Border News Agency
Pauktaw, September 20.
Local residents reported that seven fishermen from Pauktaw Township, which is under the control of the Arakan Army (AA), were abducted by junta forces while they were out fishing.
The fishermen, who are from Chaung Wa and Kon Tan villages in Pauktaw Township, make their living through fishing. They were abducted along with their fishing boats on September 16.
According to locals, junta naval troops from a Sittwe-based area carried out the abduction using a speedboat.
“They came with guns on a speedboat to make the arrest. The fishermen were probably caught off guard while fishing and didn’t notice them. When going out to fish, you have to avoid encountering them. From the military vessel, they were likely observing with binoculars, and as soon as they spotted them, they came and made the arrest,” a person close to the detainees told Border News Agency.
The fishermen are reportedly being held at Police Station No. 1 in Sittwe.
Locals in Pauktaw say that most residents rely on fishing at sea to support their families. However, they are living in fear as junta forces continue to carry out frequent arrests.
They added that even though they are afraid of being abducted, they are forced to risk their lives and go out to fish because their families face hardships and cannot survive without income.
Since the beginning of the all-out war launched by the Arakan Army (AA), junta forces have blocked and restricted all land and water routes in Arakan.
As a result, local fishing business owners and fishermen, who are no longer allowed to fish at sea, are facing increasing hardships, locals said.
On September 8, a junta navy vessel also abducted six local fishermen from Tan Tin and Ngaroute Chaung villages in Pauktaw Township.
Earlier, on April 5, junta forces abducted another 23 local fishermen from Pauktaw while they were fishing near Myay Ngu Island in Pauktaw Township.
Locals said that the junta navy, which has reinforced its troops, including large naval vessels, frequently shoots at and arrests civilians and local fishermen.
