Regime detains eight Muslim men in Sittwe Twsp

By DMG 05 May 2022

DMG Newsroom
5 May 2022, Sittwe 

The Myanmar military arrested eight Muslims from Sittwe Township, Arakan State, on May 3 and 4, according to village officials and the detainees’ family members. 

The arrestees have been identified as U Aung Thein, U Raw Bi, and an unnamed man from Bawdupa village; Saw Lee from Dar Paing village; U Maung Ba from Sittwe’s Magyimyaing Block-9; Kyaw Nu and Ilsok from Thetkelpyin village; and U Tun Hla Sein from Kyet Kai Tan village, a family member of U Maung Ba told DMG. 

“My father was arrested on the way to buy betel quid,” said a son of U Maung Ba. “We don’t know why he was arrested. My father sells beef at Buma bazaar and we lost contact with him. My father is not affiliated with any organisation. He has been working as a butcher for more than 30 years.” 

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a village official confirmed the arrest of eight Muslims. 

“It is true that the military arrested eight Muslims. I don’t know exactly why they were arrested or where they were taken. They are butchers and hawkers,” the village official added. 

DMG attempted to contact Arakan State Security and Border Affairs Minister Colonel Kyaw Thura for comment on the matter, but he could not be reached. 

Last month, Myanmar’s military regime detained two Muslim 100-household heads from Nga Pun village in Sittwe Township on suspicion of having ties to the Arakan Army (AA), but released the two men the next day.