Border News Agency
Kyauktaw, October 16
The Arakkha Army (AA) arrested a relative of Brigadier General Daung Yan, commander of Military Region No. 1, and her friend when they tried to leave territory controlled by the Arakkha Army. However, they were later released, according to sources close to the AA.
San Dar Hlaing, the biological younger sister of Brigadier General Daung Yan’s wife, and her friend, Myat Myat Khaing, from Nawarat Shwe Yi Gold Shop, were reportedly trying to leave AA-controlled territory. Sources close to the AA said they were arrested by the AA in the third week of September while staying at a house in Chaung Sone.
However, some AA members said the two women were released in the first week of October, and all the gold, money, and other belongings they had with them were returned.
“Brigadier General Daung Yan’s sister-in-law, San Dar Hlaing, and her friend, Myat Myat Khaing, have been released. Normally, all belongings carried by arrested people are confiscated as state property. However, all their gold and money were returned to them.
People are dissatisfied because they were released due to their family relationship with the military commander,” an AA member who knew about the case told Border News Agency.
The military commander’s sister-in-law and her friend were reportedly subject to the National Defense Emergency Provision (NDEP). Other people were also arrested while staying with them at a shop in the Pyi Chaung Sone area, according to sources.
However, only the two women were released, while the other people were not. This has reportedly caused dissatisfaction among members of the United League of Arakan/Arakkha Army (ULA/AA).
The Arakkha People’s Revolutionary Government is implementing the National Defense Emergency Provision (NDEP) in territories controlled by the Arakkha Army.
Under this provision, men aged 18 to 45 and women aged 18 to 25 in all AA-controlled areas are being called up for military service through a lottery system.
The Arakkha Army announced on May 22 last year that the National Defense Emergency Provision had been enacted on March 18, 2025.
Because of the National Defense Emergency Provision (NDEP), people are being forced to serve in the military. At the same time, Myanmar’s military junta continues to carry out airstrikes every day. As a result, Arakkha residents say civilians are secretly leaving AA-controlled territory in large numbers every day.
“People are fleeing through any available route because of the threat of airstrikes and famine. If even the military commander’s relatives are fleeing with bags of gold and money, how can ordinary people feel safe staying here? People in Kyauktaw town, as well as people from large villages, have already fled to safer places,” a Kyauktaw resident told Border News Agency.
Although civilians are prohibited from leaving freely, residents have criticized the fact that some family members of ULA/AA officials and some members of the Arakkha People’s Revolutionary Government are living and attending school in towns controlled by Myanmar’s military junta.
Arakkha residents have criticized the authorities for restricting and threatening ordinary civilians while sending their own family members to safer places.
After the Myanmar military junta carried out an airstrike near the Indian Market in Kyauktaw, civilians from Kyauktaw Township began fleeing to safer places. Arakkha residents said they were escaping to areas controlled by the junta through various routes and with the help of different brokers.
Because of air surveillance and airstrikes, people are being forced to leave their homes. Those who remain at home are also losing sleep because of the threat of air attacks. In addition, they are facing various difficulties related to food, daily living, and healthcare, according to Arakkha residents.
All those who have tried to leave areas controlled by the Arakan Army (AA) have been arrested and punished by the AA. Those arrested include underage children, elderly people, and pregnant women. Family members of those detained have repeatedly called for their release.
“The AA cannot protect us from airstrikes. It also does not allow us to leave for safer places. They are even arresting children. I asked them to release my underage schoolboy son, but they still have not released him.
“If the military takes back control of Ponnagyun and allows people to travel to Sittwe, many civilians will return. Many people want to travel to Yangon via Sittwe,” the mother of a school-age boy detained by the AA told Border News Agency.
Two young women among those arrested in Ann Township for trying to leave AA-controlled territory were reportedly raped by the people holding them in detention. As a result, they were already pregnant by the time they arrived at a military training school, sources close to the Arakkha People’s Revolutionary Government confirmed.
Thousands of people have reportedly been arrested and detained by the AA for trying to leave its controlled territory. Sources close to the Arakkha People’s Revolutionary Government also confirmed that hundreds of people have been killed or injured in airstrikes by Myanmar’s military junta on AA detention cells and prison camps.
Human rights activists have pointed out that failing to protect civilians, preventing them from leaving for safer places, and forcibly arresting them for military service constitute human rights violations and war crimes.
They have called on the international community, including neighboring countries such as India and Bangladesh, to impose sanctions.
