Narinjara News, July 21, 2025

The Military Council Navy detained more than ten Rakhine fishermen and their fishing boats without any reason on July 19.

The fishermen who were detained with the fishing vessels came from Kyaukpyu Township (5), Rambree Township (3), and Manaung Township (3).

The individuals detained from Kyaukpyu Township are U Myint Swe from Gong Chwein Village, U Min Thu from Malakyun Village, U Htun Lin Aung from Kon Gyi Village, and U San Hla Bo and U Phlan from Zin Chaung Kon Bwe Village.

Ko Aung Chit Htun of Lay Taung Township, U Maung Myo Win, and Maung Khin Aung Thein, all of Sin Taek Maw village, were among those detained from Rambree Township.

A boat and three middle-aged males were among those detained in Man Aung Township at the mouth of Thit Pon Chaung.

According to a local witness interviewed by Narinjara, the individuals who were taken into custody in Kyaukphyu and Rambree were arrested yesterday, July 19, while they were fishing in the waters below the mouth of Kin Chaung creek.

"On the Rambree side, the individuals apprehended were fishing at the mouth of Kin Chaung creek. Navy troops captured them close to the community of Wa Nak Chwein in the Rambree district. From Kyaukphyu and Rambree, there were two fishing boats. There were eight individuals. They were brought aboard the navy, as far as we know, he stated.

Furthermore, the military council's navy at Thit Pon Chaung seized a fishing boat on the evening of July 19 that was headed by three men from Manaung Township, according to Narinjara, who spoke with a local man from Manaung.

“ They went fishing at Thit Pon Chaung. It was evening, and the sun was setting. The anglers were taken into custody by the navy. They were taken into custody after the navy called them. The anglers are still not free at this time, he said.

Since the start of the war with the Arakan Army on November 23, 2023, the military council has imposed a strict ban on Arakanese fishermen fishing at sea and has regularly arrested and shot them.

The military council's navy frequently detains fishermen who make a livelihood from fishing, and the majority of them have disappeared and have never been freed.

The military council's navy is stationed in the sea between the towns of Sittwe, Kyaukphyu, Pauktaw, and Man Aung, where it patrols the area and seizes fishing boats on sight, forcing the local population to endanger their lives in order to make a living rather than participating in commercial fishing.

The majority of the fishermen detained by the military council come from the towns of Pauktaw, Kyaukphyu, Man Aung, and Ram Bree.