Family
members of 60 inmates at Taungup Myoma police station informed Narinjara News
that they are worried about the safety of them as the military conflict
intensifies in Taungup town of Arakan State, where the military
operations command (MOC-5) is based.
"The
military situation in Taungup turns volatile and so we are concerned. We fled
the conflict ourselves, but those detained still remain in Taungup under police
custody. We prefer them to be released before the fighting escalates,"
said a family member of an inmate.
According
to a source close to the junta’s administration, about 30 inmates remain at
Taungup Myoma police station facing charges under sections 17 (1) and 17 (2)
for unlawful associations, with 30 others for different charges.
Some of
those inmates are also suffering from diarrhea & other ailments and need
urgent medical care.
"Many
of the inmates are not involved in politics. Some are facing health issues. We
hope they will be released as soon as possible," said a family member of
an individual, who is detained under the anti-terrorism laws.
Meanwhile,
the situation in Taungup is worsening as the Arakan Army (AA) fighters are
gradually approaching the locality.
On 31
January, the junta forces killed former journalist Ko Myat Thu Tun (aka Phoe
Thiha) along with six others, who were detained at the 378th light
infantry battalion base in Mrauk-U.
Similarly,
during the battle of Minbya in February, the junta soldiers killed two
inmates. So
the family members are concerned as
the junta soldiers often kill the inmates in crisis.
About 20
inmates suspected to have links with the AA were recently transported to MOC-5
from Taungup police station on the night of 9 August in private cars.
Now the
junta is planning to transfer 12 inmates from Taungup police station to the
mainland.
A local
military source informed Narinjara News that the junta is planning to
transfer another group of 12 inmates from Taungup police station to the
mainland.
As tensions
remain high in Taungup between the junta soldiers and AA fighters,
the residents expressed serious concern over then military operations
conducted by the soldiers in the locality.