Arakan Army releases junta soldier, two policemen

By Admin 08 Sep 2023

DMG Newsroom
8 September 2023, Kyaukphyu

A junta soldier and two policemen arrested by the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) near Zinchaung Village, part of Arakan State’s Kyaukphyu Township, were released on Friday afternoon.

The three men detained by the AA have been identified as Min Tun, an officer from the military’s Light Infantry Battalion No. 43, and Thura Aung and Myint Soe Oo, two policemen from Police Battalion No. 32.

The trio were released through a village administrator in an area controlled by the ULA/AA in Kyaukphyu Township.

“They [the junta soldier and two policemen] were handed over to a village administrator. The village administrator contacted the military and police about the three men. They were released at about 3 p.m. on September 8,” said a member of the ULA/AA administrative body.

The soldier and policemen were detained by the AA after Ko Han Lin, a member of the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) from Gawtu Village, Kyaukphyu Township, was arrested by the military on September 6.

Ko Han Lin was released by the military on September 7.

A Kyaukphyu resident who asked for anonymity said he was happy that both the military and AA had released those arrested, fearing that military tensions might escalate again in Arakan State.

“We are worried about our safety because the military and AA traded arrests. Previously, many locals were arrested on suspicion of having ties to the AA. We are worried that it will happen again,” the resident added.

The junta and Arakan Army reached their latest informal ceasefire, on humanitarian grounds, more than nine months ago.