Junta lobbyists campaign for arrests of anti-regime activists in Arakan State

By Admin 20 Dec 2023

DMG Newsroom
20 December 2023, Sittwe

Since renewed hostilities broke out between the military and Arakan Army (AA), the regime has been hunting down locals in Arakan State under various pretexts, and junta lobbyists have been campaigning for such arrests.

Junta lobbyists are campaigning to arrest those who criticise the regime, including those who write about the regime’s human rights violations on social media, whether politicians, social activists, artists or average folk.

The junta lobbyists are campaigning for the arrest of at least 30 people, including some Buddhist monks, circulating their photos on Telegram and Facebook pages. Wanted people from Kyaukphyu, Ramree, Thandwe, Sittwe, Myebon, Pauktaw, Rathedaung and Ponnagyun townships have gone into hiding.

“My friends told me that the junta lobbyists instigated my arrest. When I criticised the regime on social media, I was being watched,” a resident of Ramree told DMG.

Facebook and Telegram accounts supporting the military junta such as Doror Waddy Midea, May Yu Htar Nay, Mayu Hit Taing, Western 24 News, Paletwa Daily News and others have been campaigning for the arrests of civilians.

The regime continues to commit human rights violations ranging from the killing of civilians and burning of villages to cutting off food and medicine to Arakan State, and the junta lobbyists are advocating for the arrest and detention of those who criticise these abuses.

The ‘Rakhine Daily’ Facebook page, thought to be run by the Arakan State military council, said Tuesday that the council is making a list of netizens who have shared, copied, posted, and left comments on critical new stories published by local media outlets in Arakan State, and that action would be taken against them.

The regime has been hunting down journalists since before the renewed fighting began on November 13, in an apparent attempt to stifle the independent press, and is now targeting news consumers.

“During this time, you should keeping your safety in mind when using the internet. We also need to keep things related to armed groups off our phones. If you go out, it’s best not to take your mobile phone with you unless you need it,” said an Arakanese youth activist.

Since renewed fighting with the Arakan Army broke out on November 13, Myanmar’s military regime has arrested seven residents in Sittwe, Kyaukphyu, Ann and Thandwe on suspicion of spreading propaganda with the aim of disrupting national stability and charged the accused under Sections 505(a) and (b) of the Penal Code.