Youth in Mrauk-U Twsp arrested, accused of ties to PDF

By DMG 16 Oct 2021

DMG Newsroom
16 October 2021, Mrauk-U 

A young man from Pan Maw village in Arakan State’s Mrauk-U Township was arrested on October 15 and accused of having ties to the anti-regime People’s Defence Force, according to family members. 

People in civilian clothes but bearing weapons arrested Ko Aung Naing Myint, 23, while he was at home, said Ma Khaing Aye Myint, an older sister of the man. 

“A group of people in civilian clothes with weapons entered the house. Then, they told him to hand over his phone and to accompany them to the police station. When he asked what offence he had committed, they grabbed him,” Ma Khaing Aye Myint told DMG. 

“When he tried to free himself from their holding, they punched his face four or five times. They took him by vehicle,” she added. 

About 10 people arrived in a black vehicle and arrested him, family members said. 

He has been detained at Mrauk-U police station but family members are not allowed to meet with him, said Ma Nu Nu Yin, another older sister of Ko Aung Naing Myint. 

“I visited the police station, but I was not allowed to meet him. I was told to visit again in the next 15 days. They said he was arrested for having ties to the PDF. I am worried for him,” she said.  

DMG attempted to phone Mrauk-U police station seeking comment on the arrest of Ko Aung Naing Myint but was unsuccessful. 

On October 9, Thandwe-based social activist U Sein Chit was arrested and accused of having ties to the PDF, an umbrella term for several of the anti-junta militias that have been formed since the military’s February 1 coup. A lawsuit has been opened against U Sein Chit under Sections 50(a) and 52(a) of the Counter-Terrorism Law at Thandwe Township police station.