Two town elders taken by unknown armed captors in Rathedaung Twsp

By Myo Thiri Kyaw 22 Oct 2020

Myo Thiri Kyaw | DMG
22 October 2020, Sittwe

Two town elders in Rathedaung Township, Arakan State, were abducted by an unidentified armed group on October 21, according to locals.

The two men have been identified as U Oo Thein Maung and U Tha Zan, from Rathedaung’s Ashaetaung and Chaungwa ward, respectively. They were taken by unidentified armed captors at Ngalapyar jetty on Wednesday morning.

The pair were apprehended while part of a contingent from the township-level COVID-19 Control and Emergency Response Committee and officials from the Department of Disaster Management who were travelling to Yaypaikson IDP camp to donate rice supplies. 

“Two town elders were arrested. I don’t know exactly why they were taken or who arrested them. They were reportedly captured by an armed group,” said a resident of Rathedaung town.

The other members of the group, including Rathedaung Township’s Pyithu Hluttaw lawmaker, Daw Khin Saw Wai, arrived at Yaypaikson IDP camp to deliver sacks of rice to those displaced, said Ko Aung Naing, the camp’s in-charge.

“They arrived at the camp to supply rice bags to the IDPs, but the two arrestees were not included in the team. About seven people came to the camp,” he added.

DMG contacted Daw Khin Saw Wai for comment on the abduction of the town elders, but her mobile phone was powered off.

DMG also phoned U Aung Myint Thein, the Rathedaung Township administrator, but he could not be reached.

The two detainees had not been released as of Thursday, according to locals.