Regime arrests five Gwa residents sheltering in Ayeyarwady Region

By Admin 19 Nov 2024

DMG Newsroom
19 November 2024, Yekyi, Ayeyarwady Region

Five people displaced by fighting in Gwa Township, Arakan State, who were taking refuge in Yekyi Township, Ayeyarwady Region, have reportedly been arrested by Myanmar's military regime.

The five internally displaced people (IDPs) from Gwa Township were arrested by the regime in Yekyi Township's Sawpyar Village on November 16, according to local residents.

"The detainees are IDPs from Gwa Township and they were taken from Sawpyar Village. They were accused of being Arakkha Army (AA) members," said a resident of Yekyi.

Family members have not been able to contact the detainees, identified as four men and one woman.

Ongoing clashes have displaced thousands of local people in Gwa and Thandwe townships to Ayeyarwady Region, which shares a border with Arakan State.

The AA's advance is verging on Satthwar Village near Gwa Town, and the regime has prepared a defence at the village, and sent reinforcements from Ayeyarwady Region to the area. The regime has set up additional checkpoints to tighten security, and has conducted raids on some villages in the vicinity.

"The regime tightened security on locals from Arakanese villages in Ayeyarwady Region. Junta soldiers conduct overnight guest checks in Arakanese villages," said another resident of Yekyi.

IDPs from Arakan State who are taking shelter in Ayeyarwady Region are worried about their safety as the regime is stepping up security measures and making arrests.

The military regime arrested more than 30 IDPs from Arakan State's Thandwe Township who were taking shelter in Kyonpyaw Township, Ayeyarwady Region, on August 9.

More than 100,000 residents from Thandwe and Gwa townships have reportedly fled to Ayeyarwady Region and other parts of the country, with the IDPs facing both threats to their security and livelihood hardships.