Three NLD candidates abducted by armed men in Taungup Twsp

By Myo Myint Zaw 14 Oct 2020

Myo Myint Zaw | DMG
14 October 2020, Thandwe 

Officials from the National League for Democracy (NLD) say three of the party’s candidates were abducted by unidentified, armed captors in Taungup Township, Arakan State, on October 14. 

The NLD’s Pyithu Hluttaw candidate for Taungup Township, Daw Ni Ni May Myint, Amyotha Hluttaw candidate Daw Chit Chit Chaw and Arakan State Hluttaw candidate U Min Aung were detained by a group of men wearing civilian clothes but bearing firearms, according to party officials. 

“We don’t know specifically which group is responsible. However, it is certain our three candidates were detained at Phaung Khar village in Taungup. We don’t have more information,” said U Thein Myint, the information in-charge of the NLD in Taungup Township. 

The three candidates were taking a break from campaigning at a house in Phaung Khar village at about 8 a.m. on October 14 when four men with guns and another with a knife abducted them, taking the trio to neighbouring Ramree Township in a motorboat, residents said. 

Monywa Aung Shin, the NLD’s Central Information Committee secretary, said the abduction was unacceptable. 

“I do not want to say who did the detaining without knowing exactly. What we want to say is we totally do not accept such an act. We condemn the arrest. This is not a solution. This action is not a means to reach their revolution or destiny,” he said. 

The Taungup Township police station’s Police Major Than Naing told DMG that authorities there could not provide any information, with the case still under investigation. 

“We can conclude that an opposition has made a disturbance as the election gets closer. There have been instances where village NLD party members were threatened,” said U Thein Myint. 

Of the three abducted candidates, Daw Ni Ni May Myint is the incumbent Pyithu Hluttaw MP for Taungup Township, and U Min Aung is also running for re-election to his Taungup Township seat in the Arakan State legislature.