A/HRC/39/CRP.2 (b) Findings Arbitrary deprivation of liberty 226. The Mission received widespread and consistent accounts of individuals being arbitrarily arrested and then detained by the Tatmadaw throughout the reporting period, and from across Kachin and Shan States. Many individuals were detained for the purpose of forced labour. The Mission also received reliable and consistent accounts of individuals being arrested and detained after the Tatmadaw were attacked by EAOs, or during military operations, because they were suspected of being a member or supporter of the organization.390 Individuals were seemingly arrested simply because they were in the vicinity of a recent attack, or because they were from a village near to the incident, and of the same ethnicity as the group in question. This appeared to reflect a mentality that all individuals of a given ethnicity supported the associated EAO. 391 For example, one victim from Mogaung Township, Kachin State, who was detained for three days in August 2017, reported that soldiers from the Tatmadaw repeatedly questioned him about who from his village was a member of the KIA, refusing to believe him when he responded that the villagers were simply “ordinary people”, with one of the members of the Tatmadaw insisting that “all Kachin men are members of the KIA.”392 227. The victims of arbitrary arrest and detention included men393 and women.394 In some cases men395 and village leaders were selectively targeted. 396 Children were also detained, because they were themselves suspected, were subjected to forced labour, or were detained with their mothers.397 228. The Mission received accounts of mass-arrests and detention.398 For example, during intense fighting between the Northern Alliance and the Tatmadaw in Monekoe, Muse Township, Shan State, more than 100 people were arrested on 20 November 2016 and detained by the Tatmadaw in a military base.399 229. The Mission also received credible information indicating that the Tatmadaw has detained individuals, primarily or partially, in order to extract bribes. 400 For example, one male victim reported that he was arrested at a checkpoint while travelling from Hpakant to Myitkyina, Kachin State in 2016 and asked for jade or money. He was kept overnight in a tent serving as a makeshift lock-up before being released.401 Duration and perpetrators 230. In most of the accounts received, individuals were detained for several days.402 However, in some cases, individuals were detained for longer periods, of one month or more.403 One victim from a village in Kyethi Township, Shan State, reporting being detained for two years in a forced labour camp from 2015 to 2017.404 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 58 DI-060, DI-066, DI-067, PI-035, PI-044, PI-047, PI-058, PI-086, SI-004. DI-066, PI-054, PI-059, PI-074, PI-075, PI-086. PI-044. DI-067, PI-059, PI-062, PI-075. PI-058, PI-066, PI-086. DI-063, PI-074, PI-084. DI-067, PI-035, PI-111. DI-071, PI-047, PI-063, QI-094, SI-003, V-055. DI-066. See this chapter, section A.8: Emblematic incidents (Tanai). DI-058, DI-060, V-056. See this chapter, section A.8: Emblematic incidents (Monekoe). DI-064, DI-072, PI-011, PI-022. DI-064. One day or less: PI-029, PI-054, PI-058, PI-081. Two days; PI-033, PI-047, SI-004. Three days: PI-044 PI-092, PI-083, PI-061. Four days: PI-021, PI-084, PI-095. Six days: PI-006, PI-077.1 week: DI-067, PI-080. 15 days: DI-060.1 month: PI-011, PI-019, PI-079, PI-111. 2.5 months: PI-085. 6-7 months: PI-068. PI-013.