The Myanmar military abducted five residents in Thandwe Township, Arakan State, on November 15 and their families have not yet been allowed to meet with the detainees, family members said.

The arrestees have been identified as U Chee Lu Aung, 48; U Aung Than Tun, 40; and U Phyo Win Zaw, 30, from Uyinpyin Village; U Kyaw Hein, 39, from Kyaukkyipyin Village; and U Htin Lin Kyaw from Thandwe’s Bawdigon Ward.

The five men were taken by junta soldiers from the military’s Ngapali-based Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 566, and the reason for the arrests remains unknown, according to a family member of U Aung Than Tun.

“They [the detainees] have not been allowed to meet family members or be released. They were detained by junta soldiers from the military’s Ngapali-based LIB No. 566 for questioning. We are worried about their safety because they have not been released yet,” the family member added.

Local social activists are fearful that they could be next, a Thandwe resident said.

“The military has been making a series of arrests of locals in Thandwe. Local social activists dare not stay in their homes and some went into hiding for fear of being arrested by the military,” he added.

DMG attempted to contact Major-General Zaw Min Tun, spokesman for the regime, regarding the matter, but he could not be reached.

The regime has made dozens of civilian arrests amid renewed fighting between the military and Arakan Army in Arakan State, which began in earnest in August.