Four detainees in Sittwe released by Tatmadaw

By Hnin Nwe 05 Nov 2020

Hnin Nwe | DMG  
5 November 2020, Sittwe 

Four villagers from Panlinpyin in Sittwe Township, whom the military had taken away on November 3, arrived back safely to their homes around 6 p.m. on November 4, the detainees said.  

The outstanding detainees — U Tha Tun Hla, 68, U Tun Kyaw Hlaing, 50, U Maung Thein Chay aka U Seik Taung Chay, 40, and Ko Kyaw Win Chay, 37 — made it home safely, according to their family members. 

U Tha Tun Hla, one of the detainees, said they had been kept at Yay Chan Pyin Police Station and asked their village administrator to come and sign for them, after which they were released. 

“They asked us whether we provide money to the AA [Arakan Army]. There were no beatings and their inquiry was normal and at ease. However, one of us was kicked one time as he could not answer properly. Anyway, we are glad to be back home harmlessly,” he said.

Military and police personnel in three vehicles arrived at Panlinpyin village on Tuesday afternoon and checked houses thoroughly, taking away the four villagers following their inspections. 

During the time of ongoing fighting between Tatmadaw and the AA, the number of detainees has increased day on day. There are people who have been released but many are still under detention. 

According to data DMG collected from June to November 5, there were at least 93 people arrested on suspicion of connection with the conflict in Arakan State.