Hundreds of Muslims released in junta amnesty sent back home

By Admin 17 Aug 2023

DMG Newsroom
17 August 2023, Sittwe

Some 550 Muslims imprisoned in various prisons across Myanmar and released in a junta amnesty were reportedly sent back to Arakan State and Bangladesh on August 16 at the arrangement of the junta.

A total of 551 Muslims were freed by the regime on August 1 to mark the Full Moon Day of Waso, a religious holiday in Myanmar. Among the Muslims released in the amnesty are 440 from Maungdaw District and 111 from Bangladesh, said Rakhine Daily, a mouthpiece of the Arakan State military council.

They were transported to Buthidaung from Sittwe by three vessels on August 16 and Muslims from Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships have already arrived home, said U Husoung Arhmed, an official from Thayetpyin Village in Buthidaung Township.

“The Muslims from Buthidaung and Maungdaw have already arrived home. Among the Muslims released in the junta amnesty are those who were arrested and imprisoned under the Immigration Act for attempting to leave the state to work in Malaysia,” he added.

Myanmar authorities are planning to hand over the 111 Bangladeshi citizens to their Bangladeshi counterparts, and they are currently being held temporarily in Buthidaung Prison.

U Aung Khin, a Muslim translator and writer, said he welcomed the release of the Muslims in the amnesty, but added that it was necessary to grant citizenship to those who are qualified in Arakan State.

“Muslims travel from one village to another or one township to find jobs, but they are effectively barred from leaving the state. When Muslims travel to other areas from Arakan State, they are arrested and prosecuted under the Immigration Act. It is necessary to grant citizenship to those who are qualified to become citizens among the Muslims in Arakan State,” he said.

Muslims in Arakan State reportedly pay around K8 million to human traffickers to get them to Yangon, and an additional K2 million for a second leg to other countries. If they are caught traveling outside Arakan State illegally, they lose money paid to human traffickers and often face charges under the Immigration Act.