Narinjara News, 28 June 2022

A number of  Rakhine youths have gone  missing after they were arrestedby the military councils during this month from the capital city of ArakanState.

Some of the missing youths include  Nyi Nyi (15 years old), Maung Han Soe(14) and Maung Than Tun (19) hailing from Mingan ward, Maung Phyu (26) fromSkye Pin Tan ward, Soe Naing Win (19) and Maung San Aye (20) from Byin Phyuvillage under Sittwe township,   Kyaw Than Aye (17) from ThinponChaung village under  Pauktaw township, Aung Zaw Lin (20) from Sin Chan village under  Mrauk-U township and Kyaw Aye Hlaing (26) fromMinbya township.

They were abducted by the junta soldiers from Sittwe after the Arakan Armymembers arrested  a military captain and a soldier from the city on 23June.

Other detainees identified as Nai Myo Tun (18) and Min Aung Khaing (17) fromPauktaw Pyin village and Myo Thwin (27) from the urban area under Ponna Kyunttownship. Two more namely Sai Wunna Kyaw (28) and Ko Tun Tun Zaw (20) are alsomissing from  Kyaukphyu locality.

Not only the young people, but many civilians over 30 years of age were alsoarrested by the military authorities. Kyaw Win Hlaing (32), a three-wheelerdriver from Mrauk-U's Kyauk Raz Kay ward was arrested on 22 June and latertaken to battalion 540. He is still missing, claimed his wife.

The detainees are not even tried in the courts. Arresting and even torturingwithout handing over the detainees to the police within the mendatory 24 hoursbecome a tradition for the Myanmar military, commented a veteran Rakhinepolitician. U Pe Than, a former Pyithu Hluttaw member from Myebon township,criticized the military atrocities on common people.

"It’s a violation of the conventional law. Moreover it is also a severeviolation of human rights,” he added.

Since the middle of June, the AA has detained over  17 Burmese militarypersonnel and policemen  in various Rakhine townships like PonnaKyun,  Kyauk Taw, Mrauk-U and Sittwe.

Rakhine Human Rights Defenders Group director Myat Tun alleged  that followingthe arrests of Burmese military personnel, the armed forces abducted about 50Arakanese civilians suspecting their links with theAA. Among them, one diedduring the interrogation, claimed locals.

However, the military council spokesman General Zaw Min Tun recently told theBBC that no arrest was made in Rakhine State in connection with the AA.

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