Junta uses abducted Maungdaw locals as human shields

(Photo: The villagers were hiding in the jungle after fierce fighting between AA and Junta forces near their village Khamong Sit, northern part of Maungdaw Township on 26 August, 2022)

Narinjara News, 27 August 2022

At least 10 people, including Mro ethnic persons from Kha Mong Sit and Min Khamong villages in northern part of Maungdaw township of Rakhine State, were arrested and taken away by the junta forces last night.

However, 3 of them escaped with the help of dark night, said one of the fled villagers while talking to Narinjara News.

The arrestees are often used as human shields in the locality, where the fierce fighting between the Burmese forces and Arakan Army members are going on.

The arrested villagers are identified as U Hla Maung Tha (57), U Thein Hla Aung (50), U Nam Tha Aung (71) and U Maung Khin Hla (40) hailing from Min Kha Moung village and U Aung Tha Chay (57), U Ko Phyo (35) and another 28 years old person from Khamong Sit village.

Five of them are Mro tribals and the other two are Burmese nationals.

"Out of the arrested ten villagers, three were asked to go to the front of the convoy. Other seven persons were asked to stand between the soldiers one by one. Those three persons in the front escaped taking advantage of the dark night,” informed one villager.

The column, consisting of about 35 soldiers, went to the fighting area on 26 August at around 8 pm and took away the detained villages using human shields.

A resident of Khamong Sit village, who has been hiding in the forest, expressed concern that the lives of those arrested may be in danger.

"They (arrested seven persons) have not returned yet. The concerned families as well as other villagers are worried about them," he added.

It is reported that AA members have been targeting the military bases near Khamong Sit village since 2:30 pm on Friday.

Locals informed that both the armed forces fought for nearly 6 hours till 8:30 pm yesterday. The fighting broke out again at  2:50 am.

The northern part of Maungdaw township and Paletwa township of Chin State are presently witnessing fierce fighting between government forces and AA members as an informal ceasefire collapsed in July last.