Detained Sanae town man remains in military custody

By DMG 29 Jul 2022

DMG Newsroom
29 July 2022, Kyaukphyu 

Seven out of eight residents of Kyaukphyu Township’s Sanae town and surrounding villages who were recently arrested by the Myanmar military have been released, but one man is currently being held at a military regiment in Kyaukphyu. 

The military detained eight residents in Sanae town — four men and four women — after men in plainclothes abducted a police officer at a local market on July 24. Seven of the eight detainees were released on July 25 and 28, said family members. 

The man who remains in military custody has been identified as Ko Tin Myo Tun, 24, from Sabeichaung village near Sanae town. It is not yet known why he was not released with the rest. 

The seven residents were interrogated, and were forced to sign a pledge that they would not participate in any anti-regime activities, said one of the individuals who was released by the military. 

“Myanmar military officials interrogated us, whether we have links with the Arakan Army. We replied to them that we didn’t have ties to the Arakan Army. We were forced to sign a pledge that we wouldn’t join the anti-coup activities and were released,” the unnamed resident added. 

The Myanmar military and the Arakan Army have largely observed an unofficial ceasefire since November 2020, but there have been recent clashes in Arakan State and neighbouring Chin State amid rising tensions between the two sides. 

The Myanmar military has arrested dozens of people across multiple Arakan State townships since June. In response, the Arakan Army has reportedly detained several junta soldiers and police personnel.