RAKHINE STATE – In Sittwe, Rakhine State, hundreds of residents were arrested between April and May, and most of them were not resident (national registration card) NRC holders.
The military council forces have been arresting the locals on the pretext of checking the guest list and arrested at least 300 people between April and May.
A resident reported that about 200 of those being detained were not holders of resident registration and that they were arrested during military raids in the monasteries in Sittwe and civilian housings after receiving complaints.
“Around 8:00 p.m., military council soldiers left in patrolling cars and checked the neighborhood. They entered each ward and even monasteries. There aren’t any neighborhood without making arrest when they raided. People who do not have a primary residence registration mostly got arrested. On May 15, there were about 40 detainees,” he said.
The civilians who were arrested by the military council forces came to Sittwe from all over the country to work and most were working as masons. They had a hard time renting a house and thus took shelter at the monasteries (temporary stay).
“A person working with me (staying at a monastery) got arrested. He said he was going back to his village. But the head monk said he would bail him out if there is problems, thus he did not return home and got arrested. It’s not safe to live here as the military troops are making arrest like this” said a resident of Sittwe.
The military council is in turmoil, and its troops are raiding all the monasteries in Ywartharyar, North Model Village, Ohntapin, Ywargyi Myauk, and Kalsalyay Quarters and making arrests.
It is reported that most of the detainees have no connection with AA (Arakan Army) and the military council troops demanded money for their release.