Military arrests two men in Chin State’s Paletwa Twsp

By DMG 08 Oct 2022

DMG Newsroom
8 October 2022, Paletwa, Chin State

Junta soldiers detained two local men in Chin State’s Paletwa Township and took the pair to the military’s Light Infantry Battalion No. 289 headquarters, residents told DMG.

The arrestees have been identified as U Maung Win Than, a junior assistant teacher from Hnamadar Village, and U Kyaw Kyaw, a resident of Paletwa’s Thinbawseik Ward.

The schoolteacher was reportedly arrested near Launggadon Bridge on the way to Paletwa town from Mon Daunt Village on October 6.

“I don’t know the reason for the arrest,” said a resident who declined to be named for security reasons. “Some locals have recently accused U Maung Win Than of raising funds for the Arakan Army via Facebook. His face was covered with a mask and he was taken to the military’s LIB No. 289 by the junta soldiers.”

Another local from Paletwa town confirmed the arrest of U Maung Win Than.

“He [U Maung Win Than] is a resident of Hnamadar Village. He was reportedly arrested at Launggadon Bridge while going to Paletwa town from Mon Daunt Village,” the Paletwa local said.

U Kyaw Kyaw was reportedly arrested for bootlegging alcohol to Paletwa from Pichaung Village in Kyauktaw Township, a resident said.

“He was accused of smuggling traditional rice alcohol and arrested at a jetty in Paletwa,” the resident added.

DMG continues to attempt to contact Chin State Minister for Security and Border Affairs Colonel Han Win Aung concerning the military’s reported detention of two men in Paletwa Township.

Military tensions between the junta and Arakan Army continue to rise in Paletwa Township, Chin State, and neighbouring Arakan State amid renewed fighting between the two sides, with dozens of local residents arrested on suspicion of having ties to the ethnic armed group in recent months.