Narinjara News, 19 October2022

At leastseven people including one former ward administratorhave gone missing for 6 days sincetheir arrest by the Myanmar junta forces from Sittwe, the capital city ofRakhine State.

U Khin Maung Kyaw(former factory district administrator), U Aung Than Win, U Than KyawNaing and U Tun Win Naing Thay fromSatrom Suu ward of Sittwe were arrested on the night of 14 October.

Similarly, U Maung San Htay from Wra Thayar villagein Sittwe township and two otherindividuals from other townships were picked up by the military personnel asthey came to Sittwe for medical treatments.

They were arrested on 14 Octoberin the night hours as the junta forces came to check the guest lists inthose areas. Later they were taken awayby the army and police personnel by the military vehicles to an unknown place.

Before their arrests, the soldiers kicked on the doors ofhouses and dragged those people out. They were beaten andfinally taken away by the military personnel, stated the familymembers.

"We haven't heard anything about them. It’s 6 days since their arrest. They arenot even handed over to the police. We are really worried as we can not go tothe army officers for information about them,” said a concerned family member.

A relative of U Khin Maung Kyawinformed Narinjara News that more than 20 military councilsoldiers arrived at the location and confiscated theircell phones before ransacking the house. The soldiersalso beat up the arrestees.

"The household-heads (around 30 to 50 years old) are being arrestedand their families are now facing difficulties.The arrested individuals are not involved in politics for a longtime," he asserted.

The worried families allege that the army personnel have disobeyed therelevant laws as those arrested have not been produced in the courtand also not even handed over to the police.