Junta arrests head of local police unit in Ann Twsp

By Admin 08 Nov 2023

DMG Newsroom
8 November 2023, Ann

U Myo Min Tun, the 50-year-old head of the Tattaung town police station in Ann Township, Arakan State, was reportedly arrested by junta soldiers on Tuesday morning.

About 100 junta soldiers from the military’s Ann-based regiment raided the Tattaung police station and detained U Myo Min Tun and two police constables. Two other police officers managed to flee at an entrance to Ann town.

“About 100 junta soldiers in four vehicles arrived at the police station and took three policemen including the chief of the police station,” a source close to one of the detainees told DMG.

Before the three policemen were arrested, the chief of the police station was instructed to visit the office of the township police force head on November 6, ostensibly in relation to position changes at the police station. The next morning, junta soldiers arrested the three policemen.

DMG continues to attempt to find out the details of why the policemen were arrested. At present, about 30 junta soldiers are occupying the Tattaung police station, and the station’s weapons have reportedly been confiscated.

“We are concerned for our safety because dozens of junta soldiers in four military trucks arrived at the Tattaung police station and arrested three policemen. Military tensions between the military and Arakan Army (AA) are running high. Previously, the junta arrested some policemen on suspicion of having ties to AA,” said a local man from Tattaung town.

The military’s Western Command headquarters is based in Ann, but the military and AA are responsible for parallel administrations in rural parts of Arakan State.

Tattaung town is located more than 20 miles from Ann, and AA members are active in the area. About 20 policemen from Tattaung police station have good relations with locals and AA members, according to residents.

Given the local dynamics, many residents have come to their own conclusions.

“As we all know, the police force is an armed force under the control of the military. … I think the arrests of the policemen are due to the interactions between the ULA/AA and the policemen,” said a local man.

DMG was unable to obtain comment from Arakan State Minister for Security and Border Affairs Colonel Kyaw Thura and junta spokesman Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun regarding the matter.

The junta detained three policemen, a lawyer and a female employee from the Department of Immigration in Kyaukphyu on suspicion of having links with the AA in November of last year.