Families unable to contact six detained civil servants in Kyaukphyu and Ann

By DMG 18 Nov 2022

DMG Newsroom
18 November 2022, Kyaukphyu

Family members say they have not been in contact with five government employees including a lawyer in Kyaukphyu and an ex-administrator of Nyaungchaung Village, Ann Township, early this week.

The detainees have been identified as U Hsan Win, a 44-year-old lawyer; Daw Ma Kyi, a deputy staff officer from the Kyaukphyu District immigration office; U Maung Maung Aye, a 50-year-old police sergeant; U Myo Win Aung, 36; U Htet Wai Lin, a 40-year-old employee from the department of Inland Water Transport; and U Tin Aung Myint, the 45-year-old administrator of Nyaungchaung Village.

The five civil servants were taken from their places of work by junta soldiers from the military’s Kyaukphyu-based Light Infantry Battalion No. 34 on November 13, and they have not been seen or heard from since.

“The employees from the immigration office are not from Kyaukphyu. They have yet to be released and their whereabouts remain unknown. Family members are investigating Ko Hsan Win’s whereabouts,” said a source close to Ko Hsan Win.

U Tin Aung Myint, the former Nyaungchaung Village administrator, was arrested on his way to Ann on the morning of November 14 and family members have yet to contact him, said a relative.

“A girl phoned to tell me that U Tin Aung Myint was abducted on the way to Ann town. I don’t know the reason for the arrest or his whereabouts,” he added.

DMG attempted to contact Arakan State Minister for Security and Border Affairs Colonel Kyaw Thura and regime spokesman Major-General Zaw Min Tun to seek comment on the military’s detention of the six people in Kyaukphyu and Ann townships, but they could not be reached.

Concerns have been raised among residents in Kyaukphyu following the military’s detention of civil servants and locals, said a Kyaukphyu elder.

“The military has detained at least 30 residents in recent months. As the military has been arresting local residents unjustly, Kyaukphyu locals are also very worried about their safety. Some locals have gone into hiding,” he added.

The military has detained scores of residents, businessmen and government employees in Arakan State on suspicion of having ties to the Arakan Army (AA), charging many of the detainees with various counts amid renewed hostilities with the ethnic armed group.