Dozens of civilians arrested within five days of latest Arakan hostilities

By Admin 18 Nov 2023

DMG Newsroom
18 November 2023, Sittwe

Thirty-six local people in Arakan State have since been arrested on suspicion of having links with the Arakan Army (AA) since fighting flared anew on November 13, according to DMG’s reporting.

Among the arrestees are 13 from Sittwe, 11 from Taungup, four from Kyaukphyu and eight from Buthidaung and included businessmen, village administrators and students.

At least four residents of Sittwe were reportedly arrested by junta soldiers in civilian clothes on November 13, family members of the arrestees told DMG.

At least four residents of Sittwe’s Mingan Ward were reportedly arrested by junta soldiers at around 3 p.m. on November 15 and the whereabouts of the arrestees remain unknown, said family members.

“We have not been able to contact my father. We don’t know where he was taken and are worried about his safety. We want him released as soon as possible as he has no links with any organisations,” said the son of a detainee.

Junta soldiers also arrested eight correspondent students near Lawkananda Pagoda in Sittwe on November 16 and abducted Maung Myat Htoo Naing, a university student and his father U Maung Than Win from their home in Sittwe’s Kandawgyi Ward on November 17.

Maung Myat Htoo Naing was arrested as he uploaded a video on his Facebook account about dozens of fully armed junta soldiers in five military trucks arresting the four residents in Sittwe’s Mingan Ward on the evening of November 15.

Junta soldiers took Ko Aung Aung, Ko Kyaw Naing, Ko Tun Tun Naing, Ko Maung Chay, Ko Pauksa, U Sein Win Kyaing, U Ko Lay, Ko Aung Nyien, Ko Thant Zin Phyo, Ko Maung Maung Soe and Ko Aye Lwin from their homes in Taungup at about 9 p.m. on November 13.

“We have not been able to contact the detainees since November 13. We don’t know their whereabouts. Some residents have gone into hiding following their arrests,” said a resident of Taungup.

Eight residents of Buthidaung — U Tun Aye, U Maung Mya San aka Kalar Chay, U Maung Mya Thein, U Swe Than Oo, U Harmitula, U Nawarlaung, U Maung Hla Win aka Husaungzuhar and Mamedrawhein — were arrested by junta soldiers at about 9 p.m. on November 14.

Four residents in Kyaukphyu identified as U Than Hlaing, Ko Nagar, U Hla Kyi and Ko William were apprehended by junta soldiers on November 13.

DMG phoned Arakan State Minister for Security and Border Affairs Colonel Kyaw Thura regarding the matter, but he could not be reached.

Rakhine Daily, a mouthpiece of the Arakan State military council, has reported that some people have been arrested this week on suspicion of having ties to the Arakan Army (AA), purportedly to ensure peace and stability in Arakan State.

“Some civilians have been arrested on suspicion of having ties to the Arakan Army during the previous fighting. Arresting locals illegally is already a procedural act of the military regime. This is not an act of a government, but a war crime,” said U Aung Thaung Shwe, an Arakanese politician.

As of press time, the regime had also detained about 100 civil servants and locals in Pauktaw.