Saw Shin May, Narinjara News, 31 August 2024

The military junta forces have shot at one fishermanand arrested five others in Sittwe of  Arakan State.

The injured fisherman is identified as Ko Khin MaungWin (around 30 years old) hailing from the outskirts of Sittwe. Among thosearrested Ko Kular Chey also hails from the same locality.

The residents reported that a group of  fishermenwere returning from setting fishing-nets at Set Yoe Kya creek near theirvillage at around 3 am on 31 August, when they were arrested by a patrollingteam.

“Six fishermen were coming back after setting theirnets when they encountered the junta soldiers. All six were arrested. One ofthem  ran away and the soldiers fired at him,” said a resident.

Ko Khin Maung Win managed to escape despite hisgunshot injuries. The whereabouts of the arrested five individuals remainunknown.

As fighting near Sittwe escalates, the residentsreport that the junta soldiers imposed travel restrictions and continued makingarrests.

The restriction on goods transportation causedprice-rises of essential commodities. The local residents are experiencing foodscarcity now and they are compelled to find alternate sources of income fortheir survival.

On 29 August at around 11 pm, two men from Kyein KhwayMaw village in Pauktaw township were seriously injured while they went onfishing in Sittwe river as junta soldiers fired from a naval vessel from thesea.

Photograph:  Somewhere in Set Yoe Kya creek