Arakan Army detains ex-military officer turned banker in Kyauktaw 

By DMG 11 Jul 2022

DMG Newsroom
11 July 2022, Kyauktaw 

A spokesman for the Arakan Army (AA) has confirmed to DMG that the ethnic armed group arrested the manager of the Global Treasure Bank branch in Kyauktaw, Arakan State, on July 9. 

“We don’t want to go into details about that. It is true that the AA arrested the manager of the Global Treasure Bank branch in Kyauktaw,” said the spokesman, U Khaing Thukha. 

U Khaing Thukha did not elaborate on why the bank manager in Kyauktaw was arrested.  

The detainee has been identified as 53-year-old U Win Naing. He was taken from a home in Alekyun village, Kyauktaw Township, where he was attending an event to honour a student who had passed the matriculation exam, a family member told DMG. 

“We have not had any contact with him yet. We don’t know where he was taken. He has heart disease and high blood pressure. He is an innocent man and we are worried about his safety. We want him released as soon as possible,” the family member added. 

U Win Naing is a veteran and former Myanmar military captain, according to his family. 

The Myanmar military tightened security checks on residents and passersby at junctions in downtown Kyauktaw following the Arakan Army’s detention of the Global Treasure Bank branch manager. 

“The Myanmar military conducted interrogations of passersby and checked the mobile phones of residents on July 9,” said a resident of Kyauktaw. “But the situation in downtown Kyauktaw is stable today as the Myanmar military is not conducting interrogations of locals and passersby.”  

The military arrested at least 50 locals in Sittwe, Kyauktaw, Ponnagyun and Mrauk-U townships last month, after the Arakan Army detained 14 junta soldiers and police personnel. About 18 locals have since been released, but of the remaining 32, 18 have been sued with various charges.