Junta forces arrest 70 Sittwe residents once again

 The junta forces have arrested around 70 residents once again from Sittwe, the capital city of Rakhine State, after intensifying security measures across the region.

According to an eyewitness, a group of soldiers conducted an extensive search among the pedestrians at  the Set Yoe Kya road intersection between 6 to  9 am on 4 January. They also detained some rice-grain carrying vehicles along with local residents.

"The soldiers checked all three & two wheelers along with rice-grain carrying vehicles as well as many individuals under suspicion. I saw some boatmen and pedestrians were picked up by the soldiers," added the individual.

A local resident informed that at around  3:30 am on Friday, over 30 workers, heading to their work places near the creek- known as Kalar Chaung, were arrested.

"Over 30 individuals from Byine Phyu and Shwe Pyi Thar villages were detained near Kalar Chaung,” added the resident.

Similarly, 40 vegetable vendors and other workers from Sittwe Myoma market were detained in addition to seizing a fishing boat from Pauktaw township.

"Around 40 people, including vegetable vendors and workers carrying fish, were arrested. At about 3 am, the navy used machine guns to fire over the fish-selling boats near the Pwel Kyit mountain. A boat from Soe Mel Kyi village was also seized by the security personnel. It was then kept alongside other captured boats near Ah Deik Htan pagoda. I saw many packages of dried fishes from the boat were loaded in  a car," added the resident

Some of the individuals, arrested by the soldiers,  were later freed after paying  MMK 300,000 to 1,000,000.

"I cannot confirm the exact count of those released. They were apprehended without any valid reason. Now the soldiers are seeking money from the poor civilians,” he asserted.

Some other residents were also arrested and later released after receiving money. However, the exact number of those released remains unknown.

In a statement issued by Three Brotherhood Alliance (MNDAA, TNLA and AA) on 4 January, it was mentioned that over 60 civilians were arrested from Sittwe locality.

Narinjara News tried to authenticate the information from Rakhine State security & border affairs minister colonel  Kyaw Thura and State military council spokesperson U Hla Thein, but failed.

In recent days, many individuals have been arrested from  Sittwe locality and currently over 100 residents are  in military custody.