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Myanmar junta arrests dozens for sending supplies to rebel zone
September 16, 2024
Article Body Text<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Junta forces in Myanmar arrested and interrogated about 70 residents in the capital of Rakhine state on suspicion of being rebel sympathizers and trying to send supplies into rebel zones, residents told Radio Free Asia on Monday. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The residents of Sittwe were targeted for trying to send goods and food to Arakan Army-controlled townships on Friday in violation of a junta blockade, residents said, adding that they had not been released as of Monday afternoon. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“They dropped the goods off on the bank of the Kaladan River headed for Pauktaw and Mrauk-U townships,” said one resident, who declined to be identified for security reasons, referring to two townships that the ethnic minority insurgents seized in recent months from forces of the junta that seized power in a 2021 coup.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Both the people who actually dropped the goods off and other people from the neighborhood were arrested, including women,” the resident said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The identities and exact charges that the detained people faced were not known, he said. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">RFA tried to telephone Rakhine state’s junta spokesperson, Hla Thein, but he could not be reached for comment. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another resident, who also asked not to be identified out of fear for their safety, said soldiers were holding the detainees at Sittwe Police Station No. 1, adding that the military had tightened security on Sittwe’s roads to block shipments to areas under AA control.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Junta forces have lost significant amounts of territory to the AA in Myanmar's western-most state since late last year and the guerrillas now control 10 of its 17 townships.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Junta forces have for years battled insurgents with a so-called four-cuts strategy, cutting off rebels from food, funds, information and recruits.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In Rakhine state, the military has tried to isolate the AA with transport blockades while rounding suspected sympathizers and setting up neighborhood </span><a href="https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/navy-base-militias-08292024072159.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">militias</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to support the military.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The AA, which draws its support from the state’s Buddhist ethnic Rakhine community and is fighting for self-determination, announced its </span><a href="https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/aa-sittwe-03072024052341.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">intention to capture</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> the junta-controlled capital of Sittwe in March.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On Friday, the AA said it was planning an offensive to capture the remaining seven townships under junta control, including Sittwe. </span></p> <hr/> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">RELATED STORIES</span></p> <p><a href="https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/aa-rakhine-navy-base-09092024072011.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rebel army captures Myanmar navy training base</span></a></p> <p><a href="https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/rakhine-state-airstrikes-prisoners-09102024072310.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Myanmar junta airstrike kills dozens including prisoners, rebels say</span></a></p> <p><a href="https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/byain-phyu-rakhine-villagers-jailed-09022024071733.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Myanmar military court jails 144 villagers detained after massacre</span></a></p> <hr/> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><b><i>Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Kiana Duncan and Mike Firn. </i></b></p>
Content TypeText
LanguageEnglish
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Subtitles / Dubbing AvailableNo
RightsRFA
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateSeptember 16, 2024 06:22 EDT
BylineBy RFA Burmese
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English