Narinjara News, July 7, 2025

Military Council forces and police are detaining and extorting some IDPs who are going back to their hometown Sittwe from Yangon.

"Their IDs are verified when they enter Sittwe Airport. Over the years, several of the IDs have faded. Those individuals are arrested by them. They also apprehend other individuals who may be vulnerable to extortion for a variety of reasons. They scrutinize suspicious people more. They are brought immediately to City Police Station No. (1) after being arrested if they are not believed,” a local stated.

This issue affects Sittwe residents who, for a variety of reasons, fled Sittwe for Yangon and are now returning home because they are struggling to find employment and other opportunities in Yangon.

One of the escapees' relatives told Narinjara that several suspects were demanded a large sum of money and that a local guy had to pay about 4 million kyats before being freed.

“They asked for nearly 40 lakhs. They wouldn't be released if they didn't pay. Nevertheless, as city residents, they were able to pay. There was no way out. Those who were arrested and were from rural areas who could not afford the bail are still incarcerated,” he said.

Furthermore, one of the detainees informed Narinjara that soldiers and police raided the homes of certain refugees from Yangon and conducted searches.

"They entered the houses and conducted a search. At the airport they had conducted a search of them all. Which neighborhood do you reside in? What brought you back? Why did you leave for Yangon? They have a list. They claim to have a list of individuals who departed Sittwe.”

Additionally, locals reported that the names and images of the individuals who left the city were displayed at the Sittwe airport.

In Sittwe, where security measures have been increased, daily inspections are also being conducted by ALP soldiers and Muslim military trainees along with junta troops.

A security crisis resulted from confrontations between the Arakan Army (AA) and the military council in February 2024 on the outskirts of Sittwe and neighboring villages.

Some artillery shells fired by the military council's navy struck near the Korean Port Flyover Market in Mizan Ward, Sittwe, on February 29, 2024, killing 12 civilians, severely wounding 31 people, and causing about 50 minor and moderate injuries.

Around three-quarters of Sittwe's population have left the city since then. According to locals, the causes of the exodus from Yangon in 2025 are the rising cost of housing in the former capital, the lack of employment prospects, and the military council's arrest of young and middle-aged Rakhine people. Those conditions caused them to return to Sittwe, their capital.