POWs in Arakan State call for political negotiations amid ongoing airstrikes

By Admin 03 Apr 2026

DMG Newsroom

3 April 2026, Ann

Prisoners of war and their family members in Arakan State are calling for the swiftest possible achievement of mutually agreeable political negotiations and coordination between the Myanmar regime and the Arakan Army.

There are thousands of junta soldiers and their family members who surrendered to the Arakan Army during the latest fighting in Arakan State, and they are currently being detained in various locations.

Among them, the Arakan Army has been releasing groups of prisoners and their families, although some remain unable to be released due to various reasons.

On the other hand, the regime has been conducting airstrikes targeting these prisoner of war camps.

Consequently, prisoners of war and their families in Arakan State are facing life threatening risks and a lack of safety due to the actions of the regime.

The prisoners and their family members are calling for an end to the aerial bombings of these camps and urging both the regime and the Arakan Army to engage in discussions to reach a political settlement.

Daw Yin Htay, a family member of a prisoner of war at the Darlatchaung detention camp in Ann Township, told DMG, "I want to appeal for them to stop dropping bombs on the prisons. Furthermore, I want the senior leaders to negotiate and coordinate politically to settle this quickly. I do not want war to happen anywhere anymore."

Daw Yin Htay, who is over 30 years old, and her family members surrendered to the Arakan Army during the battle for Ann in December 2024.

Based on humanitarian grounds, the Arakan Army has been releasing groups of prisoners of war and family members captured during the battles, and it is reported that the number of released individuals has reached over 2,000.

Conversely, the regime has continued to carry out aerial bombings on the camps where prisoners of war are held, and the number of casualties among prisoners and families awaiting release is increasing.

The prisoners stated that building understanding and trust between the regime and the Arakan Army is crucial for the release of prisoners of war whose lives are at risk due to the regime's attacks.

Colonel Thet Htoo San from the Military Operations Command said, "Leaders of the Arakan Army have told us that we will be released once a political settlement is reached. A situation where both sides reach an agreement would make things happen much faster. To achieve a political resolution, the most important thing is for there to be trust and understanding between the current governing administration and the Arakan Army. If both sides can coordinate, the war will stop. On the other hand, the prisoners of war detained by both sides will also be released."

It has been expressed that the regime's aerial attacks on prisoner of war camps in Arakan State have undermined hopes for the prisoners' release.

Prisoners of war in Arakan State are facing human rights violations due to these aerial attacks and are calling for political negotiations to secure their release.

On March 8, the regime dropped hundreds of bombs on a prisoner of war camp in the Darlatchaung area of Ann Township, resulting in the deaths of 116 prisoners and injuring 32 others.

According to statements from the Arakan Army, the regime has conducted airstrikes on five prisoner of war camps in Arakan State from 2024 to 2026, causing the deaths of 232 prisoners and family members and injuring at least 130 others.