Several detainees in Ramree Twsp released, one man remains in military custody

By DMG 19 Oct 2022

DMG Newsroom
19 October 2022, Ramree

Of 16 people recently detained by the military in Ramree Township, Arakan State, 15 have been released, but a local man remains under military detention, according to those released.

The detainees were arrested by the military in Ramree Township from October 9-15. Ko Aung Kyaw Win, a resident from Chinminpyin Village, remains in military custody.

“Eight people from our ward and seven others, totaling 15 people, were released yesterday. We were questioned about the Arakan Army,” said one of those released.

According to those who were released, they were interrogated on matters concerning the Arakan Army (AA) and were warned not to assist the ethnic armed group.

“I was beaten and warned not to help the AA. I was interrogated about the AA. Ko Aung Kyaw Win is still detained in military custody,” said another ex-detainee.

Even during the peak of fighting between the Myanmar military and Arakan Army from 2018 to 2020, the military rarely interrogated residents in the southern Arakan State townships of Ramree, Thandwe, Manaung and Taungup regarding AA-related issues.

With the AA expanding its administrative mechanism — including a judicial system and tax collection scheme separate from the Myanmar government — across Arakan State starting in 2020, the military has turned an increasingly hostile eye on those efforts in southern Arakan State, warning residents there not to help the AA.

The regime has made a series of civilian arrests in southern Arakan following renewed fighting between the military and Arakan Army concentrated in parts of northern Arakan State, as well as neighbouring Paletwa Township, Chin State.