In Ramree, at least 18 locals have been arrested by the Military Council troops within a month since September 21. Some civilians are accused of being members of the Arakan Army (AA)

Those who have not committed any crime, those who have no affiliation with AA, and those who have been falsely accused by informers were included among the detainees.

“"If someone falsely reports that a certain individual is connected to AA, the person will be arrested. In many cases the soldiers negotiate a price. If they want to be released, they have to pay 8-lakh to 20-lakh Myanmar Kyats. This is the situation in Ramree”, according to a person familiar with such matters.

 18 people were arrested between October 9 and 15, some of whom held pending negotiations

for their release. Many detainees can’t afford to pay the extortion.

A family member of an arrested man told Narinjara that “We are currently negotiating for his release. He is still in custody in Ramree police station”.

In fact innocent people should be released, but the Military Council troops kept detaining them and demanding extortion money. “They usually ask for between 8-lakh and 20-lakh, depending on each detainee’s affordability. They are extorting money from those who have been arrested but no evidence has been found of any links to the AA. But in the city they conduct searches and arrests anyway they wish. Their actions are worse than robbery. Every day people are afraid of them”, a local told Narinjara.

“In many cases people who paid the extortion money and were freed, were warned by the soldiers

to keep silent about the details. There is no guarantee for their safety. The Army threatened to only listen to them”, the local added.

There are about 150 people arrested by the Military Council in Rakhine State, and some of them are charged under Article 505(a)(b) and Article 17(1).

edited TF