Junta troops check Sittwe apartments for overnight guests

By DMG 19 Aug 2022

DMG Newsroom
19 August 2022, Sittwe 

Junta security forces conducted searches for overnight guests in some apartments at the Shwe Pyi Tha low-cost housing in Sittwe’s Sat Yoe Kya ward at around 9 p.m. on Thursday, according to residents. 

At least 100 regime soldiers and policemen checked for overnight guests and reportedly did not reveal the reason for the overnight checks, leaving the affordable housing complex in the Arakan State capital at about midnight, a resident told DMG on condition of anonymity. 

“Junta soldiers and police knocked at the door at around 9 p.m., telling us they would conduct an overnight check. We were asked for our native [hometown or village] and occupation, and told to register any overnight guests on the list at the ward administrator’s office. They [junta soldiers] took pictures of us, but I don’t know the reason why,” the unnamed resident added. 

Locals in Sat Yoe Kya ward were left worried about the junta soldiers’ unexpected overnight visitor checks. 

“They looked at us with suspicious eyes during the overnight guest check. Then, we are worried that we will be examined and questioned because we are girls,” said another resident who did not want to be named for security reasons. “I was scared when they knocked on the door late at night. We are worried if we see them, even if it is daytime.” 

She added: “They [junta soldiers and police] were reportedly searching for a Chinese man who illegally lives in the apartment. It was raining when the junta soldiers and police in military trucks arrived at the apartment. The military trucks were parked in the dark and junta soldiers and police also circled the apartment.” 

DMG’s repeated phone calls to Arakan State Security and Border Affairs Minister Colonel Kyaw Thura about the overnight guest checks at the Sittwe apartments went unanswered on Friday. 

Around 80 regime soldiers, police and firefighters checked for overnight guests in Sittwe’s Mingan ward on the night of August 4. 

Military tensions have been running high in Arakan State, with the Myanmar military and Arakan Army recently engaged in intermittent clashes.