Hsu/Thant Zin (NSS) - Sep 1

Local oil field entrepreneurs in Mandalay Region's Nyaung-U Township are allegedly being targeted by PDFs for ransoms reaching 5 billion kyats per individual, according to industry sources cited by The Statesman.

Near Tetma Village, a well-known oil field with hand-dug wells home to numerous licensed entrepreneurs has seen multiple operators quietly abducted by local PDFs in recent months.

The source stated that several entrepreneurs have taken refuge in safer areas amid fears of being targeted or kidnapped by PDFs.

“In our region, because of the ransom cases, business owners are avoiding them. They just kidnap and do nothing else; they only demand money. I recently asked someone I know, who was kidnapped, why they kidnapped him and he said they just wanted money and they blurted it out openly”, he said.

According to the source, PDFs may specifically target prominent oil field entrepreneurs, with ransom demands potentially reaching 5 billion kyats. Meanwhile, even local villagers are reportedly being held for ransoms starting at roughly 35 million kyats.

“If it’s an oil-business owner, the ransom will be worth at least around 5,000,000,000 kyats. Even the cheapest one for an ordinary villager starts at 35,000,000 kyats. Looking at the going prices there, even the cheapest villager—someone with no business, no assets, just doing common jobs and such—if they happen to do a small job that helps them get by, they can still fetch at least 35,000,000 kyats,” he continued.

According to the source, kidnappers are demanding lower ransoms for less high-profile business owners, ranging between 700 million and 1 billion kyats per individual.  

“For oil business operators, ransoms range from 70–80 lakhs to 10 million kyats; for major oil business operators, a chairman is priced at around 50 million kyats. That is why I have instructed my wife not to give them any money if they managed to take me away unless I personally call and ask. Because I will fight back. I will not allow them to keep me captive alive. Since I will fight back, I will certainly die. So, I told my family not to give them the ransom”, said one of the aforementioned oil business operators.

He also mentioned advising his family to prioritize their own safety over paying a ransom if he were ever kidnapped and unable to escape.

“Because of that, I can’t sleep peacefully at night. Whenever I hear that crackling sound and dogs barking, I feel unsafe. These days, I don’t dare bring my family with me at all. If they are with me, they could become victims. As for the well-known businesspeople from the Myaing and Pauk areas, they have been keeping a low profile and staying away. But those who know nothing yet—going around from company to company and acting like big business owners—are still coming and going because they haven’t learned what is happening. They are still enjoying themselves,” the person said.

Escalating abductions and ransom demands linked to local Resistance groups in Upper Myanmar have left business owners, travelers, and residents increasingly concerned for their security. –