Arakan Army detains junta soldier in Ponnagyun, regime nabs local businessman

16 Jun 2022

DMG Newsroom
16 June 2022, Ponnagyun 

The Arakan Army (AA) detained a junta soldier on Thursday afternoon near the Sanpya ward administration office in Ponnagyun Township, Arakan State, with the regime subsequently arresting a local resident.

The soldier was arrested near the base of Light Infantry Battalion No. 550. Junta troops who later arrived at the scene detained a businessman who owns a shop nearby, said a resident who asked for anonymity. 

“The AA attempted to arrest two soldiers, but one of them escaped. Then the military detained a resident who owns a building materials shop. The shop is near the Yangon-Sittwe road, and it is said the junta soldier was arrested in front of his house,” said the resident.

Another resident saw the altercation and said at first he thought it was a street fight, before learning that he had witnessed the arrest of a junta soldier. 

“I heard the military is checking passers-by at the Ponnagyun-Rathedaung checkpoint. They didn’t block roads. And they are also conducting patrols by motorbike in the town. Locals are concerned that they may search houses and question them,” he said. 

Myanmar military personnel reportedly fired shots following the detention of one of their own. Streets were deserted as locals closed shops and stayed inside their homes. 

“We heard a few bursts of gunfire. The whole town was silent. And soldiers are riding across the town. No one dares to go out. And all the shops were closed,” said the first resident. 

DMG phone calls to Arakan State Security and Border Affairs Minister Colonel Kyaw Thura went unanswered. DMG has likewise been unable to reach the Arakan Army for comment. 

On June 11, the AA arrested two junta soldiers in Kyauktaw Township. At a press conference on Tuesday, the AA spokesman said the ethnic armed group was open to the possibility of a prisoner swap with the Myanmar military.