Thinzar Nwe, NarinjaraNews, 22 June 2024

At least 40individuals, including children, women and the elderly persons, hailing fromSittwe locality, who fled to Ponnagyun township to escape the conflict, werearrested by the junta soldiers during a patrol.

Thedetained individuals  are residents of Thein Than and Nar Yi Kan villagesunder Sittwe township of Arakan State.

They were arrested by the juntasoldiers during an ambush at Kyauk Tan Gyi checkpoint in Sittwe at around 9 pmon 20 June, as they tried to flee towards Ponnagyun, said a resident of Sittwe.

"Asthe fighting reached Sittwe, they were scared of suing as human shields by thejunta soldiers and hence they fled from their places. But they were arrested ontheir way by the soldiers,” added the resident.

TheSittwe’s rural residents  are encountering numerous hardships, includingforced relocation, demolition of houses, arrests, torture and extortion by thejunta forces. Now they are being arrested while trying to escape the conflict.

"Evenstaying at home, we do not feel safe. We have to live in horror as the juntasoldiers may come anytime to demolish our houses. The presence of young girlsmay invite more troubles. On the other hand, if we try to escape the conflict,they will arrest us,” said a female resident.

On 11 June,11 individuals attempting to flee from Ah Myint Kyun, Par Da Leik and AungTaing villages, were arrested by the junta’s navy personnel who were anchoredin the river near Ah Myint Kyun village. Four men and three women escaped, buttwo men were killed and two women were detained.

Nine menfrom Aung Taing village and one man from Kyet Taw Pyin village, who werearrested by the junta forces on 4 and 13 June, have gone missing since then.

From 1 to22 June, over 200 individuals were arrested from Sittwe, said the victim'sfamily members, adding that many of them are still under military custody andsome went missing.