Over two days, regime arrests at least 14 residents in southern Arakan State 

By Admin 23 Dec 2023

DMG Newsroom
23 December 2023, Thandwe

Myanmar’s military regime arrested at least 14 local people in Ramree, Manaung, Taungup and Thandwe townships in southern Arakan State on December 21 and 22. Among the detainees are eight people from Ramree, 10 from Manaung, three from Taungup and one from Thandwe.

A 50-strong military contingent raided Tapyaw Village in Taungup Township at about 6 p.m. on December 22, detaining 10 residents and releasing seven detainees later.

“Three out of 10 detainees are still held at a military regiment. The reason for the arrests remains unknown,” said a villager.

Three arrestees — identified as U Win Shwe, 40, Ko Nyi Naing Soe, 29, and Ko Hsan Lin Naing, 27 — are reportedly being held at the military’s Taungup-based Light Infantry Battalion No. 544.

Family members of the arrestees are demanding their release as soon as possible.

“We earn a living by fishing,” said Daw Moe Moe Hlaing, the wife of detained villager U Win Shwe. “We have six children. I am also pregnant. I would like to ask the regime to release my husband because he is the breadwinner in our family.”

The regime also detained eight people from Laytaung town who fled to Ramree and two local residents of Panchanchaung Village on December 22.

The detainees from Panchanchaung Village have been identified as U Maung Thu Nge, 50, and U Soe Win Naing, 43. DMG continues to attempt to identify the eight arrestees from Laytaung town.

Approximately 20 junta soldiers abducted U Nani, 40, a local man from Kinmaw Village in Thandwe Township, at about 4 p.m. on December 21.

At least 150 locals in Sittwe, Ponnagyun, Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Minbya, Kyaukphyu, Ramree, and Thandwe townships have been arrested by the regime since renewed fighting in Arakan State began last month.