Around 30 Arakanese IDPs arrested in Ayeyarwady, families remain clueless

Saw Shin May, Narinjara News, 3 September 2024

Around 30 Arakanese internally displaced persons, who were arrested in the Ayeyarwady region by the junta forces, remain out of contact with their families.

The arrested individuals are fishermen from Gwa and Thandwe townships, who were fleeing the conflict in their places and currently working in Kyonpyaw town in the Ayeyarwady region.

They were arrested by a patrolling junta column on 20 August from  Kyonpyaw Myoma market in the evening hours, as they were returning from the market and tea shops.

A resident told Narinjara News that they remain in custody for  10 days, but their families have no clues about them.

“People in the fishing industry normally work in the night hours and sleep during the day. Those who came to the Ayeyarwady region are currently out of work and their sleep schedules were already disrupted. They were arrested as they were enjoying  leisure time at night. We don’t know where they were being taken,” he added.

Most of the Thandwe and Gwa residents are now taking shelter in  Ayeyarwady as internally displaced persons.

Those IDPs from Arakan State, now living in Ayeyarwady,  registered their names in  an overnight guest list with the ward and village administrators. However, they are being constantly monitored by the junta soldiers.

“We are being monitored like the parents watch a child closely,” he asserted.

Following the resurgence of gun fighting between Junta forces and Arakan Army (AA) , many residents from Arakan State sought refuge as IDPs in liberated areas within the State and on the mainland.

Meanwhile, the junta soldiers continue arresting the Arakanese nationals who have taken shelter on the mainland.

On 29 August at  around 6 pm, the junta soldiers from the battalions in Gwa arrested over 10 Arakanese youths in Yae Kyaw village. It’s not  known where they are being detained till now.

These youths hail from Sin Gaung and Gyeik Taw villages under Thandwe township and they come to Yae Kyaw village escaping the conflict.

Photograph Military vehicles on the main road in Sittwe of Arakan State during the military coup in February 2021.