TheMilitary Council has arrested more than 30 people in 5 days from November 10 -14in Rakhine State.

Those arrested were 10youths including university students from Sittwe, 7 from Buthidaung Township, 7including a monk from Minbya Township and 9 people from 2 villages in PonnagyunTownship.

InSittwe, 6 young people living in Gandaryone Monastery in Danyawaddy (A) Ward, and3 other youths from nearby Athawka Rama Monastery, were arrested on the nightof November 11 by Military Council troops.

Aperson close to Gandaryone Monastery said, “ Military Council troops and police arrested them around 11:00 PM onNovember 11.All these youths are students and working people who came from therural areas”.

Inaddition, U Zaw Naing Win (43), a businessman from Sittwe, was also arrested by soldiers and police at his homeon the night of November 12, according to local sources.

InMinbya Township, a total of 7 people, including the abbot of Aung Myay Kone Yadanawara Maythu Monastery and 2gold shop owners, were arrested at their homes or at the monastery, on thenight of November 12 by Military Council troops.

Otherpeople (not from Minbya) who were arrested: 10 youths including universitystudents from Sittwe, 7 from ButhidaungTownship, and 9 people from 2 villages inPonnagyun Township.

Thosearrested in Minbya were Sayadaw U Wara Myitzu (50), the abbot of Aung Myay Kone Yadanawara MaythuMonastery, U Aung Tun Thein (51), owner of Taw Win Gold Shop, and U Kyaw Nu Maung(49), owner of Win Toe Gold Shop. In addition,4 young residents who returned from a pub at night were also arrested.

Othervictims of arrest were U Shwe Thee (56), U Aung Win Thein (49) and U Tun Hla Aye (49) from Kywe Htoe Villagein Ponnagyun Township.

Avillage elder said “TheMilitary Council troops blindfolded, tortured and brought them to

Ponnagyun.”

Atleast 6 locals from Tan Koh Village in Ponnagyun Township were arrested too. Those arrested were Daw Bar Ma(60), U Maung Thein (48), U Maung Tun Aung(57),U Maung Win Kyaing (56), U Kyaw Zaw Hla (60) and U Georgey Aung.

Amongthem, Daw Bar Ma and U Kyaw Zaw Hla are reported to have been released, but their families have not yetbeen contacted.

“Around10:00, the soldiers hey dis-embarked from a ferry vessel, and entered the Tan Koh Village firing guns. Amilitary drone was also firing, and the soldiers chased after the villagers. to arrest.Everybody fled except the old people and those who could not run due to ill health ”avillager said.

Thesearrests triggered an estimated 4000 people who fled from the villages of Tan Koh, Kywe Htoe, Nghet Kyee Kyun,Aidin, Padaytha were forced to seek safer places Sabahta, Kan Chaung andother nearby villages, as well as to downtown Ponnagyun.

In Buthidaung Township, 7people including 3 Muslim businessmen were arrested too.

Thearrested Muslim businessmen were U Chin Chu Ar Laung and u Eui Soo from Wat Ma Kya Muslim Village of ThayKan Khwa Soan Village Tract, and Amir Hu Saung, a resident of MyomaNeighbourhood in Buthidaung Township.

Theywere inspected by the Military Council at Buthidaung harbour when they returned by boat after sellingcattle. A relative said that the Muslim businessmen were arrested and taken to themilitary camp after around 600-lakh kyats of money from the sale of cattle were foundamong their belongings.