Situation tense in Rakhine, many civilians face arrest

Narinjara News, 20 July 2022

The military situation remains tense in Rakhine State after a fresh battle between the Burmese army personnel and Arakan Army members in northern Maungdaw township on 18 July. A number of civilians from  the locality have been arrested by the army.

Among those arrested, there are five local residents including the Kyin Chaung village administrator (U Ko Ko Naing alias U Boorn Kan Naing, 45 years old) under the Maungdaw township.

An individual (close to the village administrator) informed that three persons from his village were arrested suspecting their links with the AA.

“They (a group of 20 soldiers ) entered into our village at around 4 am today. We come to know that their cellphones were also confiscated,” he added.

Arrested two other villagers are  U Tun Aye Krain (50) and U Tun Che (42).  years old). Kyin Chaung village is near  to the recent gunfighting area between the junta border police and AA on Maungdaw -Taungbro road which is adjacent to Bangladesh border.

The family members claimed that they were brought to a military camp near Kyin Chaung village for  interrogation.

An eyewitness also informed that two villagers were arrested this morning from the Paktawpyin border guard checkpoint under Maungdaw township.

"Both of them were arrested by the soldiers after checking cellphones. One hails from Ponna  Kyung township, but I have no idea about the other one,” he added.

On the early hours of  19 July, the junta force arrested two civilians namely U Moethi Khaing (50 years old bakery owner) and U Saw Aye Maung (40-year-old pig farmer from the Sanpya) from Ponna  Kyung township, which is 16 miles north of Rakhine capital city of Sittwe.

It was a follow up action by the military council after the AA members detained Ponna Kyunt township governor  U Hla Shwe on 17 July.

In another incident, four civilians who were travelling from Sittwe to Kyauk Taw  by a three-wheeler taxi were also arrested in LIB 539 battalion check point on 17 July in the morning hours.

"I do not know if they are released till date. They were taken to the army compound (539 battalion). I have no information which villages they belong to,” said another eyewitness.

The military council also charged over  30 civilians under section 505 (a) and 505 (b) of the  terrorism act for supporting the AA (and opposing the military council).

In the northern Maungdaw township battle some soldiers are apprehended to be killed and 14 of them surrendered with 26 small arms to the AA. Since then, the situation remains tense as the armed cadres of both the factions have been alerted.