Junta forces arrest 40 IDPs for not having Sittwe national registration cards

Maung Sar Ga

Narinjara News, 25 May 2024

Following an overnight guest list inspection, the junta forces arrested 40 male internally displaced persons (IDPs), who did not have national registration cards, from Shwe Zedi monastery in Sittwe of Arakan State.

An individual close to the monastery informed Narinjara News that the arrest was made by 1:30 am on 24 May.

"The holders of national registration cards hailing from Mrauk-U, Pauktaw and Rathedaung townships were selected and detained. They are  40 people in total. So far, we have not been able to contact them," added the individual.

A number of IDPs and other individuals who face livelihood problems have sought refuge in the monastery. Currently, around  400 people are taking shelter there.

The arrested individuals are aged from 18 to 40 years. They primarily work  as masons.  

In Sittwe, the junta soldiers are arresting a lot of people without having the registration cards.

In the past few days, they have arrested IDPs from 10 other monasteries in Sittwe.

Among them, who can afford to pay Kyats 200,000 was released. The others continue to be detained.

The AA’s humanitarian and development coordination office (HDCO) claimed that the junta forces arrested 471 civilians, comprising 424 men and 47 women (including Muslims) with the period from 13 November 2023 to 21 March 2024.