No arbitrary arrest of locals in Arakan State, military says

27 Sep 2020

Hnin Nwe | DMG
27 September, Sittwe  

The Tatmadaw has not made arbitrary arrests of locals in northern Arakan State villages where hostilities between the military and the Arakan Army (AA) are ongoing, Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun of the Tatmadaw True News Information Team said at a press conference on September 26.

“The military troops may have entered the villages and arrested some suspects. The military may have chased after suspects in civilian clothes. The military may have conducted interrogations of suspects in the villages after being attacked by landmines,” the military spokesperson acknowledged.

Military personnel entered Thayettapin village in Kyauktaw Township on September 23, arresting about 20 residents on sight but releasing them over the next 36 hours, according to locals.

Thousands of people in Rathedaung Township have fled their homes amid repeated hostile fire from a military vessel or vessels in the direction of residential areas near the Mayu River, according to Ko Bekka, who assists internally displaced people (IDPs) in the area.

“A military ship coming from Yay Chan Pyin village opened fire indiscriminately. As soon as the naval vessel fired, the battalion in Rathedaung fired artillery shells at those areas. So, locals were afraid of living there. Local people there fled their homes for fear of being hit by the heavy fire from the naval vessel,” he said.

At the recent press conference, Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun said the Arakan Army fired three shots at a military vessel travelling to carry out administrative matters in Sittwe and Rathedaung townships from the south of Hteeswal village in Rathedaung Township, injuring some soldiers. The military opened heavy weapons and small arms fire on the villages because of the alleged engagement from the AA, Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun said.

“If we face such shootings, not only the Tatmadaw but also others have the right to defend themselves. The right to self-defense is not in vain. The military will not retaliate with heavy fire if its naval vessel is not attacked,” the military spokesperson said. 

The number of IDPs in Arakan State has climbed to more than 200,000 due to ongoing clashes between the military and the Arakan Army over the past two years.