Nine Muslim men destined for Yangon were arrested at Kan Myint Kan checkpoint in Ann Township, Arakan State on 16 January, according to the Ann Myoma police station.
The detainees are reportedly from Kyauktaw and Myebon townships, and were headed to Yangon for work, the head of the Ann Myoma police station told DMG, adding that they were arrested at the checkpoint about 33 miles from Ann town.
“Eight of them are from Kyauktaw and the remaining one is from Myebon. They said they are travelling to work in Yangon,” the police officer said.
Two of the detainees are under 15 years old and lawsuits have been opened against them under the Immigration Act at the Ann Myoma police station, he added.
Many Muslims in Arakan State have faced movement restrictions since the state’s 2012 communal conflict. Moreover, if they are found trying to travel outside the state, authorities frequently arrest and send them back to Arakan State.
Arakan State is one of Myanmar’s poorest, and in-state job opportunities are few and far between. Large numbers of both Muslims and Arakanese therefore seek out work in the commercial capital Yangon, as well as abroad in neighbouring countries such as Malaysia and Thailand. Muslims from Arakan State disproportionally risk arrest by doing so.
On December 22, scores of Muslims who were travelling to Yangon were arrested in Taungup Township. A 14-year-old among them died under murky circumstances, with initial reports indicating he asphyxiated but the Arakan State regime council saying he died of heart failure.
