Sittwe ward administrator among latest detained by military in Arakan State

By DMG 25 Jun 2022

DMG Newsroom
25 June 2022, Sittwe 

Myanmar’s junta has detained at least 20 people in Sittwe, including the administrator of Anauk Sanpya ward, after the Arakan Army (AA) detained a Myanmar military captain and a private in the Arakan State capital on Thursday, according to locals. 

The Arakan Army abducted the captain and private on June 23. Following the AA’s detention of the military personnel, junta troops arrested about 15 residents from various wards in Sittwe on June 24, DMG reported on Friday. 

Regime forces detained U Phoe Sein, 50, an administrator of Anauk Sanpya ward; U Ba Han, 65, a 100-household head; and U San Thein, another 100-household head, on the morning of June 24. The arrestees are being held at Sittwe’s No. 1 police station and U San Thein was reportedly later released. 

“U San Thein was released on bail. He [U San Thein] is forced to stay at his home for 10 days and he will not be allowed to go anywhere during this period,” said a source close to U San Thein. 

Three people from Shwe Pyi Aye Guesthouse in Kyay Pin Gyi ward were also taken by junta soldiers, according to nearby residents. The whereabouts of the detainees are not yet known. 

All told, at least 20 civilians have been arrested in Sittwe following the Arakan Army’s detention of the two junta soldiers.  

Among the arrestees are underage youths. Nyi Nyi, a 13-year-old boy, was among seven people detained by the military in Block-9 of Sittwe’s Mingan ward, family members told DMG. 

Nyi Nyi works at a purified drinking water factory near his home and was arrested while going outside the factory to buy betel quid, his grandmother said. 

“I begged the junta soldiers not to arrest my grandson,” she added. “My grandson is a breadwinner in my family, even though he is a minor. One of the junta soldiers told me, ‘You will be arrested. Go home.’ He also told me that if he [Nyi Nyi] is not guilty, he will be released. He hasn’t been seen or heard from since then.” 

The Myanmar military has arrested dozens of residents in Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw and Mrauk-U townships, including students, since June 21, after the Arakan Army’s detention of multiple junta soldiers and policemen. 

DMG was unable to obtain comment from Arakan State Security and Border Affairs Minister Colonel Kyaw Thura on Saturday.