Five people were arrested in Buthidaung Township, Arakan State, by the Tatmadaw under the Counter-Terrorism Law for alleged links to the Arakan Army (AA). They were placed in custody in Buthidaung Township Court on August 13.

The five accused were Kyauk Yan’s village administrator, U San Maung, primary school teacher U Naing Aung Tun, U Kyaw Thu Soe from Kyauk Yan village, Maung Tun Sein from Thayat Pyin village, and Maung Phyu Daung from Phon Nyo Lake village.

“My son was remanded today together with three civilians and Kyauk Yan’s village administrator. When I met my son, I saw his face was swollen. He told me that he had been beaten when he was being questioned,” said U Ba Than Maung, father of school teacher U Naing Aung Tun.

U Naing Aung Tun, who works in Kyauk Yan village, was arrested by the Tatmadaw on August 9 and the remaining suspects were detained the next day. They were all charged under section 50 (a) of the Counter-Terrorism Law.

However, Brigadier-General Zaw Min Tun from Tatmadaw True News Information Team said that the Tatmadaw detained only three people: Kyauk Yan village administrator U San Maung, primary school teacher U Naing Aung Tun and fisherman U Kyaw Thu Soe.

Khaing Thuka, the AA’s spokesperson, said that the arrests involved intimidation because the Tatmadaw was targeting people of Arakanese ethnicity.

“We think the reason they unfairly arrested the Kyauk Yan village administrator is because he is Arakanese. If people find out what the Tatmadaw is doing, they will file charges against them. If nobody finds out, they just get rid of them. This happened a lot in Arakan State. We just think they are racially profiling and bullying Arakan people,” Khaing Thuka said.

On August 7, the Tatmadaw arrested a primary school teacher, U Nay Zaw Linn, who works in Pyin Chaung village, Buthidaung Township. He was charged under sections 50(a) and 52(b) of the Counter-Terrorism Law and remanded.