Tatmadaw detains three, injures septuagenarian in Mrauk-U Twsp: villagers

By Aung Htein 03 Jul 2020

Aung Htein | DMG
3 July, Mrauk-U

An elderly man from Tan Byint Gyi village in Arakan State’s Mrauk-U Township was allegedly injured by gunfire from Tatmadaw troops and three men were detained by the military on July 3, locals said.

The 70-year-old victim identified as U Tha Hla Aung was wounded at about 3 p.m. when a 300-strong military contingent opened fire on the village indiscriminately after returning from neighbouring Myaung Bway village, the Tan Byint Gyi residents said.

“I don’t know exactly whether the victim is in critical condition or not,” said a villager who declined to be named. “Some people said the victim has died. No one dares go to the scene of the shooting, where the military regiment was stationed.”

Security personnel also reportedly raided some houses in the village and arrested U Maung Thein Tun, 62, U Kyaw Maung, 42, and U San Shwe Khaing, 52, according to family members of the detainees.

“I am worried that innocent civilians will be harmed by the Tatmadaw,” said Ko Thein Aung Zan, the son of U Maung Thein Tun.

Tatmadaw troops were deployed in the village at around 8 p.m. on July 3 and the three detained villagers are reportedly being held at the village’s monastery, according to locals. As many as 700 people have fled to nearby villages in the wake of the Tatmadaw’s detention of the three men, Ko Thein Aung Zan added.

DMG phoned Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun from the Tatmadaw True News Information Team seeking comment on the incident, but he could not be reached.