Spokesman says military focused on securing release of abducted NLD candidates 

By Aung Htein 24 Oct 2020

Aung Htein | DMG
24 October 2020, Sittwe 

The military and the government are working together to secure the release of three National League for Democracy (NLD) candidates who were abducted by the Arakan Army earlier this month, according to Brigadier-General Zaw Min Tun of the Tatmadaw True News Information Team.  

“The military is carrying out the necessary intelligence, security and military operations. The military is conducting military operations based on a tipoff. I would like to say that we are constantly attempting to ensure the release of the three NLD candidates,” the military spokesman said at a press conference in Nay Pyi Taw on October 24. 

The Arakan Army (AA) on October 14 abducted the three NLD candidates in Taungup Township, Arakan State. Daw Chit Chit Chaw, Daw Ni Ni May Myint and U Min Aung are running for seats in the Amyotha Hluttaw, Pyithu Hluttaw and Arakan State legislature, respectively, to represent Taungup.  

They were campaigning for the November 8 general election at the time they were detained.  

In a lengthy recitation of grievances against the current civilian government and the Tatmadaw forces it has waged war against for nearly two years, the AA released a statement on October 19 saying it had “unavoidably taken the three crooked NLD members.” 

“We will release the three of them if the NLD government release [sic] politicians, students and innocent people without exception who have been arrested and detained unlawfully for demanding peace,” the statement added. 

The NLD candidates “will be detained and investigated as required by circumstances till a certain time,” the AA said. 

On Saturday, Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun did not hesitate to criticise the AA’s tactics in Taungup Township.

 “I want to say that arresting people is not the right thing to do,” he said. 

In its October 19 statement, the Arakan Army said it would continue to defend “against the Myanmar government and fascist military’s offensive operations,” but adding that “we believe that we will only be able to resolve the political deadlocks through negotiations.”  

Referring jointly to the AA’s political wing, the United League of Arakan, the statement concluded: “Hence, we hereby wish to state that the ULA/AA is ready to start the political dialogue for the peace process by ending all the fighting as soon as possible.”  

The government has opened the door to peace talks with the AA, but the ethnic armed group must refrain from anything that could lead to the disintegration of the Union or national unity, Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun warned.