372 inmates evacuated from Thandwe Prison, dozens of political prisoners released: AA

By Admin 09 Aug 2024

DMG Newsroom
9 August 2024, Thandwe

The Arakkha Army (AA) evacuated 372 inmates from Thandwe Prison after capturing Thandwe Town in Arakan State last month, the ethnic armed group said in a statement on Thursday, adding that among the inmates were 41 political prisoners who were turned over to their families on August 6.

“Now that there is some level of security assurance, all political prisoners have been returned to their homes and families since August 6,” the statement said.

Administrative officials from the United League of Arakan/Arakkha Army (ULA/AA) collected information on the 41 political prisoners and provided necessary healthcare services and emergency assistance to them, the AA said.

While the AA was evacuating the prisoners, five inmates were killed by regime artillery strikes, and two more political prisoners died of serious injuries while receiving medical treatment.

The AA said medical treatment was provided as there were a large number of inmates in need of emergency medical care.

Among the evacuated prison population were political prisoners who had been unjustly detained by the regime and some inmates who were serving sentences for crimes such as robbery, murder, and drug offences.

The AA’s statement said the inmates who are not political prisoners will continue to be detained and that the crimes committed by these prisoners will be re-examined and dealt with in a legal manner.

The AA seized two junta battalions as well as Thandwe Town, its airport and the Ngapali hotel zone in Thandwe Township last month.

Fighting is ongoing and often fierce in Thandwe as the AA has focused its firepower on overrunning the last major junta position in the township, the Maung Shwe Lay naval base.