Families disturbed over two detained young villagers

25 Jun 2019

Chan Aye | DMG

24 June, Sittwe

Two young villagers from Mrauk-U Township were detained and their families could not meet with them or have any kind of contact with the detainees so they are concerned about their welfare.

Myo Hein Swe (aka) Nyi Htwe, 19, and his friend Saw Maung Than, 21, from Tin Htein Kan village were arrested on 22 June on the way to Mrauk-U Town to take out money for their family business, U Maung Thein Hla, father of Myo Hein Swe, told the DMG.

“I told them to withdraw money from our bank in town for our rice mill. He went with his friend. But they were arrested at an area between Auk Thar Kan and Waythali villages. We received some phone calls informing us that the two men were arrested and beaten,” he said.

He called his son’s phone, but he could not be reached. So, the family searched for him, they found their son’s motorbike near Pauk Taw Phyin village, it was being used by soldiers from the Myanmar Army, he added.

“I tried to meet with my son. I asked for help from the village administrator. He requested the Tatmadaw that the family wanted to meet their son, but he later told me what the Tatmadaw said to him that I did not need to meet my son, and he (my son) confessed he is a member of AA. I can’t believe this allegation because he is a young guy and always stays at home. His friend also stays with his family,” U Maung Thein Hla said.

“They never go to other places at night. If they are tortured, they will have to admit they are associated with the AA.”

Tatmadaw arrested them on suspicion of remote-controlled landmines

 A security troop encountered two remote controlled landmines exploding while they were travelling on Yangon-Sittwe union road. The mines were set off by the AA and the blasts occurred near Tin Nyo village in Mrauk-U Township on Saturday morning. 

While the troop checked around the area, they found two men riding a motorbike. They tried to search them but they did not stop and drove off. Eventually they were arrested near Waythali village by a troop conducting regional security operations, the Tatmadaw said in its statement.

It also said that the two detainees were found setting off explosive devices, authorities seized a financial ledger that contained records of money extorted from villages to support the AA and a mobile phone with a screen photo of someone talking on a video call with a member of the AA.

Family’s response

Myo Hein Swe’s family is running a rice mill, he possesses a ledger with the lists of customers and donations made to IDP camps. His elder brother Min Myo Swe said that the ledger was found in the toolbox of the motorbike. The ledger does not contain illegal financial transactions, including extortion.

 “The book found in the toolbox of the motorbike is just a list of our customers. There are also samples of different types of rice in the toolbox.  The book has no records or lists of money that’s allegedly been extorted, according to the Tatmadaw,” he said.

He added that the screenshot photo of the video call might be a photo with a friend of his who he hasn’t been in touch with for a decade.

The Tatmadaw said that the duo was transferred to Kyauktaw Myoma police station and interrogations continued. But, when the family visited the police station to see them, police told them they were not being detained in the police station, Min Myo Swe said.

The two young villagers have no ties with the AA, but they were arrested anyway. Their arrests were confirmed but their families who could not see them.

“My brother is not guilty. We are worried about him and his friend. We do not know if they are dead or still alive. We’d like to know if they are in good condition or not,” Min Myo Swe said.