Arakan Army detains three GAD officers in Mrauk-U

By Admin 04 Dec 2023

DMG Newsroom
4 December 2023, Mrauk-U

Three officers from the General Administration Department (GAD) in Mrauk-U, Arakan State, were reportedly detained by the Arakan Army (AA) on December 3. The trio were taken by AA personnel from staff housing quarters in Mrauk-U’s Htammarit Ward.

“AA members reportedly abducted three officers from the GAD and confiscated office documents,” a source who did not want to be named told DMG on condition of anonymity.

The detainees have been identified as U Kyaw Hsan Kyaw, assistant director, U Maung Maung Lay, a commissioned officer, and U Arkar Oo, deputy staff officer.

Junta soldiers opened fire indiscriminately in downtown Mrauk-U on Monday and arrested a hotelier and a sawmill owner, according to eyewitnesses.

“The sawmill owner was arrested at around 4 p.m. today. He was closing his doors when junta soldiers opened fire indiscriminately. The reason for the arrest remains unknown,” an eyewitness said.

The detained sawmill owner has been identified as 55-year-old U Aung Kyaw Mya from Bandoola Ward in Mrauk-U.

Junta soldiers patrolled several downtown wards in Mrauk-U and fired at least 50 gunshots on the afternoon of December 4.

Locals in Mrauk-U are worried about their safety due to junta troops’ indiscriminate firing and detentions of residents in the absence of clashes between the military and Arakan Army (AA) in the area.

The regime has made a series of nighttime arrests of civilians in Mrauk-U since renewed hostilities between the military and AA began on November 13.

The junta has detained at least 70 civilians in Kyaukphyu, Thandwe, Taungup, Ramree, Sittwe, Buthidaung and Ponnagyun townships since November 13.