- Web Master
- February 27, 2024
The
fishermen who are detained include Maung
Tun Myint, Maung Soe Min Tun, Maung Aye Hla and U Than Htay from
Shwe
Pyi Thar village. The
rest of them namely U Aung Chan Hla, U Kyaw Ye Aung, U Kyaw
Htay Win, U Kyaw Naing and Maung Thein Naing hail from
Kyan Chaung village under
Ponna Kyunt township,
but lately they were
temporarily residing in Shwe
Pyi Thar village.
According to a
local source, the fishery department officials accompanied by 20 soldiers took
away those nine individuals in the morning hours on 7 December.
"Those
engaged in fishing activities need to possess a license from the fishery
department. The license comprises personal information about the holders. In
accordance with the military's directives, they were taken away by the soldiers
in a military vehicle. The explanation provided says that they are being taken
to retrieve the nets from rivers. As of now, they are yet to return and hence
their families are worried about them,” said a local source.
Several
local eyewitnesses informed that the fishermen
along with the soldiers
departed Sat Yoe Kya creek in their boats towards Taung Fhu mountain in Pauktaw township.
Lately, the navy
personnel indulged in open
firing on vessels,
including the fishing boats,
causing fishermen to refrain from fishing activities. Local
residents stated that the nets put
in the rivers remain
undisturbed, but now the fishermen
have been asked to take those
away as it has affected the navigation.