Border News Agency
Pauktaw, September 25.

Residents of Pauktaw Township report that the Myanmar junta forces have arrested and detained fourteen Muslim men who were fishing in the waters of Pauktaw Township, an area controlled by the Arakan Army.

The men, from Sintat Maw village in Pauktaw Township, are aged between 13 and over 50.

According to reports, on September 16, the junta’s naval forces arrived in a speedboat and arrested the men while they were fishing with a fishing boat. Afterwards, junta’s Sittwe district court sentenced each of them to two and a half years in prison.

Although more than a week has passed since their sentencing, their families have not been able to contact them at all, leaving them deeply worried.

“We’ve heard that they were arrested and imprisoned. There’s no way to contact them, and their families are worried. Some of the young men have also been taken, which has caused even more concern. We’ve also heard that they were imprisoned simply for fishing without permission,” a resident of Pauktaw told Border News Agency.

Relatives say that the men were arrested and sentenced to two and a half years in prison simply for fishing in the open sea without permission.

In addition, the junta’s naval forces also arrested seven local Rakhine men from Chaung Wa and Kon Tan villages in Pauktaw Township while they were fishing.

Since the start of the final phase of Arakan war, the Myanmar junta has restricted fishing not only along trade and river routes but also in the open sea.

Residents say that junta naval vessels, based in Sittwe, frequently patrol Pauktaw’s waters alongside soldiers and often arrest local fishermen.

As a result, most residents of Pauktaw, who rely on fishing for their livelihoods, face arrests by the junta forces every time they go out to fish, which has created serious concerns about food and income security.

However, residents say that even though they know they risk being arrested, many are forced to go fishing to find food, as staying onshore does not meet their basic needs.

According to reports, on September 8, the junta’s naval forces arrested six local fishermen from Tan Tin and Nga Route Chaung villages in Pauktaw Township while they were fishing in the open sea.

In addition, on April 5, the junta naval forces arrested 23 local fishermen from Pauktaw Township who were fishing near Myay Ngu Island.

The junta’s naval forces have reinforced their fleet with warships and are patrolling waters, including areas around Sittwe and Pauktaw.

Residents say that these naval warships frequently commit shootings and unlawful arrests of local residents and fishermen.