Khaing Lu Hla - Families of 18 persons from Tinmagyi and Tinmathit villages under Kyauktaw township, 80 miles north of Arakanese capital city of Sittwe, who went missing for over nine months can complain under legal provisions, said a senior military official on Friday.

General Zaw Min Tun, chairman of Tatmadaw True News, stated at a press conference organized at Naypyidaw military hall on 27 November.

Answering a question from journalists, he informed that if there are any evidences of villagers’ the families  can complain in the police station. If they did not do so because of conflicts, now they can easily do the same.

Ten villagers from Tinmagyi and eight from Tinmathit village went missing after they were abducted by a Tatmadaw column in front of their families during March 2020.

"I do not like to debate over their missing. There may be some. The concerned authorities were informed during this period. It will be more convenient if they cooperate with the concerned officials,” he said.

The security forces entered in Tinmathit village on 13 March and eight villagers namely  U Maung Seik Gyi, U Kyaw Win, U Hla Kyaw Gyi, U Maung Than Soe, U Saw Shwe Than, U San Thar Maung, U Maung Mya Aye and U Maung Tun Sein were taken away.

Three days later, the Tatmadaw convoy entered in Tinmagyi village and ten villagers namely Aung Nyunt, U Tun Win Maung, U Yin Maung, U Than Maung Tun, U Maung Win (aka) U Maung Win Gyi, U Maung Win Chye, U Maung Kyi Lin, U Maung Sein Win, Maung Tun Tun Wai and Maung Nay Lin Oo were detained.

Later the body of U Maung Win was found floating on Kaladan river, alleged the victim’s wife Daw Bu Bu, while talking to Narinjara News.

The villagers are still missing and their families have no idea if they were taken into the custody of security personnel.

Daw Win May Oo, the wife of Maung Kyi Lin, who had gone missing, informed that they were worried about their missing relatives.

“It is now nine months since they went missing. Are they alive? I have no idea, but the military people picked up my husband in front us,” she asserted.