Junta detains five Maungdaw villagers trapped by fighting

About 50 junta soldiers and members of Border Guard Force Battalion No. 5 in Maungdaw Town’s Myothugyi Ward reportedly detained five local men from Wimala Village on June 10.

By Admin 12 Jun 2024

Downtown Maungdaw is pictured in July 2021.
Downtown Maungdaw is pictured in July 2021.

DMG Newsroom
12 June 2024, Maungdaw

About 50 junta soldiers and members of Border Guard Force Battalion No. 5 in Maungdaw Town’s Myothugyi Ward reportedly detained five local men from Wimala Village on June 10.

Junta soldiers and police abducted U A Win Chay, 42, Ko Naing Naing Zaw, 27, Ko Zee Kwit Chay, 20, Ko Kwan Thee, 35, and Ko Nyi Chay, 25, from their homes in the village on Monday morning.

“Some local people are still trapped by the fighting and junta soldiers arbitrarily arrested local men. The regime arrests local people on a daily basis,” said a source.

Family members are concerned about the well-being of the five Maungdaw men detained by the regime, the source added.

The military has blown up roads and bridges leading to Maungdaw in an attempt to slow the AA’s advance, and has prohibited local people from leaving or entering the border town.

“Some people fled to safer locations in May following the junta blockades. The remaining people are trapped by the fighting. Junta soldiers arrested some locals who remained in Maungdaw,” said a displaced person.

The regime also arrested three residents from Wimala Village (No. 3 Ward) in Maungdaw Town on May 27. Their fates remain unknown.

Regime soldiers and members of Border Guard Force Battalion No. 2 arrested three people from Thayargon Village and two residents from Magyigon Village on June 3.

The AA has seized southern Maungdaw Township, and has been attacking border guard police battalions in Maungdaw Township. Facing territorial losses, the regime is increasingly targeting civilian populations with indiscriminate attacks.