Interview: Dodging a Sittwe village mass arrest

By Admin 28 Jun 2024

DMG Newsroom
28 June 2024, Sittwe

In recent weeks Myanmar's military regime has been emptying villages around Sittwe, which is still controlled by the junta, under the pretext of security, and arresting residents en masse.

Scores of junta soldiers entered Amyint Kyun Village and ultimately arrested dozens of men. The regime told residents to move out of Amyint Kyun Village by June 26, forcing them to flee to Ponnagyun and Rathedaung townships.

DMG interviewed a villager who experienced the incident himself, and who escaped to a "liberated area" currently controlled by the AA. The name of the interviewee has been omitted in an effort to protect himself and his family members, and he is referred to as A.K.V. below.

DMG: Tell us about the mass arrest of Amyint Kyun villagers by the regime.

A.K.V.: About 60 junta soldiers in four military trucks entered Amyint Kyun Village on June 22, gathered the locals in the middle of the village and arrested 46 men whose ages ranged from 18 to more than 40 years old. Local women were sent to the village monastery. The soldiers divided the men into three groups: over 60, under 60 to 18, and under 18. In addition, 10 people were asked to line up in a row. The soldiers threatened us not to look away.

We took off our shirts and covered each other's faces with our shirts so we couldn't see anything. The soldiers told us that we would be shot. They checked each person's name and age, and released some of the older ones. The government employees were sent to another place and our mobile phones were confiscated.

While we were being examined, junta troops went around the village, breaking into houses and taking all the valuable belongings. Regime soldiers arrested 46 men whose ages ranged from 18 to more than 40 years old. They were arrested for questioning. We were told that they would be released after they were interrogated.

DMG: What were the junta soldiers checking?

A.K.V.: The junta soldiers mainly examined our mobile phones and the names of the villagers. All the villagers were left out in the sun. A villager asked the junta soldiers to place him out of the sun because he was sick. The villagers spent five hours in the sun. The villagers were afraid that something like the Byaing Phyu massacre would happen, so everyone kept quiet. The soldiers surrounded the villagers fully armed.

DMG: What do you know about the status of the arrestees?

A.K.V.: We have not been in contact with the detainees since their arrest and their whereabouts remain unknown. They are reportedly held at the military's Pardaleik Village-based battalion, but family members are not allowed to meet them.

DMG: What have you heard about the current situation in Amyint Kyun?

A.K.V.: When we were there, the junta soldiers entered the village and took everything they wanted. Now that none of the villagers are there, they will do as they please. I don't know what to do next.

DMG: How did you escape from the village?

A.K.V.: We left the village around 7 p.m. on June 24. After asking a farmer in the village for help, we crossed over to this side by boat. And we came to this place by walking. After nearly four hours of walking, we spent the night in a hut we found. With children, we had difficulties on our way.

DMG: Were there people who fled the village before the junta soldiers raided it?

A.K.V.: On June 11, six men and two women fled the village by boat. The junta soldiers said that the villagers ran away without informing them, then they chased them down and shot to kill, killing two men. The rest swam to escape. Two women were arrested in the process. The two women were released later. All of their hair was clipped with scissors, but all of their belongings were taken by the soldiers.

DMG: What is the current situation in Sittwe Township?

A.K.V.: The regime prevented local people in Sittwe Township from fleeing to the liberated areas held by the AA. Thousands of people are trapped in Sittwe. The regime has been making a series of arbitrary arrests and doing as they please. Some detainees paid ransom money of K200,000 to K700,000 to authorities for their release. The regime has planted landmines around Sittwe Town. Two villagers had their legs amputated due to landmine blasts.

DMG: How is the situation in Sittwe different from where you are now?

A.K.V.: We are safe here. In Sittwe, you can be arrested any time, even if you live in your home. Junta soldiers at security checkpoints treat local people badly. AA officials here treat people politely even if they check them. The management system is also different. The regime treats people like enemies. There is a difference between a person who wants to do things arbitrarily and a person who has love.

DMG: What else would you like to add?

A.K.V.: If possible, I would like to invite all villagers to flee to the liberated area. No one is safe under the military regime. The regime always sees the people as the enemy instead of the people. The regime's desire to arrest and torture people is innate.