Shots fired at civilian vehicle as junta tries to arrest prominent social activist in Mrauk-U

By DMG 16 Sep 2022

DMG Newsroom
16 September 2022, Mrauk-U

Junta troops fired shots at a vehicle carrying the well-known social activist Ko Ann Thar Gyi in Arakan State’s Mrauk-U Township on Friday.

Five people including Ko Ann Thar Gyi were riding in the vehicle when it was shot at by junta troops belonging to Light Infantry Battalion No. 540 at a security checkpoint at the entrance to Mrauk-U, said Ko Ann Thar Gyi.

“We were taking people from Mrauk-U and Ponnagyun who were joining us to Maungdaw to provide help to internally displaced people there,” said Ko Ann Thar Gyi. “We were allowed to pass [the military checkpoint] in previous days. But today, soldiers asked my name at the checkpoint, and they were acting strange. They then talked to a captain over the phone. I could tell by their facial expressions that they were going to arrest me by inventing one excuse or another. So, we drove away.”

Junta troops reportedly fired shots at the vehicle as it drove away.

Within minutes of the shooting, pro-junta social media accounts began posting that the military had attempted to search the vehicle of Ko Ann Thar Gyi in response to a tipoff that narcotics were being carried in the vehicle, but that the vehicle drove off.

Ko Ann Thar Gyi dismissed the allegation.

“I would never do things that would destroy Arakan State and Arakanese people,” he said. “The whole of Arakan State knows about me. Besides, we had crossed the police checkpoint at Rar Maung Bridge. How could I possibly carry drugs?”

The activist added: “Today, police and soldiers only think about how to arrest and imprison people, and how to kill them secretly. I fled because I was aware that they were going to arrest me anyway. Even my citizenship ID card was left in the hands of junta soldiers.”

Ko Ann Thar Gyi and the other four people on board have gone into hiding, and the Myanmar military is reportedly searching for them in Mrauk-U.

DMG was unable to obtain comment from junta spokesman Major-General Zaw Min Tun and Arakan State Security and Border Affairs Minister Colonel Kyaw Thura.