The junta has detained over 50 residents, including women and infants, in Sittwe City, located in Sittwe Township, Arakan (Rakhine) State.
At around 2:00 p.m. on 13 September, junta troops conducted raids on the downtown wards of Oe Dan, Mi Zan, and Shwe Pyar, under the pretense of checking overnight guest lists, and arrested residents.
“Junta troops used police vehicles to carry out the arrests. Initially, three vehicles filled with detainees were transported to the Sittwe police station. Later, more vehicles were dispatched to bring in additional detainees. Among those arrested were men, women, and even infants,” a Sittwe resident reported.
Of the more than 70 individuals initially detained, some were later released by the junta.
Another resident explained that the junta troops had targeted a house where people were preparing to transport goods to rural areas, leading to multiple arrests.
“Those gathered at the house were arrested while organizing to deliver goods to rural regions. An elderly person riding a bicycle nearby was also detained. Almost everyone in the vicinity was taken into custody,” she stated.
On the same day, the junta deployed approximately 100 troops along the main road near Sittwe Hospital and Sittwe No. 1 Police Station, intensifying security measures.
The detainees are currently being held at Sittwe City’s No. 1 Police Station. Development Media Group (DMG) is still working to confirm their identities and gather further details.
Since November 2023, the junta has enforced a strict blockade on land routes and waterways throughout Arakan State, leading to severe shortages of goods in many townships. Additionally, the junta has been targeting and arresting Sittwe residents involved in storing and transporting goods.
"The junta is arresting people without reason, and now everyone feels unsafe, even in their own homes. I’ve considered evacuating to a safer place, but the roads are blocked by the junta, and the cost of a plane ticket is far too expensive for most people,” said a Sittwe woman.
Junta troops continue to raid villages in Sittwe Township daily, arresting residents on suspicion. In the downtown areas, they use the pretext of checking overnight guest lists to detain people. Some detainees have been forced to pay ransoms ranging from one to three million MMK to secure their release.
Between 1 May and 30 June, the junta arrested more than 700 residents in Sittwe. Of these, only around 300 have been released, while over 400 are being prosecuted under various charges.
