Two Sittwe Twsp teens released from police detention

By Aung Htein 13 Jun 2020

Aung Htein | DMG
13 June, Sittwe

Two young women from Kywee Tae village in Sittwe Township, Arakan State, were released from police custody on June 13, their family members said.

The pair were arrested a day earlier while a joint team of Tatmadaw and police personnel, and local immigration officials, were going house to house checking household member lists and ID cards in the village.

They were reportedly arrested on suspicion because they were communicating through a messenger service during the authorities’ house check.

“They signed a promise not to do such a thing anymore before they were released. The parents were also told to teach their children not to do such things,” said U Mya Aye, the father of one of the women detained, Ma Khin Win Oo.

Ma Khin Win Oo texted Ma Lone Ma Chay that she had heard two people from nearby Kywee Tae Paik Seik village were recently arrested and asked if it was true. She sent the message as authorities were checking her house.

“I asked them about their experience at the No.1 police station in Sittwe,” said U Mya Thein, the Kywee Tae village administrator. “They said they were asked if they had contact with the Arakan Army. Additionally, they were asked why they were texting during the search and responded that they were worried for their family members.”

Ma Lone Ma Chay, 17, works in Kywee Tae Paik Seik village and Ma Khin Win Oo, 18, is from Pallin Pyin village and is studying tailoring at Kywee Tae village, according to their families.

Numerous civilians have been questioned and arrested on suspicion of having illegal links to the Arakan Army amid ongoing conflict between the Tatmadaw and the ethnic armed group in Arakan State.