abuse has also risen, as yaba is highly accessible in the Township. With the increased use of drugs among...

This Incident Report describes events that occurred in K’Ser Doh Township, Mergui-Tavoy District, in October 2023. On October 25th, State Administration Council (SAC) Infantry Battalion (IB) #403 arbitrarily arrested a 31-year-old male villager named Ko J--- whilst they were patrolling through his village in K’Ser Hkler area, K’Ser Doh Township. The reason for Ko J---’s arrest is unknown. Local villagers later found his dead body buried in a shallow grave in a nearby village. This incident caused insecurity and fear among villagers, causing many villagers to seek safety by fleeing to nearby villages or towns to evade potential harm...