AA releases 144 prisoners of war on humanitarian grounds

By Admin 13 Aug 2025

DMG Newsroom

13 August 2025, Taungup

The Arakan Army (AA) released 144 family members of prisoners of war captured during the battle for control of Taungup in Arakan State on August 9, military sources said.

The prisoners of war reportedly include many women and children from the regime's Taungup-based No. 5 Military Operations Command and other battalions.

The families of the prisoners of war were reportedly escorted to their desired destinations by the AA's Nova 2 Military Region after a ceremony.

"They were returned to their families. They were also sent to wherever they wanted to go. Among the prisoners of war were children, women, and adults," said a male military source.

The AA captured Taungup in December 2024 and is currently establishing an administrative apparatus in the region.

According to records collected by DMG, the AA has released more than 1,200 family member prisoners of war captured during the latest fighting in Arakan State in at least five separate batches. A local man in Taungup applauded the AA's latest releases.

"Taking care of the families of prisoners of war captured in the fighting is a burden for the AA, as well as a security responsibility. I believe that the AA's release of prisoners of war is a good move because it is based on humanitarian grounds," he added.

The AA has captured 14 of 17 townships in Arakan State and Paletwa Township in Chin State since the latest fighting began in November 2023, capturing thousands of prisoners of war and their family members.

Myanmar's military regime carried out an airstrike on a facility housing families of prisoners of war on December 18, 2024, killing 28 family members and injuring 25 others.

The military regime's aerial bombardment of AA detention camps in Pauktaw and Maungdaw townships in September killed 57 prisoners of war and 10 civilians, and injured many more.

The military regime's aerial bombardment of Arakan State has killed more than 100 prisoners of war and their family members, and injured more than 120.