Families still unable to contact two Kyauktaw men arrested for alleged AA links almost one month ago

By DMG 29 Oct 2022

DMG Newsroom
29 October 2022, Kyauktaw

Family members say they have not been in contact with two men from Arakan State’s Kyauktaw Township for about a month, after they were arrested on suspicion of having ties to the Arakan Army (AA).

The commander of the military’s Kansauk Village-based Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 539 reportedly phoned U Hla Maung Than, a 43-year-old rice mill owner from Kardi aka Thazin Village on October 2, telling him to come to the battalion’s headquarters for talks.

U Hla Maung Than, together with his friend Ko Maung Chay, 39, went to the LIB No. 539 headquarters as requested, and the two men have not been seen or heard from since, family members said.

“I want to know my husband’s whereabouts and where he is detained,” said Daw Hla Aye Hsan, the wife of U Hla Maung Than. “I want them [the two men] released as soon as possible. We are worried about his well-being because [U Hla Maung Than] is in poor health. I am also concerned that they will be killed.”

Following the military’s arrests, some Buddhist monks and family members went to LIB No. 539 to inquire about the two men, but they were told that the two men were not there, she added.

“I want to know their whereabouts and to hear news about them as soon as possible,” said the wife of Ko Maung Chay. “I would like to urge the military to begin the trial against them. His 2-year-old son at home is looking for his father every day. Imagine the difficulties we have been facing since his arrest.”

DMG attempted to contact Major-General Zaw Min Tun, spokesman for the junta, and Arakan State Minister for Security and Border Affairs Colonel Kyaw Thura to seek comment on the matter, but they could not be reached.