Junta forces detain 40 individuals, Including women & children, from Sittwe

Thinzar Nwe, Narinjara News, 22 June 2024

At least 40 individuals, including children, women and the elderly persons, hailing from Sittwe locality, who fled to Ponnagyun township to escape the conflict, were arrested by the junta soldiers during a patrol.

The detained individuals  are residents of Thein Than and Nar Yi Kan villages under Sittwe township of Arakan State.

They were arrested by the junta soldiers during an ambush at Kyauk Tan Gyi checkpoint in Sittwe at around 9 pm on 20 June, as they tried to flee towards Ponnagyun, said a resident of Sittwe.

"As the fighting reached Sittwe, they were scared of suing as human shields by the junta soldiers and hence they fled from their places. But they were arrested on their way by the soldiers,” added the resident.

The Sittwe’s rural residents  are encountering numerous hardships, including forced relocation, demolition of houses, arrests, torture and extortion by the junta forces. Now they are being arrested while trying to escape the conflict.

"Even staying at home, we do not feel safe. We have to live in horror as the junta soldiers may come anytime to demolish our houses. The presence of young girls may invite more troubles. On the other hand, if we try to escape the conflict, they will arrest us,” said a female resident.

On 11 June, 11 individuals attempting to flee from Ah Myint Kyun, Par Da Leik and Aung Taing villages, were arrested by the junta’s navy personnel who were anchored in the river near Ah Myint Kyun village. Four men and three women escaped, but two men were killed and two women were detained.

Nine men from Aung Taing village and one man from Kyet Taw Pyin village, who were arrested by the junta forces on 4 and 13 June, have gone missing since then.

From 1 to 22 June, over 200 individuals were arrested from Sittwe, said the victim's family members, adding that many of them are still under military custody and some went missing.