Family members not allowed to meet detainees

15 Jul 2019

Khaing Min Nyo | DMG

15 July, Yangon

It has been five days since two Arakanese deportees from Singapore have been arrested along with their driver and their family members could not meet them yet.

Leaders from Arakan Association (Singapore) Ko Tin Hlaing Oo and Ma Aye Myat Mon (aka) Ma May Gyi and Ko Myat Lin Oo, from Yangon Region’s Tharketa Township and the driver for them, were arrested by a Highway police force near Nay Pyi Taw on 11 July.

Authorities did not inform their families where they have been detained, but they later learned that the trio were detained at Aung Tha Byay police regiment in Yangon Region. Family members had requested to meet with them, but authorities did not allow it, their family members said.

“We heard that they are at Aung Tha Byay police interrogation center. So, we went there. But we were told that they were not there. So, we visited the SB (Special Branch) head office. When we requested authorities that we’d like to meet our family members, they told us to wait for a while. Then, they later told us we were not allowed to meet them,” U Tun Tin Hlaing, father of Ko Tin Haling Oo, told the DMG.

The DMG phoned the police media team to seek comment for the case, but could not be reached.

Ko Tin Hlaing Oo and Ma May Gyi were arrested by Singaporean law enforcement under suspicion of supporting the Arakan Army and were deported to Myanmar on 10 July.

Moreover, all six Arakanese deportees from Singapore have reportedly been arrested in Myanmar, but the DMG could not confirm where they have been detained so far.

The Singaporean authorities arrested Ko Tin Hlaing Oo, Ma May Gyi, Ko Aung Mrat Kyaw who is younger brother of the AA chief Twan Mrat Naing and other three Arakanese people: Hein Zaw, Ko Tun Aye, Ko Thar Lay (aka) Ye Kyaw Htet on 9 and 10 July. The Myanmar government has not yet released any statement about those deportees arrested.

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