Ponnagyun woman arrested by military-police posse

06 May 2020

Win Nyunt and Ko Thura | DMG
6 May, Sittwe

A 42-year-old woman from Ponnagyun town, Arakan State, was arrested by a group of authorities that included Tatmadaw and police personnel and the local ward administrator on the morning of May 6, witnesses said.

The reason for the arrest was not known, but local speculation had coalesced around suspected ties to the Arakan Army as the likely reason that she was taken into custody, a witness said.

Daw Ma Than was arrested after being questioned by military personnel, another witness said.

“A military column checked her house. A few hours later, authorities came and took her from her house. All handsets in her house were also seized,” the witness said.

Amyotha Hluttaw lawmaker U Khin Maung Latt said he was not familiar with the case in detail, but he confirmed that a woman had been arrested by the No. 550 Light Infantry Battalion.

She was taken to the Ponnagyun Township police station, locals said. DMG is attempting to contact the station to find out why she has been arrested.

DMG phoned the Tatmadaw’s Western Command spokesperson Colonel Win Zaw Oo and Brigadier-General Zaw Min Tun of the Tatmadaw True News Information Team to seek comment on the arrest, but they could not be reached.

There is ample precedent for the arresting of individuals for alleged links to the Arakan Army, though most often it is men who are hauled in on such suspicions.