Three girl Arakanese students taken into custody by authorities at the Mahamuni Buddha Vihara orphanage on 27 July, 2010, remain in detention at a police home, said a family source.

Pyu Pyu Win (18), Hla Thein Khaing (16), and Hla Than New (16) have been detained by authorities in Sittwe since 27 July, 2010. The girls were completing their education at the Mahamuni Buddha Vihara orphanage.

"We had a chance to meet them at the police link, but were unable to bring them to their family living in rural villages in Arakan State. They have been detained by authorities since Ashion Pyinya Sara was arrested by authorities on 27 July," a family member said.

The authorities took the girls along with over 100 orphans from Mahamuni Buddha Vihara to the police station a day after arresting the abbot of the orphanage, which was sealed.

The authorities first detained the three girls at the No. 1 police station along with the orphans, but later moved them to a police line located in Rupa Ward in Sittwe.

"The authorities moved over 100 orphans to Burma proper, particularly Mandalay and Magwe Division, but kept the three girls in Sittwe. We do not know the reason behind the authorities keeping them under house arrest in Sittwe  till now," the source said.

Pyu Pyu Win is the daughter of U Sein Shwe Aung from Kyin Chaung Village in Minbya Township, while Aye Thein Khaing is the daughter of U Aung Kyaw Thaung from Own Padi Village in Kyauk Taw Township. Ma Than New has no parents and her address is not known.

The parents of Pyu Pyu Win and Aye Thein Khaing came to Sittwe to take their daughters, but the authorities have not allowed them to take their daughters anywhere.

The girls were high school level students at the Mahamuni Buddha Vihara orphanage, which was organized and established by Ashion Pyinya Sara. The authorities arrested the monk on several accusations on 27 July. Since then the girls have been kept under house arrest without any explanation.

U Pyinya Sara is now being detained at the Sittwe prison and authorities have filed seven charges against him. Among them is one serious charge of disrupting the stability of the state.