Civilian injured during Tatmadaw questioning

15 Feb 2020

Hnin Nwe and Myo Thiri Kyaw | DMG
February 15, Minbya
 
A civilian from Phar Pyo village in Minbya Township, Arakan State, reportedly emerged from a recent interrogation by the Tatmadaw with multiple injuries amid fighting between the military and Arakan Army nearby.
 
A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said the injured person was Ko Htay Hlaing, 31, who had been detained and questioned by a Tatmadaw unit at around 3 p.m. on February 14.
 
“He works at a factory near Phar Pyo village. He ran into the village when he heard the fighting. He was then detained by the Tatmadaw unit, questioned and beaten,” he said.
 
The resident added that Ko Htay Hlaing received severe injuries to his head, leg and arm that required medical treatment. However, transporting him to the hospital in Minbya town was made difficult because Tatmadaw soldiers had blocked the road.
 
“We wanted to send him to Minbya Hospital but couldn’t arrange it. The road is blocked to travel. But the units are also on land. That’s why we cannot send him to hospital yet,” the source said.
 
DMG attempted to contact Colonel Win Zaw Oo, spokesperson for the Tatmadaw’s Western Command, to inquire about the case but he did not respond.
 
Lawmaker U Hla Thein Aung from Minbya Township confirmed that Ko Htay Hlaing had been interrogated. The MP said that he was preparing to visit Phar Pyo village.
 
“We will go together with monks and check whether we can enter the village. We have gathered the monks,” he said.
 
Fighting between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army (AA) near Phar Pyo village began on the morning of February 14 and continued through much of the day. Although some residents sought to flee to a safer location, they were unable to leave the village and are instead staying in the village monastery.
 
“The residents cannot leave the village because our village is surrounded by them [Tatmadaw soldiers]. Even if the men are unable to leave, we want our women and children to be able to leave the village,” a village leader said.
 
The AA stated that its troops had attacked the Tatmadaw’s Bahtoo-based Light Infantry Battalion No. 508, part of the Tatmadaw’s Light Infantry Division No. 55, from 9:20 a.m. until around 6 p.m. on February 14.