Naung Min Thu, Narinjara News, 14 August 2024

 More than 20 local residents, including somegovernment employees detained by the junta forces, had gone missing fromMaungdaw town on the western border of Arakan State, said the affectedfamilies.

Among those arrested there are U Thein Kyaw Maung, anassistant at the land records department and two employees from Maungdawhospital with U Ye Min, U Ye Min Oo, etc.

"Since they were detained, we have no contactwith them. We heard they were kept at the 5th border guard police battalion(NaKhaKha-5)," said a close family member.

U Thein Kyaw Maung and three others were arrested from Har Bi village at around10 am on 16 May while they were returning to Maungdaw after placing theirfamily in Laung Don village and renting a boat from Pyar Thar village.

Similarly, U Ye Min and U Ye Min Oo, employees of Maungdaw hospital, werearrested by the junta forces on 15 May at 5  pm while they visited MaungNi village.

Similarly, nine people from Bo Hmue village underMaungdaw (including U Maung Maung Chey, U Kyaw Khaing and Tun Naing Win) werearrested by the Muslim armed forces allied with the junta soldiers. Two of themwere released and the others are still missing.

On 30 May, six local residents from Aung Myay Baw Di village (including U DaungPyauk, Maung Maung Chey, Ah Yoe, Nay Myo Tun, U Myat Naing and a Hinduindividual)  were arrested along with three weapons which they receivedfrom Meitei (Kathe) people.

The Hindu individual is released but the other five personsremain in their custody.

Five local youths from Myoma north ward in Maungdaw (including Win Chey, KyawNaing Oo/ Kun Thee, Naing Naing Zaw, La Bu Chey and Zee Kwet Chey) werearrested by the junta forces and they were yet to be released.

"We heard that one of them died due to illness.Four other civilians who were arrested from number 2 basic education highschool were released by the border guard personnel," said a family member.

On 22 July, U Kyaw Sein Aung was abducted by the Muslimarmed forces allied with the junta while returning to Bo Hmue village. U MaungAye was picked up from his residence in ward number 1 of  Sheik Tharvillage on 27 July.

Some Muslims hailing from Maungdaw were also arrestedby the soldiers, but no details are available with Narinara News at thismoment.

Local residents claimed that nearly 100 Arakanesealong with Muslims and Hindus were detained by the junta forces at NaKhaKha-5and they may be used as human shields in need.