Border News Agency
Ramree, October 22.
Families are calling for the release of eight displaced people, including seven men from seven displaced families and one person leading a firewood-cutting business, who were detained by the Arakkha Army (AA) while working as daily-wage laborers cutting firewood in a mangrove forest in Ramree Township, which is under AA control.
Family members said the eight men — U Thaw Kyar Phyu, Maung Maung Win, U Ohn Myint, Wai Thu Aung, Chan Myay Htun, Maung Myint Than, Min Thit Htoo, and Maung Soe Than, who led the firewood-cutting work — were arrested by the AA on August 2.
The displaced people had been cutting firewood as daily-wage laborers to support their families and meet their basic needs. Their families insist that they were not illegally cutting and stealing firewood for commercial purposes and are urging the authorities to release them.
“My father went to work as a hired daily-wage firewood cutter. We have had no contact with him since that day. I heard that he is being held at the Ramree detention center. It has now been more than three months,” said Ma Myint Myint Win, the daughter of U Thaw Kyar Phyu, who was detained, speaking to Border News Agency.
Family members said all eight detainees, including U Thaw Kyar Phyu, are being held at the Ramree detention center. They have not yet been allowed to visit them and do not know about their health conditions.
As the detained men were the primary breadwinners of their families, the displaced households are facing severe financial hardship. Family members also said that some children had been forced to leave school, including the two children of U Ohn Myint.
“Since my husband was arrested, our family has been struggling badly to make ends meet. I would like to urge them to release him as soon as possible so we can afford our children’s school expenses and cover our basic living costs,” said Ma Khin May Than, the wife of detained Wai Thu Aung, speaking to Border News Agency.
The families are appealing to the relevant authorities to show compassion and release the detainees, saying that displaced families living in areas controlled by the Arakkha Army already struggle daily to afford food and other basic necessities.
Although Ramree Township is under AA control, displaced people and local residents face a severe shortage of employment opportunities and struggle to meet their daily needs, according to displaced residents.
As a result, people are forced to work as daily-wage firewood cutters in forests and mangrove areas to support their families. Ramree residents said that investigations and legal action should instead focus on those involved in illegal commercial logging and any participation by local authorities.
