Families unable to contact detained Kyaukphyu Twsp locals

By Admin 16 Dec 2024

DMG Newsroom
16 December 2024, Kyaukphyu

Family members are worried about the fate of at least a dozen people in Kyaukphyu Township, Arakan State, as they have not been in contact with them since they were arrested by Myanmar’s military regime earlier this month.

Junta soldiers abducted seven youths from a monastery in Kandi Village, near the Kyaukphyu-Yangon road, on December 13.

The arrestees have been identified as Ko Maung Maung Htay, Maung Zin Lin Htet, Ko Win Moe Aung, Ko Maung Myo Win Oo, Ko Kyaw Min Tun, Ko Tin Lin and Ko Maung Maung Aung.

“Around 10 armed junta soldiers raided the monastery and abducted seven youths. Among the detainees are some minors and the reason for the arrest remains unknown,” said a local resident.

Some junta soldiers and policemen from the No. 32 Police Battalion are stationed at police outposts near Kandi Village, according to local people.

Meanwhile, the regime arrested five local people from Gonechein Village in Kyaukphyu Township in early December and family members have not been able to contact the detainees.

The regime has reportedly fortified Light Infantry Battalion Nos. 542 and 543, located outside Kyaukphyu Town, with fences made of sharpened bamboo sticks. It has done the same to Infantry Battalion No. 34 near Kyaukphyu Airport. Junta soldiers are patrolling Kyaukphyu, and conducting overnight guest and household registration card checks.

Family members are also unable to contact four people from Kulabar Village in Kyaukphyu Township, who were each sentenced to three years in prison under the Counterterrorism Law for allegedly having ties to the Arakkha Army (AA), said a source close to the families of the victims.

“We are concerned for the safety of four men who were sentenced to three years each in prison under the Counterterrorism Law due to travel barriers and a block on mobile phone access. We have not been able to contact the four men since they were jailed,” the source added.

The regime has arrested more than 200 Kyaukphyu residents since fighting broke out anew in Arakan State in November 2023, according to a DMG tally. At least 94 of them remain in custody. Among them are 86 males and eight females, including four minors.

Among those arrested are politicians, activists, ordinary civilians and minors, most of whom have been charged under Section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act.