About 230 detained villagers released

By Cha Lu Aung 12 May 2019

Cha Lu Aung/ DMG

May 12, Sittwe

The number of released villagers has reached about 230 on the eleventh day of questioning that occurred at Kyauktan village in Rathedaung Township.

The Tatmadaw detained 275 villagers at the village school for questioning, accusing them of having connections with the Arakan Army since April 30.

During the interrogation, six detained civilians died and eight others were injured after a clash on May 2. The eight injured received medical treatment at Sittwe hospital, and four of the detainees from 275 villagers went missing.

The Tatmadaw released 126 villagers on May 3, another 48 villagers on May 6, another 35 villagers on May 8 and another 22 villagers on May 11.

“All released villagers have to go and sign documents to prove they are still residing in the village. On the morning of May 10, they detained two villagers again when they were going to sign documents,” a villager said.

Wah Kyi Chay, 25, and Maung Maung Chay, 32, are still being detained, the villager said.

People from Kyauktan village are banned from travelling and even education staff who have to go for educational training are not allowed to take their family members to babysit their children while educators are attending training courses.

An education staff member said that at first, the military did not allow two teachers to take their mothers to babysit their kids while they were at training programs.

“About 30 teachers have to attend training courses in Rathedaung and Sittwe. The military did not allow them to take family members for help while educators were involved with the training. Finally, they allowed people to take their family members after we asked them who will look after our babies while we are in training courses?” the education staff member said.

Four out of six detained villagers who have been taken to Sittwe were transferred to police as they confessed that they are members of the AA and the Tatmadaw is still questioning two other villagers, the Tatmadaw True News Information Team said.

Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun, secretary of the Tatmadaw True News Information Team, said that interrogation of Kyauktan villagers were conducted by an investigation team and innocent villagers have been released and those who were found guilty would have action taken against according to the law.