Junta detains seven Kyaukphyu residents in pair of incidents

Myanmar’s military regime reportedly detained seven local residents and released two of the detainees in Kyaukphyu, Arakan State, in two separate incidents over the past week.

By Admin 09 Sep 2024

A jetty being used for a Chinese project in Kyaukphyu is pictured in July 2023.
A jetty being used for a Chinese project in Kyaukphyu is pictured in July 2023.

DMG Newsroom
9 September 2024, Kyaukphyu

Myanmar’s military regime reportedly detained seven local residents and released two of the detainees in Kyaukphyu, Arakan State, in two separate incidents over the past week.

The detainees have been identified as Ko Soe Lwin Maung, U Than Maung Nu, U Phoe Thauk Kyar, and U Khin Maung Than from Kyaukphyu’s Ngalapwe Ward, U Wa Toke, and U Mel Tun and U Khin Maung Than from Kyanchaing Village.

U Than Maung Nu, U Khin Maung Than, U Wa Toke and U Phoe Thauk Kyar were arrested on September 5 and are currently being held at the Kyaukphyu police station.

“Four men were arrested for transporting food from downtown Kyaukphyu to outside the island town. The four men are currently held at Kyaukphyu police station, but they are not allowed to meet family members,” said a resident of Ngalapwe Ward.

U Mel Tun, U Khin Maung Than and U Soe Lwin Maung were apprehended on September 1, but U Mel Tun and U Khin Maung Than were released two days later.

“The trio were arrested by a Myanmar Navy vessel while they were fishing in the river. Two of them were released two days later. The Myanmar Navy seized a fishing boat,” said a source close to U Mel Tun’s family.

The regime has detained more than 200 people in Kyaukphyu Township since the latest fighting in Arakan State began in November. Of the detainees, over 100 people have been released, but at least 86 are still being held by the regime.

Among those arrested are politicians, activists, ordinary civilians and minors, most of whom have been charged under Section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act.