Narinjara News, May 22, 2025 

Around 60 youths from Rakhine and Chin who traveled outside Rakhine, including to Yangon and Burma proper, have been apprehended by the military council. 

According to a local individual from Ann, they were detained on May 20, 21, and 22 while traveling on the Ann Roma mountain road from Rakhine to Burma proper and have since been untraceable, losing contact with their families.  

"Nowadays, both youth and adults are heading to Myanmar, particularly to Yangon. To my knowledge, there will have been around sixty of them over the last few days. A lot of Chin individuals are leaving. Young people from Rakhine are leaving as well. There are military council columns on the roads.. Individuals in Rakhine lack internet connectivity and are unaware of current events. There are apprehensions occurring on the routes from Rakhine to Minbu via the Ann Roma mountain pass," he stated.

The detained young individuals are from Myebon, Ann, and Minbya townships located in Rakhine State. 

The youth are believed to be studying and working in Yangon, while others intend to depart for Thailand and Malaysia through Yangon. They were apprehended in Ann Roma while passing the road when they encountered the military columns. Following their arrest, the military council forces demanded money for their release and inquired about the Arakan Army (AA), a released Rakhine informed Narinjara. 

"As increasing numbers of individuals traveled to Yangon for different purposes. The military officials checked their credentials and registration. During the apprehension, military officials demanded bribes. They inquired about the AA activities and future plans. We primarily used illegal paths facilitated by brokers. That day we were fortunate and escaped from the Minbu gate,” he remarked.

On May 9, the military council arrested 25 Chin individuals from Myebon and Minbya in Minbu Township, Magway Division, and they were released on May 10 after paying a fine. 

If someone intends to travel from Rakhine to the mainland, they must pay up to 60 million kyats to brokers, who will transport you to Minbu and then you can proceed with your own arrangements from Minbu. 

In the ongoing ceasefire, combat between the military and the AA, which includes revolutionary groups, has ceased; however, reports indicate that the military is advancing and increasing its presence near Arakan Roma, where conflict with the AA is occurring.