Military releases detained Taungup social activist

By DMG 24 Dec 2022

DMG Newsroom
24 December 2022, Taungup 

Ko Zeyar Kyaw, a resident of Taungup, Arakan State, who had been detained by the military for more than a month, was released on December 23, according to sources close to his family. 

“He [Ko Zeyar Kyaw] was released after being questioned by the military. He was not released on bail. An official phoned family members of Ko Zeyar Kyaw about the release and he arrived back home at 6 p.m. yesterday,” a source close to the man’s family said on Saturday. 

Ko Zeyar Kyaw, 47, was arrested by four junta soldiers in a civilian vehicle near Taungup’s U Ottama Park on November 8.  

“He was arrested on suspicion and has been interrogated for over a month. He has been released now,” the source said, adding that upon release he appeared to be in good health. 

A former chairman of the Taungup Township Development Committee, Ko Zeyar Kyaw continued to engage in social activities in the months leading up to his arrest. 

Ko Sithu Kyaw Zan aka Ko Michael, the 46-year-old younger brother of Ko Zeyar Kyaw from Kanpaing Ward in Taungup, was detained by police on November 4. Ko Sithu Kyaw Zan was released on November 24. 

The two brothers were previously charged under the Counter-Terrorism Law, on suspicion of having ties to the Arakan Army, in April 2020, but the pair were released on April 26, 2021.