Junta detains at least 20 ferry boatmen in Sittwe

By Admin 13 Dec 2023

DMG Newsroom
13 December 2023, Sittwe

Myanmar’s military regime has reportedly detained at least 20 ferryboat helmsmen at BXT Port in Sittwe, Arakan State.

About 40 junta soldiers and policemen took the 20 ferry boatmen at about 4 p.m. on December 12, according to some of their fellow helmsmen.

“Junta soldiers and policemen arrived at BXT port in two military trucks, detained several ferry boatmen and opened fire on people on sight,” said one boatman.

Among the detained ferryboat helmsmen are U Saw Maung Chay, U Seik Chay, U Maung Thein Chay, U Maung Aye Mya, U Moe Di, Ko Aung Phyo Aye and U Oo Maung. They are currently held at Sittwe’s No. 1 police station and are not being allowed to meet family members.

“We were not allowed to meet the detainees and were told that we can send food to them. Their whereabouts remain unknown. When it is difficult to make ends meet, they are arrested like this, and we are in a lot of trouble,” said a family member of a detained ferryboat helmsman.

It has been one month since the regime blocked land and water routes to Arakan State following renewed hostilities between the military and Arakan Army (AA) on November 13.

As a result of the junta blockade, there is a shortage of food, goods and fuel in Arakan State, and the prices of commodities have risen to record highs. The grassroots and daily wage workers particularly are suffering from the food crisis.

As the regime arrests people who are struggling to make ends meet, other grassroots are also worried about their safety.

“My family members will go hungry if I stop working for a long time. The grassroots like us are struggling to make ends meet,” said a ferryboat helmsman at BXT Port in Sittwe.

The AA issued a statement on December 12 that it would take appropriate action regarding the regime’s arrest of more than 30 ferryboat helmsmen working at the BXT port in Sittwe.

The regime has not released any statement regarding the matter.

Some 100 locals in Sittwe, Ponnagyun, Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Minbya, Kyaukphyu, Ramree, and Thandwe townships have been arrested by the regime since renewed fighting in Arakan State began last month.