Irrawaddy-Dec 21
The junta has detained more than 170 civilians in Rakhine State since fighting resumed between its troops and Arakan Army (AA) last month, according to data collected by civil society organizations (CSOs) in the western state. A former lawmaker said the purpose of the arrests is to create fear. “The regime can’t defeat the AA, so it has been arresting and prosecuting civilians to instill fear,” explained U Aung Thaung Swe, a former Lower House lawmaker from Rakhine’s Buthidaung Town. He also accused the regime of trying to starve Rakhine State residents. “It imposes travel restrictions and cuts off delivery of food to starve the local population … They do not hesitate to commit any war crime,” he explained. A member of a Sittwe-based CSO told The Irrawaddy that the number of civilians arrested in Rakhine could be higher than the data collected shows. He estimated that more than 200 civilians had been detained since fighting erupted between the AA and junta troops.
“Some of the detainees are business owners and wealthy people. [Their] families do not want their arrests known … There are also cases in which family members dare not post [on social media] about arrests, or they don’t have access to the internet,” he explained. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) have been arrested for leaving camps that are running out of food. The regime has reportedly demanded ransoms of 30 million kyats (about US$ 14,300) for the release of detained business owners. It has also charged ethnic Rakhine detainees under the Unlawful Association Act for alleged ties to the AA. Read more at: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-junta-accused-of-starving-and-arresting-civilians-in-rakhine-state-to-instill-fear.html
