Arakan Army in talks with Myanmar junta for release of detained civilians

27 Feb 2023

DMG Newsroom
27 February 2023, Sittwe

The Arakan Army (AA) is negotiating with the Myanmar military for the release of innocent civilians who were detained during the latest fighting between the two sides, AA spokesman U Khaing Thukha told a press conference on Monday.

When the Myanmar military and the AA observed an informal ceasefire in late November, the military promised to release the detained Arakan civilians within two months, said U Khaing Thukha.

But the regime has only released some of the detainees since the ceasefire, and the AA is therefore negotiating for the release of the rest, he added.

“The Myanmar military agreed to release innocent civilians within two months, but it has not followed through. We are further negotiating at different levels for the release of innocent civilians,” said U Khaing Thukha.

Since the first period of sustained fighting began in late 2018, the Myanmar military arbitrarily detained a total of 594 civilians, according to the AA spokesman, who said 391 civilians were subsequently released, but 203 remain detained.

Family members have called for the immediate release of the remaining detainees as it has been three months since the latest truce between the two sides.

“It has been around eight months since my husband was detained,” said Daw Khin Hla Zan, the wife of Ko Zaw Win from Kyauktaw. “He was not released when amnesties were granted on Independence Day [on January 4] and Union Day [on February 12]. We want his immediate release.”

Ko Zaw Win was arrested by the Myanmar military in June of last year, and was charged with incitement under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code at the Kyauktaw Township Court.

According to a DMG tally, the military detained around 50 people including social activists, ward and village administration, and civil servants on suspicion of having ties to the AA during the latest period of fighting between the two sides from August to late November. They were charged under the Unlawful Associations Act and Section 505 of the Penal Code.