Families worried about missing brothers from Myebon Twsp

By Aung Htein 06 Aug 2020

Aung Htein | DMG
6 August, Myebon

Family members are worried about two brothers from Yaw Chaung (Ywathayar) village in Arakan State’s Myebon Township who went missing 10 months ago.

The missing brothers, identified as 29-year-old Ko Maung Win Htay and 28-year-old Ko Maung Htay Win, earn their livings by farming. The two brothers were arrested by a military contingent on October 8 while they were searching for cattle, the mother of the men told DMG.

“I feel very sorry about the fate of my sons,” said Daw Ma Saw Tin. “I am very much concerned for their safety as it has been 10 months without any information about them. There is no word yet on their whereabouts. I would like to ask the concerned officials to help me.”

A resident of Myebon Township who served time in Sittwe Prison said the duo is reportedly being detained at the penitentiary, she added.

Family members of the victims went to Sittwe Prison on July 27 to inquire about the missing brothers.

“I showed a photo of my sons to two prison guards and asked them, ‘Did you see these men?’ They replied to me, ‘Yes’ and that the two brothers are detained in Sittwe Prison,” she explained. “When I asked them to call my sons, they told me to come to Sittwe Prison the next day. When I went to Sittwe Prison the next day, prison officials said the missing brothers weren’t there.”

Family members of the men lodged a complaint about their situation to the Arakan Human Rights Defenders and Promoters Association on August 1.

Arrangements would be made for family members to see the missing brothers if they are confirmed to be detained in Sittwe Prison, said U Myat Tun, director of the Arakan Human Rights Defenders and Promoters Association.

DMG contacted Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun and Maj-Gen Tun Tun Nyi of the Tatmadaw True News Information Team seeking comment on the case, but they could not be reached.

In recent months, several people in Arakan State have been detained by the military with little or no information known about the circumstances or reason for their arrest, while many more have been taken into custody over suspected links to the Arakan Army.