June 24th, 2022
Soldiers and police members have tightened inspections in some downtown wards in Sittwe after the Arakan Army (AA) detained a captain and a private of the military council at around 2 pm on June 23th.
The detained captain is from No.354 Battalion in Mingan ward in Sittwe. The AA detained the private at a motorbike repairing shop in the west Sanpya ward, according to the reliable source.
After the detention of two soldiers by the AA, Myanmar army and police are carrying out the inspections in the west Sanpya ward.
Due to tightened inspections, the schools and Myoma market were closed in Sittwe in the afternoon. Since 2 pm, soldiers and police have carried out tightened inspections of passersby at the entrance and exit gates in Sittwe.
The DMG found the long-line of vehicles from the Arakan State Election Commission Office to the military police at the exit of Sittwe due to tightened inspections.
Locals in Sittwe fear that they may get arrested like those in Kyauktaw, MraukU and Ponnagyun Townships.
There is a military tension between the Myanmar army and the AA. The Myanmar army is arresting the civilians in response to the arrests of soldiers and police members.
The AA has warned the military not to interfere with the AA’s administrative and judiciary matters in Arakan State. Trust between the Myanmar army and the AA becomes low as the Myanmar army continues to interfere in it. As a result, the mutual arrests emerge, political analysts say.
“Myanmar army arrests locals although the AA arrests soldiers and police members. In fact, the government should not do it. The government must sympathize and stand for the public. But the military council is arresting the civilians in response to the AA’s arrests. I think the ULA/AA will not stop arresting soldiers and police,” U Pe Than, the Arakan politician says.
During this month, the Myanmar army has detained around 50 locals from Ponnagyun, MraukU and Kyauktaw Townships. The AA also detained more than 10 soldiers and police members.
Sent by Aung Htein (DMG)