- Web Master
- April 26, 2024
The military junta has arrested a former ward administrator along with several
family members from Sittwe in Rakhine State.
U Thein Shwe Maung, a former ward administrator of block (1)
in Ma Kyee Myaing ward under Sittwe township along with his two daughters, two
sons-in-law and two granddaughters were arrested from their residence.
An administrator from Sittwe informed Narinjara News that
they were picked up at around 9:30 pm on 24 March.
"He is a former administrator. One of his sons claimed
that the junta suspected him to be associated with the ULA/AA. The entire
family was apprehended by a group of 30 soldiers. One granddaughter is still in
her adolescent years," he added.
The administrator expressed his concern for those in
custody.
"I'm not sure if they were taken to the 20th infantry
battalion or the police station. No reasons were cited for the arrest. Their
current whereabouts are not known,” he stated.
The residents alleged that junta soldiers and police personnel frequently
arrested the passengers travelling by boats from Sittwe to rural areas. The
young, middle-aged and even elderly men from rural areas were also detained
showing no apparent reason.
Since the junta forces resorted to artillery shelling on
urban areas including the markets in Sittwe from February, at least 30 innocent
people died and many residents fled to nearby areas.