4 monks, including 2 abbots from Rakhine State, who were arrested by the Military Council are now freed.
Two abbots- the abbot of Thukhakari Monastery in Sittwe and the abbot of Ywat Nyo Taung Monastery in Maungdaw Township, and two monks were released from custody -.
Locals said 3 monks from Sittwe were arrested at around 11:30 PM on November 6. The Military Council troops and police forces arrived at Thukhakari Monastery at night and arrested the monks.
One of the abbot’s disciples said that the monks were released at around 8:00 PM on November 7, a day after their arrest.
“They were released at around 8:00 PM yesterday. We don't know for sure yet why Sayadaw (the abbot) was arrested,” he said.
The monks from Thukhakari Monastery and some locals from other neighbourhoods faced overnight arrests after two unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle shot the chief officer of Rakhine State’s fisheries, U Thet Oo (60) at the RV restaurant on Shukhintha Road in Sittwe on November 6.
The military intelligence officers came and arrested U Panya Thiri (35), the abbot of Ywat Nyo Taung Monastery in Ywat Nyo Taung Village 16 miles north of Maungdaw Township at around 10:00 PM on November 4 while he was in downtown Maungdaw, but was released on the night of November 8, 4 days after the abbot's arrest.
An eyewitness described the circumstances of how the abbot was arrested, ”Sayadaw was returning to his room in the monastery after reciting prayers at the Myoma Monastery in Myoma West Ward while about 7 members of security forces came and arrested him”.
