Two detained Kyauktaw Twsp residents’ situations still unknown, say family members

By Aung Htein 18 Nov 2020

Aung Htein | DMG
18 November 2020, Sittwe 

Family members are worried about two residents of Kyauktaw Township, Arakan State, who are believed to have been detained by the Tatmadaw for months without information being made available as to their whereabouts or status. 

The detainees have been identified as Ko Kyaw Soe Win, 36, from Taungpauk village, and U Maung Soe Shwe, 29, from Paikthay ward, family members said. 

“I would be satisfied if I had a chance to know where my husband is being held,” said Ma Yin Mya Than, the wife of Ko Maung Soe Shwe. 

The pair were working as three-wheeled motorbike drivers when they were arrested by military personnel on March 31 while waiting for passengers at an intersection in Kyauktaw town, according to family members. 

The families are asking that the men be released as soon as possible, and have urged that they be afforded due process under the law, regardless of guilt or innocence.  

“I am afraid that an innocent person will die in vain. If the detainees are not guilty, they should be released in accordance with the law,” said Ko Kyaw Aye Win, the younger brother of Ko Kyaw Soe Win. 

The disappearance of Ko Kyaw Soe Win and Ko Maung Soe Shwe has been reported to the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission through the Arakan Human Rights Promoters and Defenders Association, but no response has yet been received, according to U Mrat Tun, director of the association. 

DMG attempted to contact Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun of the Tatmadaw True News Information Team for comment on the two missing Kyauktaw residents, but he could not be reached. 

Elsewhere in Arakan State, two brothers from Yaw Chaung (Ywar Tharyar) village in Myebon Township still have not been heard from, nor has any information been provided about their situations, after they were arrested by the Tatmadaw more than a year ago. And 18 locals from Tinma village in Kyauktaw Township have been missing for seven months after being detained by the military. 

At a press conference on July 25, Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun said there might be delays in transferring suspects detained by the Tatmadaw to their respective charging jurisdictions, and for legal action to be taken against them, due to security concerns in some areas. 

Dozens of people have been arrested by the Tatmadaw this year on suspicion of having illegal ties to the Arakan Army, which the government has designated a terrorist group.