An unidentified armed group has abducted and robbed a group of youths in Myanmar’s jade-mining hub of Hpakant, using the threat of forced military conscription as a ruse.
The incident occurred at approximately 19:30 local time on 24 February near the Sein Sein tailings heap in Maw Sizar village. Witnesses report that the group targeted young “yemase” (itinerant jade pickers) and jade traders, forcibly loading them into a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
“The victims were picked up from different spots around the tailings area,” a local source told the Myanmar Pressphoto Agency (MPA). “Those who resisted were beaten and kicked before being shoved into the car. About ten people were taken in total.”
Once inside the vehicle, the victims were reportedly blindfolded with hoods and had their hands tied behind their backs. They were taken to an unknown location where they were held overnight and stripped of their belongings.
According to local sources, the perpetrators spoke the Jinghpaw language. However, the exact identity of the group remains unconfirmed. Residents have speculated on several possibilities, ranging from military-affiliated militias attempting to tarnish the reputation of resistance forces to local insurgent groups.
“The military usually doesn’t conduct press-ganging in this manner here, and they rarely move outside of their columns for fear of being targeted by resistance snipers,” a resident explained. “There is a possibility this was a move to discredit the KIA [Kachin Independence Army] or it could involve local militias like the Wara Zup or Min Zay Thant, which include ethnic Kachins.”
The victims were released in small groups of two or three at various locations around Hpakant at approximately 05:00 on 25 February. Reported losses include a Kenbo 125 motorcycle, a piece of raw jade, several mobile phones, and an undisclosed amount of cash.
Hpakant remains a highly volatile region, with various armed actors—including the KIA, the People’s Defence Force (KPDF), the Myanmar military, the Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA), and several pro-junta militias—vying for control over the lucrative jade trade.
