Interview: Sittwe resident recounts harrowing flight to ‘liberated area’

By Admin 25 Apr 2024

DMG Newsroom
25 April 2024, Sittwe

Since launching an offensive in November, the Arakkha Army (AA) has effectively seized control of eight townships in Arakan State, and is also conducting coordinated assaults on other towns. The AA chief has told residents to flee to areas under the ethnic armed group’s control so that it can fight a decisive battle.

Many residents have been leaving junta-controlled towns amid numerous dangers and travel restrictions. U Aung Kyaw Min, who recently fled his home in Sittwe along with his family, spoke to DMG about his escape.

DMG: How did you manage to flee Sittwe?

I fled with four family members — my wife, our son and daughter, and my mother-in-law. We had to walk non-stop from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., when we met AA troops and took a break. From there, we proceeded to another village before dawn, for fear that we might get shot by junta soldiers if we left in the morning. From there, we took a boat ride to the liberated area. There, AA soldiers carried some people who were too tired to walk. It was a one-day-and-one-night run.

DMG: What did you encounter along the way?

We were scared. We had to go through the junta’s checkpoints. It cost a lot of money. It cost 200,000 kyats to rent a tuk-tuk for a short distance. And the boat ride across a small creek cost 200,000 kyats per person. There were a lot of mines planted by the regime along the road. The regime made a minefield using a backhoe.

We were a group of nearly 40 people including children, old women and people with disabilities. The road was very rough. We had to walk on a small, unpaved path. One girl could barely see at night, and she cried as she could not walk. We had to comfort and help her.

On the way, junta naval boats fired shots at us. We kept silent and turned off the lights. They dared not come closer. It is more difficult for town residents to flee unless they have contacts. And you must be brave enough to take the risk. There is no guarantee for your safety. If lucky, you will escape. Unlucky, you will get arrested.

DMG: Why did you choose to flee, to take the risk?

We have concerns for our safety. The fighting can break out at any time. And there is no law and order. We could not sleep at night because of thieves. There is also a risk of robbery.

The regime and its allies including the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) have turned a blind eye to this. The ALP has abducted young people for ransom. Those who could not afford to pay the ransom were forced to join the ALP. The ALP threatened that [their abductees] would either pay money or join it, or else they would be killed.

DMG: How is the situation in the town now?

Many people want to leave Sittwe. Some do not have contacts to enquire about how they can flee. Some can’t afford to flee. It costs 300,000 kyats to 400,000 kyats for a person to flee. And some people have died on the way after stepping on landmines. So those unwilling to take those risks are still in the town.

DMG: What else do you want to say?

I want my fellow residents to try and leave Sittwe. The situation will get worse there. They will face many difficulties when the fighting erupts in Sittwe. I don’t want them to feel regret.