Myanmar military detains two Muslim minors in Mrauk-U Twsp

By DMG 24 Jun 2022

DMG Newsroom
24 June 2022, Mrauk-U

Two underage Muslim youths from Paungtoke village in Arakan Sate’s Mrauk-U Township were arrested by the Myanmar military on June 22, and the pair has not yet been released.

Junta soldiers from the Myanmar military’s Mrauk-U-based Light Infantry Battalion No. 540 in two military trucks entered Paungtoke village to search for a local 100-household head, and another 100-household head from neighbouring Ywathit village.

Junta soldiers detained two workers from the home of a 100-household head in Paungtoke village and the son of the 100-household head in Ywathit village as they were unable to find the wanted men. They later released the son of the 100-household head from Ywathit village on bail, a resident said on condition of anonymity due to the matter’s sensitivity.

“The Myanmar military attempted to arrest two 100-household heads on suspicion of having illegal ties to the Arakan Army. The Myanmar military detained two workers and the son of a 100-household head who was released on bail later. The two Muslim youths remain detained,” the unnamed resident added.

The two underage Muslim detainees are boys in their teens. One of them has been identified as Marserie, and the other is the son of a former village head.

Some young people in Paungtoke village have fled, fearing that the Myanmar military will arrest them too.

“All villagers are worried that they will be arrested by the Myanmar military. We can’t sleep well at night for fear of being arrested and interrogated by the Myanmar military,” one resident said.

Paungtoke village is located five miles from Mrauk-U town on the Mrauk-U-Minbya road, and is home to more than 5,000 Muslims and 2,000 Arakanese.

The Myanmar military has tightened security and detained more than 20 residents including students in Mrauk-U since June 21, after the Arakan Army detained three military intelligence officers in the town.