Naypyidaw issues arrest warrant for doctor on duty at Kyeintali hospital

Narinjara News, 9 August 2024

The military junta has issued an arrest warrant for Dr Khaing Maung Htwe, who works at Kyeintali general hospital in Gwa township under  Thandwe district in southern Arakan State. The authorities are actively searching for him.

On 2 August at around 5  pm, a joint team of military intelligence forces, police and soldiers, acting on the arrest warrant from Nay Pyi Taw, conducted searches at the hospital and also the doctor's residence.

According to a source close to Dr Khaing Maung Htwe, the team arrested four people from Kant Kaw Taung village (including Ko Aung Tin and Ma Mya Mya Win), but could not locate the doctor. The doctor is hiding to evade the arrest.

Kant Kaw Taung village is approximately 7 miles away from Kyeintali town. The exact reason for the search operation remains unclear. A resident of Kyeintali town revealed that the junta suspected the doctor was supplying medicines to Arakan Army (AA) members.

"The junta banned the import of medicines to Arakan State through the Yangon-Gwa highway. In Thandwe town, the free funeral  societies sought the doctor’s help to transport some medicines for the patients who sustained injuries from  artillery shelling. The junta believes that he was supplying medicines to the AA members,” added the resident.

The junta imposed a strict ban on supply of medicines to  Gwa and Kyeintali towns. The ban is aimed to prevent the AA members from accessing medical supplies. But it has affected the local residents in need of essential medicines.

Moreover, the junta has increased its military presence around the localities apprehending an AA offensive.

If the war intensifies, local residents and internally displaced persons from Thandwe will probably face more difficulties.