Families unable to contact detained Taungup administrator, municipal officer

By Admin 24 Jun 2024

DMG Newsroom
24 June 2024, Taungup

Family members say they have not been in contact with the township administrator and a municipal officer from Arakan State’s Taungup Township since their arrest by the Myanmar military about one week ago.

U Zarni Toe, the township administrator, and U Oo Maung Sein, a municipal officer, were detained at a junta security checkpoint in the Arakan Mountains on the afternoon of June 18 while attempting to flee to mainland Myanmar by car.

“Some local people in Taungup fled to safer locations due to the possibility of fighting in urban Taungup. Among the locals who fled their homes in Taungup, the municipal officer and township administrator were arrested,” said a Taungup resident.

The pair were taken to the 5th Military Operations Command in Taungup, according to sources close to the men.

Family members have since been unable to contact U Zarni Toe and U Oo Maung Sein, and their whereabouts remain unknown, said a source close to the families.

“The regime has threatened family members that they will do something to the two of them if they tell the Arakanese media outlets about their arrest. That’s why I can’t ask for any message about the two of them from family members. Family members said they are still unable to contact the detainees,” the source added.

A clash between the military and the Arakkha Army (AA) erupted near Taungup’s Chaungkauk Ward on June 15. Most residents in Taungup were trapped by the fighting, unable to flee their homes due to junta blockades following the clash.

“Government employees dare not flee their homes following the junta arrest of the township administrator. The regime intentionally created this situation. I think the regime will use local residents as human shields when fighting erupts in Taungup,” said a local woman.

The junta’s No. 5 Military Operations Command, and Light Infantry Battalion Nos. 544 and 346 are based in Taungup Township, where the regime has blocked off land and water routes into the area.