The military council has detained more than 100 locals in Sittwe of Arakan State, citing that they hold other NRC cards instead of NRC card with 11/SaTaNa(N).
On the nights on 17 and 18 May, the military council soldiers raided Rakhamandaing monastery, Shwezaydi monastery, Buddamaw monastery and Buddha University and houses in Ywagyimyauk, Ohntabin, Sinkulan and Rupa-north wards in Sittwe. They arrested the peoples citing guest list inspections.
They were arrested on suspicion of not holding NRC cards issued to Sittwe, locals said.
“More than 100 people got arrested. We don’t know the exact number of detainees yet. They remain in detention. They are being detained at No.1 and No.2 police stations in Sittwe. They are not allowed to meet with their families,” said a local man from Konetan ward in Sittwe.
The detainees are those who move from Buthidaung, MraukU, Minbya and Pauktaw Townships and those who are trapped when coming to Sittwe for social affairs. They are women and middle-age persons.
The DMG is still trying to contact the family members of those detained.
Since the war in Arakan State, the military council has been checking door-to-door guest lists in Sittwe, locals said.
A local from Ywagyi Myauk ward said: “There was a bit of a lull in the fight. Now, the junta has tightened inspections. As a result, locals got arrested. The junta arrets locals due to various reasons. We have to pay around Ks-5,000 for household guest list as the junta-controlled office has collected. Those trapped in Sittwe are daily wage earners and those who remain in the house. The people have to be afraid of the military council while they are facing higher commodity prices and good shortages.
A person who takes refuge in a monastery said, “Some people trapped in the town have to rely on the monasteries as they are facing food difficulties. The junta soldiers are carrying out forced arrests despite knowing the difficulties of IDPs.”
Except for Maungdaw, the AA has seized control of townships in northern Arakan State. Pauktaw, Ponnagyun and Rathedaung Townships, which is very close to Sittwe, are also under the control of AA.
An official of Arakan CSO said the military council is arresting the people whose NRC cards are not from Sittwe for fear that the AA could attack Sittwe soon.
“The military council feels unsafe for fear that after the total capture of Maungdaw, the AA will advance Sittwe. The military council is very afraid of the AA’s capture of town. So, the military council is hunting down locals as the people are regarded as AA members. In fact, Arakanese people can live in any towns in Arakan State, the official said.
The DMG contacted Arakan State military council’s spokesperson U Hla Thein to seek comments on it, no reply was received.
In April, AA Commander-in-Chief Major General Twan Mrat Naing warned residents of Sittwe to flee to safer places.
In an attempt to hampers the evacuation of trapped locals, the military council has placed landmines around the town in addition to the arrests of locals and the burning of vessels and boats.
Sent by Aung Htein (DMG)