Regime fines, releases 37 detained residents in Kyaukphyu

By Admin 30 Dec 2023

DMG Newsroom
30 December 2023, Kyaukphyu

Dozens of local people detained by Myanmar’s military regime in Kyaukphyu Township, Arakan State, on December 26 and 28 have reportedly been fined and released.

The junta detained 16 local people from Taungyin, Paikseik and Ngalapwe wards in Kyaukphyu, purportedly for traffic violations, on December 28.

Two days earlier, 21 fishermen from Kyaukphyu’s Myitnartan Ward were arrested by a coalition of personnel from the military’s Kyaukphyu-based Light Infantry Battalion No. 34 and Myoma police station.

The Kyaukphyu Myoma police station imposed a fine of K20,000 each on the detainees and released them at about 5 p.m. on December 28, said one released local resident.

“All detained women paid a fine of K20,000 each. Some detained men paid a fine of K50,000 each to the police,” the resident added.

Among the released are eight women and seven children under the age of 18.

“Some detainees were released from police custody to gather money from home. Some family members of the detainees were forced to pay the fine at the police station. The detainees were told that they would be jailed if they are arrested again,” said another released man.

Thirty-one vendors detained by the regime in Kyaukphyu Township were fined K20,000 each and released on December 19.

Junta authorities detained at least 70 locals selling vegetables in Kyaukphyu at about 4 a.m. on December 4 for violating a ban on people entering or leaving the town, but released the detainees on bail at around 12 noon the same day.

The regime’s Kyauktalone checkpoint outside Kyaukphyu on November 13 imposed a ban on people entering or leaving the town. The regime also imposed a ban on sea transport for one month, from November 19 to December 19.

The grassroots in Kyaukphyu are reportedly living on a subsistence diet of porridge alone as food supplies have dwindled due to the junta’s isolation of the island town.