Saw Shin May, Narinjara News, 10 August 2024

The military junta forces start detaining civilians inGwa township of Arakan State, where there are no recent conflicts and militarytensions have been heightened.

During the first week of August, the junta forcesarrested nine individuals from Kant Kaw (south) village, including a couplewith a 3-month-old baby.

The arrested individuals include U Zeyar Aung, U PaukKyine, U Aung Myo Oo, U Aung Gyi, and Ko Zin Min Htet. 

"An infant along with the parents were taken awayfrom their residence. They were tied up by the junta soldiers. As Gwa has a lotof mosquitoes, the family is kept in a cell in Gwa police station to avoid anydengue related sickness," said a local resident.

Besides the baby’s family, two men from Kant Kaw(middle) and Kant Kaw (Kwat Thit) villages were arrested from the Sat Thwarbridge gate. They are accused of supporting the Arakan Army and the soldiersphysically assaulted them.

"The soldiers demanded money from the manuallabourers and later arrested them with the accusation of supporting the AAmembers. They were taken to the monastery and beaten by the soldiers,” addedthe resident.

The remaining four individuals were arrested fromKaing Khone village and they are still in military custody.

Gwa township is located at the southernmost part ofArakan State and the military personnel are seen preparing for any kind of AAoffensives.

The junta soldiers planted a number of  landmines and arrested the residents in an arbitrary manner.

On 8 August at around 2  am, the junta soldiers bombed two villages near Kyeintali town in Gwa locality  using jetfighters. Many villagers died and some sustained injuries.

Additionally on 6 August at 10  pm, the junta'snaval forces fired shells at a ridge in the west of Thea Kone village under Gwatownship.

The township residents apprehend that the AA fightersmay target the  562nd and 563rd light infantry battalions in the localityand hence the soldiers remain alert in the entire locality.