Over 50 civilians, including IDPs, arrested in Sittwe lately

Over 50 civilians, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), have been arrested in Sittwe township of Rakhine State. Rakhine State police major himself took the lead to detain the people, said local residents.

A group of soldiers under the command of the police major arrived  16 March in the morning hours and arrested 18 passengers from Myoma market jetty, who  came from  Pauktaw in three small boats.

"The passengers were arrested by the police major himself. We heard that 18 passengers were arrested, but it may be more,” said a resident.

The arrested passengers came to Sittwe for shopping purposes and they were detained following the military junta's restrictions on travels by common people.

Another elderly man from Sittwe informed  Narinjara News that on 15 March, the junta's navy personnel arrested more than 30 people, who were fleeing from  Myo Lel creek.

"They were arrested at around 1 pm. Those who fled out of fear were also apprehended. Now the security has been tightened in Sittwe,” he added.

Over 50 people are currently under detention  at Sittwe number 1 police station. The authorities are reportedly preparing to register  cases against them.

Lately, fishing boats have been banned from entering and departing Sittwe market since 16 March.

Till date, neither Rakhine State security & border affairs minister colonel Kyaw Thura nor Rakhine State military junta spokesperson U Hla Thein have made any statement. Sittwe number 1 police station in-charge also did not respond to telephone calls from Narinjara News.

In last December, the junta forces arrested a number of  passengers and also fishermen from the fishing boats docked at BXT (Korea Port) in Sittwe.