NUG detains members of resistance group, including its leader, in Sagaing

National Unity Government (NUG) authorities arrested members of the Student Revolutionary Force (SRF), including its leader, in Sagaing Region’s Mingin Township on Tuesday, according to officials and a spokesperson for the armed group. The Mingin Township People’s Administration Organisation (PAO) said the arrests were related to alleged crimes by the group, including the detention and killing of local officials and the forced recruitment of minors younger than 18. “Currently, we have 13 people, including the leader. There are still more to be arrested,” Mingin Township PAO official Win Min Soe told Myanmar Now late Wednesday. In a statement, the PAO said the arrests followed discussions between local security forces and district-level commanders under the NUG’s Ministry of Defence. It added that the move came after the SRF failed to hand over suspects by an appointed deadline. The township administration also addressed reports that two civilians were injured during the operation, saying security forces fired warning shots into the air after civilians interfered with the arrests. Tensions have been high between the NUG and the SRF in recent months, prompting protests by locals concerned that disputes between the two sides could erupt into open conflict. The SRF was formed in late 2021 as part of the armed resistance movement against Myanmar’s military junta. It is believed to have around 500 members. A spokesperson for the group said that its leader, San Tin Tun, was shot during his arrest, and that a frontline camp was also raided shortly after he was taken into custody. Nine fighters, along with weapons and ammunition, were seized at the camp, the spokesperson said, adding that the confrontation occurred while SRF members were attempting to hold face-to-face talks under security guarantees provided by both sides. According to the SRF, two of its members were also detained in August of last year. Arrests were also made on at least three other occasions this month, including five on Monday, the group said. The SRF spokesperson accused the NUG of using complaints made against the group as a pretext to eliminate it completely. “It’s not like they’re arresting people suspected of committing crimes. They’re hunting them down, like they want to destroy and annihilate the entire force with the intention of dismantling it,” the spokesperson said.

NUG detains members of resistance group, including its leader, in Sagaing

San Tin Tun, leader of the Student Revolutionary Force, was reportedly shot while being taken into custody

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