Three Maungdaw checkpoint detainees confirmed released; fourth held on remand

By DMG 03 Feb 2022

DMG Newsroom
3 February 2022, Maungdaw

Of four men detained at the Kyein Chaung security checkpoint in northern Maungdaw Township, Arakan State, three were released on Thursday evening and the fourth was held on remand, according to family members.

The driver of a licensed vehicle and two of his passengers were released, while the driver of a second vehicle to run into trouble at the checkpoint remains in custody and the car has been confiscated, reportedly due to its lack of licensing.

“Three men including my husband and my younger brother were released by Kyein Chaung police station because we have a vehicle licence. The remaining driver was not released and was taken to Maungdaw [town],’’ said Ma Sabei, the wife of Ko Soe Win Naing.

The four men were detained by Border Guard Force personnel at the Kyein Chaung checkpoint, along with several youths from various parts of Arakan State, on January 27.

The four men are from Mingalar Nyunt and Yanaungpyin villages in northern Maungdaw Township.

The three released on Thursday are from Mingalar Nyunt while Ko Than Zaw, the driver of the unlicensed vehicle who remains in custody, is from Yanaungpyin.

“My son was arrested for driving an unlicensed car and was held on remand by the Maungdaw Township Court. A court hearing has been scheduled for February 15,” said U Ba Nyunt, the father of the detained driver.

Some of the youths who were arrested last week at the Kyein Chaung checkpoint were released on January 31, according to U Hla Thein, a spokesperson for the Arakan State regime council. He did not specify the number of people released, however.

“They were sent to their homes. Some of them are minors. I do not know how many of them were released, but I heard they are from different townships,” U Hla Thein said on Monday.

According to locals, the detained youths are from various parts of Arakan State and were in Maungdaw Township in search of work when they were detained by Border Guard Force personnel on January 27.

Three people from Manaung Township, Arakan State, were among the arrestees and they were handed over to their families, according to a military source. Of the three, two are from Thitpon village and the third is from Kaei village, and they had already returned to their homes on February 2, a resident of Thitpon village confirmed.

“The three were brought back by their parents from Taungup by Shwe Linyone (Golden Eagle) ferryboat at 9 a.m. on Wednesday. They are now at home,” the resident told DMG.

Arakan State Minister for Security and Border Affairs Colonel Kyaw Thura did not respond to enquiries from DMG seeking comment on the matter.