Soe Thu Aung — Chin State government and CSOs said that 13 local people from Paletwa allegedly held by Arakan Army (AA) were still missing and they had not yet arrived back at their homes though they were released by AA.
The AA issued a press statement on November 6 in the evening which says, “All of these people who are not concerned with military except MP Whet Ting from Paletwa constituency have been released in four batches.”
Mizzima contacted AA to ascertain the issue and the AA replied that they had (absolutely) released all of them (except MP Whet Ting).
Only two armed forces, AA and government troops are operating in this Paletwa area in Chin State.
So Mizzima contacted Brig. Gen. Zaw Min Tun from Tatmadaw (military) True News Information Team and he replied, “No one including Chin CSOs will keep silent if Tatmadaw really arrested these people. All of them will cry out in protest. Far cry from arresting them, these people could not accept paid labour for carrying Tatmadaw rations even though the local people accepted our offer and satisfied with our payment. These people could not accept even the paid assistance given by local people. If we arrested them, they would shout louder.”
He added the Tatmadaw arrested some people on suspicion and interrogated them in Rakhine State but no one has ever been arrested and questioned so far in Paletwa area.
Because of fighting between Tatmadaw and AA in Paletwa Township, about 4,000 local people have fled from their homes.
