Regime detains dozens of civil servants, residents trapped by Pauktaw fighting

By Admin 17 Nov 2023

DMG Newsroom
17 November 2023, Pauktaw

Myanmar’s military regime detained dozens of civil servants from the Department of Education, Department of Public Health and Department of Agriculture including some residents in Pauktaw, Arakan State, at about 3 p.m. on Friday, according to some people trapped by fighting in the town.

About 50 people were detained and their mobile phones were confiscated by junta soldiers, said a family member of an educational employee.

“I had a phone contact with him at about 3 p.m. He has been detained and his mobile phone was confiscated by the junta soldiers. Now I have no contact with him,” the family member added.

Dozens of civil servants and some local residents were held at Lawka Hteikpan Pagoda, said a resident of Pauktaw.

“Among the detainees are civil servants from the departments of education, agriculture and public health. We are still trapped in downtown Pauktaw as several junta soldiers are stationed in the town. Junta troops are still firing mortar shells into the residential areas,” the Pauktaw resident added.

At present, family members say they are worried because they have lost contact with those who have been detained.

DMG phoned junta spokesman Major-General Zaw Min Tun regarding the matter, but he could not be reached.

A junta helicopter and three warships have carried out a bombardment campaign, forcing thousands of residents in Pauktaw to flee their homes since yesterday evening.

At least 20 casualties were reported in downtown Pauktaw, Arakan State, on November 16 due to the artillery shelling and junta soldiers’ indiscriminate firings.

After the Arakan Army (AA) captured the Pauktaw Myoma police station, junta troops entered the town in large numbers, killing civilians who were hiding and committing war crimes, the ethnic armed group said in a statement on November 16.