Three of four Chin men detained by AA are released

By Nyan Hein 26 Aug 2020

Nyan Hein | DMG
26 August, Sittwe 

Three out of four residents of Paletwa Township, Chin State, detained by the Arakan Army last month were released on August 25, according to the Chin State government. 

The four Chin men were arrested by the ethnic armed group on July 29 while travelling to Paletwa town from Kyauktaw Township, Arakan State, said U Soe Htet, Chin State minister for Municipal Affairs, Electricity and Industry. 

“Three men were freed yesterday and they arrived in Paletwa town in the evening,” he told DMG on Wednesday. “One of them is still detained by the AA. They were apprehended by the ethnic armed group after returning from Yangon. They went to Paletwa town in Chin State from Kyauktaw Township in Arakan State on foot because the waterway was blocked.” 

The four men have been identified as Salai Aung Soe, Salai Benjamin, Salai Khin Maung Tun, and Salai Aung Tun. 

Salai Myo Htike, an Upper House lawmaker from Chin State, corroborated the release of three men detained by the Arakan Army. 

“I can confirm three detainees were released yesterday but I don’t know the details because I am away from my home. One of them is still being detained by the Arakan Army,” the legislator said. 

Among the four detainees, Salai Aung Soe remains in Arakan Army custody, said Ma Mai Nan Wai, spokeswoman for the Khumi Affairs Coordination Council (KACC).  

The four men were arrested by the Arakan Army near Nga Tha Raine village, the KACC said in a statement on July 30. 

DMG was unable to contact the Arakan Army for comment as the government has declared the ethnic armed group to be a terrorist organisation, making contact with the group legally risky.