Arakan Liberation Party accused of detaining two Sittwe men

By Admin 23 Jun 2023

DMG Newsroom
23 June 2023, Sittwe

Family members have expressed concerns for the safety of two Sittwe residents who were detained by the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) one week ago.

Ko Kyaw Naing Soe, 26, and Ko Kyaw Soe, 30, were detained by around 10 armed ALP members at their homes in Sittwe’s Settyonesu Ward on June 17, according to family members. The families have not been able to meet the two detainees since.

“They didn’t tell why they arrested him. They only said they had a reason to arrest him. He was beaten with a rifle butt as he was taken,” said a source close to the family of Ko Kyaw Naing Soe.

Ko Kyaw Naing Soe is a native of Mrauk-U Township, and moved to Settyonesu Ward some three months ago to make a living hauling timber, said family members.

Daw Moe Khaing, the wife of Ko Kyaw Soe, said she was threatened by ALP members as she tried to stop them from arresting her husband.

“They broke down the gate of our fence. They slapped me on my face when I complained about the arrest. They also hit my husband with a rifle butt. He was handcuffed and taken away,” said Daw Moe Khaing.

Ko Kyaw Soe earns a living working as a motorbike taxi driver, and has no ties with any organisation, she said.

DMG was unable to contact ALP leader Saw Mra Raza Lin to ask about the ALP’s detention of the two men. The ALP faction led by Saw Mra Raza Lin is also based in Settyonesu Ward.

In March, the ALP detained a Grade 11 student from Mawleik basic education high school for 18 days.