The government imposed a curfew in war-stricken Paletwa township in Burma’s southern Chin State after the Arakan Army (AA) kidnapped an MP and foreign nationals.
The curfew that was enacted by Paletwa Township General Administrator Koe Aung on November 9, requires civilians to be in their homes from 6 pm to 6 am and will last for two-months. Gatherings of five or more has been outlawed.
Koe Aung defends the measures, claiming AA plants landmines, targets civilians, launches ambushes on the Burma Army (aka Tatmadaw) then blends into the civilian population.
The Tatmadaw has been accused of many of the same charges after reports of government soldiers killing, arresting and torturing civilians have emerged in the bloody conflict that has wracked western Burma.
The curfew also bans demonstrations, campaigning,violence and noise by civilians. AA kidnapped 10 people, including Senator Huay Ting, Chin State MP for Constituency-11. Five of the detainees were Indian nationals working on road construction from Paletwa to Zorampwi. The rest are from Burma.
The armed group released everyone, except Huay Ting, on November 4, the day after the incident happened. AA stated they’re keeping the MP hostage because of his complicity with the Tatmadaw.
The UNCHR stated it’s “particularly concerned by the worsening security situation in southern Chin State”.
“We recognize that Chin refugees may still require international protection due to the worsening security situation in southern Chin State in Myanmar (aka Burma), which has resulted in new displacement”, said Volker Türk, Assistant High Commissioner (Protection) for UNHCR.
