Regime seizes four cargo boats, detains 24 locals in Ramree Twsp

By Admin 10 Jul 2024

DMG Newsroom
10 July 2024, Ramree

Myanmar’s military regime has reportedly detained 24 boat owners and workers from Kyauknimaw Village, part of Arakan State’s Ramree Township, along four cargo boats.

The four boats carrying foodstuffs were seized by a Myanmar Navy ship near Manaung Township on June 25 while returning from Ayeyarwady Region.

The arrestees were sent to Kyaukphyu Prison and the seized foodstuffs are being auctioned off by the regime in Manaung Township.

“The arrestees were transferred to Kyaukphyu Prison. Four cargo boats were seized in Manaung Township and the regime sold foodstuffs on the cargo boats to the local merchants,” said a resident of Kyauknimaw Village.

DMG continues to attempt to contact family members of the detainees.

Locals are facing food shortages and the grassroots expect more difficulties due to the junta’s seizure of four cargo boats carrying needed food products.

“The junta’s seizure of cargo boats is very painful not only for boat owners and goods owners, but also for local residents. Now the boat owners are not going to go to load the cargo, so now the people are facing food shortages,” said another resident of Kyauknimaw Village.

Local people in Arakan State have been facing shortages of food and medicines due to junta blockades that began in November.

Locals from Kyaukphyu, Taungup, Manaung and Thandwe townships, as well as Ramree, are transporting goods from Ayeyarwaddy Region by boat and are often arrested by the regime.

“Some merchants paid the regime and shipped goods from Ayeyarwady Region, but some were arrested. At least 10 cargo boats from Ramree, Kyaukphyu and Manaung have been seized in recent days. We also often hear of goods from captured boats being re-auctioned,” said a local resident in Manaung.

Customary international humanitarian law requires any armed organisation to protect civilians and bars them from attacking, abducting or using civilians as human shields or targeting civilian dwellings.

The regime, which has faced defeat after military defeat in Arakan State over recent months, has blocked the flow of goods from mainland Myanmar and has frequently carried out heavy artillery fire and aerial bombardments targeting civilian areas.