Junta begins releasing over 400 Arakanese deportees held in Yangon

By Admin 29 Oct 2026

DMG Newsroom

29 October 2026, Yangon

The military junta has begun releasing more than 400 Arakanese men and women who were detained in Yangon for 24 days after being deported from Malaysia, according to individuals who have been freed.

Authorities began releasing the deportees on the morning of October 28 after collecting their National Registration Cards (NRCs) and personal information and handing them over to family members or acquaintances.

"There were no major difficulties," one released deportee said. "They called us out by assigned numbers. Those who did not have anyone present to guarantee them faced delays. Because my sister came to collect me, I was able to leave early."

A total of 1,476 Myanmar nationals arrived in Yangon from Malaysia on October 4 with the assistance of authorities from both countries.

The group included more than 400 people from Arakan State, including ethnic Arakanese as well as members of the Khami and Chakma ethnic communities.

Upon arrival, the deportees were placed in temporary detention facilities in Thanlyin and Hlaingtharyar townships in Yangon, where military personnel established strict security perimeters.

"All of them have been freed now, both from Thanlyin and Hlaingtharyar," an Arakanese resident of Yangon who helped secure a family member's release said. "They questioned and verified our background and personal information before releasing us."

During their detention, junta officials promised the deportees new NRCs and biometric smart cards and offered incentives such as arranging factory jobs in Yangon.

Sources said that relatives or acquaintances of some deportees still needed to contact authorities and provide verification information to complete the release process.