3 more Kyauk Phyu civilians arrested by Junta forces

Narinjara News, 14 September 2022

The junta soldiers have arrested 3 more civilians from Kyauk Phyu township, the second largest city of Rakhine (Arakan) State under the pretext of investigating guest lists during night hours.

It indicates the tendency of army personnel to arrest more civilians in the coming days, stated a local resident.

On the night of 11 September, Ko Phyo Min Tun (b) Ko Phyo hailing from Pyin Phyu Maw ward was arrested by the soldiers who entered his house to check the guest list.

In the same night, U Soe Win Naing from Rakhine Pike Sit ward and U Win Aung from Kula Ba Taung ward were also arrested by the soldiers who came from Kyauk Phyu-based army battalion number 34.

Phyo Min Tun’s wife Ma Aye Naing informed that the soldiers arrived at their house by 11 pm.

“An army officer asked me if my husband was inside. He also told me that my husband had to go with him for some queries. The officer assured my husband’s release next morning. But till now he has not been released,” added the lady.

The family is now worried about him as no communication has been made possible since his arrest.

Phyo Min Tun was arrested by a group of soldiers under the command of major Tin Aung Kyaw from the LIB battalion number 34, said Pyhyu Maw ward administrator while talking to Narinjara News.

Soe Win Naing was also arrested by the army personnel at around 11 pm, confirmed the ward administrator.  

''I do not know much about his arrest. Only I came to know that he was arrested from his residence by the soldiers after they arrived there to check the guest list,” he added.

Win Aung (53) was arrested at around 10:30 pm. Later he was brought to the battalion office.

Various social activists claim that no less than seven individuals were arrested from the city. The number may increase as the soldiers often arrest people without necessary information.

On 7 September, three people namely Salai Ko Aye (43) from Kyauk Phyu’s government ward, Ko Win Naing (29) from Zaydi Daung ward and U U Ba Than (42) from Rakhine Pike Sit ward were arrested by the junta forces.

The military personnel are looking for civilians who might have links with the Arakan Army. Till date over 100 individuals have been arrested in Rakhine State. There are allegations that the arrestees have to face tortures from the soldiers during the interrogation.