Junta accused of arresting civilians for ransom in Arakan State

By Admin 07 Dec 2023

DMG Newsroom
7 December 2023, Sittwe

Myanmar’s military regime has been arresting civilians in Arakan State for ransom during the latest fighting, according to family members of the detainees.

The regime has arrested at least 70 civilians across Arakan State since November 13 on various pretexts, according to a DMG tally. Some of them were released after they or their families paid ransom money.

Among the people detained by the regime are business owners, students, social activists, merchants and members of low-income families.

“Business owners can afford to pay the money they have asked for, but some people can’t afford. A policeman told us that detainees wouldn’t be released if the ransom was not given. They said at least 2 million kyats must be given,” said a family member of a detainee from Kyaukphyu town.

The regime is accused of maltreating those who can’t afford to pay the ransom during interrogation, and threatening to jail them over their alleged ties to the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army.

According to a statement by the AA, the regime detained 81 Arakanese residents from November 13 to December 6. Among them are six children and 14 Muslims.

“They arrested us and took us to the police station without explaining why,” said a civilian who was released after paying ransom money. “They asked for our names, addresses and how many children we have. They then asked us if we had ties to the AA. They whipped us when we didn’t answer. I spent more than 10 days at the police station. I was released later after the [ransom] money was paid. They told us not to talk to the media [about the arrest and ransom].”

For the individual’s safety, DMG is choosing not to disclose the location of his arrest or the amount of ransom money he paid.

Manual workers have been among those arrested by the regime, and family members are having difficulties as they can’t afford to pay ransoms.

Families are also concerned for the safety of the detainees as they have not been allowed to visit them.

The mother of a detainee in Sittwe said: “I am not allowed to visit him, and I can only leave food at the gate. I don’t know if the food is given to him, and if he is doing well. I am concerned for his health.”

The regime is targeting business owners to demand larger ransoms, local people allege.

A former political prisoner in Kyaukphyu town said: “Junta leaders order arrests to instil fear in people, as is their policy. But on the ground, some junta troops arrest rich people for ransom.”

Among the detainees, at least 16 including seven from Sittwe and Kyaukphyu face incitement charges under Section 505(a) and (b) of the Penal Code.

During the fighting last year, the regime also arrested more than 200 local residents for allegedly having ties to the AA, typically charging them under the Penal Code and Unlawful Associations Act.