Dozens of vegetable vendors in Kyaukphyu briefly detained, released on bail

05 Dec 2023

DMG Newsroom
5 December 2023, Kyaukphyu

Myanmar’s military regime detained dozens of locals selling vegetables in Kyaukphyu, Arakan State, at about 4 a.m. on December 4 for violating a ban on people entering or leaving Kyaukphyu town, but released the detainees on bail at around 12 noon the same day.

The regime arrested 70 locals from Ohntaw and Gonechein villages, and Taungyin and Cediya wards, at different locations including near a government technical institute on Monday.

“We were arrested near a jetty linking Ohntaw Village with Taungyin Ward. A few hours later, several people from Gonechein Village and Cediya Ward were detained near a government technical institute,” said a local woman who was released.

Among the detainees are 20 each from Ohntaw and Gonechein Villages, 10 each from Taungyin and Cediya Wards, and 15 ferryboat drivers.

“We were taken to the township administrator’s office, telling us that we were arrested for violation of a ban on people from entering or leaving Kyaukphyu town. An army captain told us that we would be freed this time, but that action would be taken against us if we violate the ban again,” said a local woman from Gonechein Village.

The detainees were reportedly released on bail after being required to sign a pledge that they would not violate the ban again.

Ohntaw and Gonechein villages are located about five miles from Kyaukphyu and many locals make a living by selling vegetables in downtown Kyaukphyu. With the junta blocking the entries and exits to Kyaukphyu, locals from the two villages have to go to Kyaukphyu as early as possible to sell their vegetables.

“We buy vegetables from vendors and resell them. We have no knowledge about politics. We were arrested without any evidence,” said a local woman from Taungyin Ward.

The junta’s Kyauk Talone checkpoint outside Kyaukphyu on November 13 imposed a ban on people from entering or leaving Kyaukphyu town. The regime also imposed a ban on sea transport for one month, from November 19 to December 19.

As Kyaukphyu is an island town, residents rely on other townships to buy food supplies. The grassroots in Kyaukphyu are reportedly living on a subsistence diet of porridge alone as food supplies have dwindled due to the junta’s isolation of the town.