The Myanmar military on Thursday morning raided two homes owned by an official from the United League of Arakan (ULA), which is the political wing of the Arakan Army (AA), and a local resident in Laytaung town, Ramree Township.
An 80-strong Myanmar military contingent in two military trucks reportedly arrived at the home of a resident from Thayetcho village in Ramree Township and left the home after asking family members if the resident, Ko Maung Maung Gyi, was there.
“They have come looking for me three times, but I was not at home at this time. Junta soldiers asked my wife if Ko Maung Maung Gyi was there. When my wife said that I was not at home, they deployed around 40 junta soldiers near my home and proceeded to the north of Laytaung town,” Ko Maung Maung Gyi told DMG.
The Myanmar military said the search was conducted based on a tipoff alleging that Ko Maung Maung Gyi had links to the Arakan Army (AA). The military also raided the home of Ko Maung Maung Gyi in March of this year.
“I am neither a strong supporter of the Arakan Army nor an official from the ULA’s administrative body,” he added.
The Myanmar military also raided the home of a United League of Arakan (ULA) official and interrogated residents in the surrounding area, the unnamed official told DMG.
“The junta soldiers interrogated my neighbours because there was no one at my home at the time of the search,” the ULA official added.
Ko Maung Maung Gyi, the ULA official and family have since gone into hiding for fear of being arrested by the military.
A local resident said the regime troops’ presence in Laytaung town was unwelcome.
“Laytaung is a very peaceful town. Locals are worried because the Myanmar military is conducting interrogations of residents. We don’t want the Myanmar military to conduct such search operations. We want to live in peace,” said the Laytaung resident.
Myanmar’s military over recent months has sent soldiers into several Arakan State villages in what critics say is an effort to frighten off support for the AA.
The Arakan Army has thus warned that fresh clashes could break out between its troops and the military if the latter continues to engage in activities perceived as attempting to contain the AA’s influence.
