Border News Agency
Kyauktaw, September 4.
Families are calling for the release of 17 people who were arrested in Kyauk Taw Township, an area controlled by the Arakan Army (AA).
Family members said the young people were arrested and taken from their homes and from the streets by the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA). They were accused of using illegal drugs.
Among those arrested were students, women, and members of the local militia. Some of them have been released, but 17 young people are still being held, according to their families.
One family member from Kyauk Taw said at a press conference:
“We ask the authorities to release the remaining 17 people, just as they released the others. Some of them also completed a 45-day training course. Their families cannot contact them. Some people say they saw them at a military training school.”
The families said that the following people from Paik They Yat Ward and Myothit Ward in Kyauk Taw were arrested and taken away by the ULA/AA. Their families have not been able to contact them:
Maung Aung Myo Lwin, Maung Aung Myo Set, Maung Tun Wai, Maung Maung Shey, Maung Maung Gyi, Maung Ko Naing Shey, Maung Nyein Chan, Maung Kyaw Soe Min, Maung Kyaw Naing Than, Maung Myo Myint Aung, Maung Soe Myat Tun, Maung Phyo Aye Zaw, and Maung Shwe Aye (also known as Thar Bu Shey).
The families said they tried to submit appeal letters to the ULA/AA, but the letters were not accepted. They also said they could not ask about where the detained people are or about their current condition.
Because of this, the families held a press conference on September 3 to publicly call for their release.
In July, the ULA/AA arrested 77 men and women, including seven members of the local militia, in Kyauk Taw Township. They were accused of using, selling, or trafficking illegal drugs.
Among them, 19 young students were officially returned to their families on August 11. Some others were also released later.
Another family member from Kyauk Taw said at the press conference:
“We want the authorities to show mercy and release our children. We are asking the responsible leaders to help release our sons and daughters. We only want our children to be treated equally and released like the other children who have already been released.”
The families said that if the young people committed any crimes, they should be punished according to the law after an investigation. However, they do not want the young people to be forced to join military training or military service.
The families also said that people who saw the young people told them that the young people were being forced to attend military training and had been seen at a military training school.
People have also been criticizing and saying that, in areas controlled by the Arakan Army, the ULA/AA is arresting civilian young people for different reasons and forcing them to attend military training.
