AA says two of its interrogators detained following death of Mrauk-U resident

By DMG 05 Apr 2022

DMG Newsroom
5 April 2022, Sittwe

The Arakan Army (AA) says it has taken action against two individuals involved in what the ethnic armed group described as an investigation into Mrauk-U resident U Maung Gyi Hla, who reportedly died during interrogation last month. 

“We have held two interrogators responsible for his death. We will interrogate them systematically and give them fitting punishment. We won’t forgive any perpetrator,” AA spokesman U Khaing Thukha said during a press conference held by the ethnic armed group on Tuesday. 

“Our interrogators handled him a bit roughly without knowing that he had underlying conditions. As a result, he died accidentally,” said the AA spokesman. 

U Khaing Thukha denied widespread accusations that U Maung Gyi Hla was already dead when the ethnic armed group sent him to the hospital. 

“He was in good shape when we took him to Mrauk-U Hospital to receive treatment for a hip injury. It is not like we sent his dead body to the hospital. We have all the necessary documents, records and signatures from doctors,” the AA spokesman said. 

He added that the AA had explained his death to family members and community elders in Mrauk-U, an assertion that was disputed by the dead man’s family. 

“My father did not have any underlying health problems. I swear to it on my life,” the daughter of U Maung Hla Gyi said, refuting the AA spokesman’s narrative. “[U Khaing Thukha] said at the press conference that he had shown medical records to family members. In fact, they did not discuss anything with us. My father may or may not be involved in the murder. I don’t believe their claims.” 

U Maung Gyi Hla, 56, was a member of the Arakan People’s Authority, an entity closely associated with the AA. He went missing on March 22, when he left his home after reportedly being phoned by the AA branch in Mrauk-U to come in for questioning.  

On March 30, two men informed the family that U Maung Gyi Hla had died of complications related to diabetes and hypertension. Family members, however, said they saw signs of torture on his body at the local mortuary.