Junta evicting residents of more Sittwe Twsp villages

By Admin 09 Dec 2024

DMG Newsroom
9 December 2024, Sittwe

Myanmar's military regime has been forcibly evicting residents from four villages in Sittwe Township, Arakan State, according to locals.

On Sunday, administrators and village heads in Thein Tan, Yar Tan, Kyar Mathauk and Naryi Kan villages were summoned to a meeting where they were ordered to tell their residents to leave the villages within three days.

"They said all the villagers who remain in the villages must leave within three days. They said the villagers could either go to Sittwe Town or anywhere they want. Villagers have not yet decided where to go," said a resident who asked for anonymity.

Most villagers have already fled the villages, but some remain to take care of their houses. Junta troops have been deployed in the villages.

One resident who fled Yar Tan Village said the regime and allied Muslim militias were destroying property in the villages.

"Some men remained in villages when we fled. We don't know where they will go. I heard the regime and aligned Muslims have destroyed empty houses," he said.

Amid the fighting in Arakan State, the regime has evicted residents from at least 14 villages in Sittwe Township. Some of the evicted residents are taking refuge in monasteries in Sittwe Town, and are struggling to make ends meet.

On December 5, the regime evicted residents from Yechanpyin Village. It evicted residents from Padaleik Village on November 21.

The regime is reinforcing Sittwe, bringing in reinforcements from mainland Myanmar by sea and fortifying the town while confining its residents.

"The regime is preparing a defence after Maungdaw fell into the hands of the AA. It is clearing routes that the AA is likely to use to advance to Sittwe. But eviction is a violation of human rights," said an Arakan human rights observer.