The Tatmadaw has released over ten villagers from Thayetpyin in Buthidaung Township after investigations.

They were taken to the monastery in Kyarnyopyin village on March 29 for questioning about landmine explosions near their village, said U Aung Thaung Shwe, Pyithu Hluttaw representative for Buthidaung Township.

“They were released on Saturday. Most of them are women,” he said.

Villagers were asked questions past 6 PM on the day they were detained, said U Aung Thein Hla, administrator of Kyarnyopyin village.

“The Tatmadaw checked to see if they really lived in Thayetpyin village, their names are on household lists and they hold national identity cards,” U Aung Thein Hla said.

Some people from Thayetpyin village fled to the downtown section of Buthidaung Township after the Tatmadaw had detained villagers for questioning.

The Tatmadaw detained 15 villagers including a Thayetpyin village administrator on January 13 and then released 13 of them. But the village administrator U Maung Tun Hlaing and a villager U Maung Kyaw Win have been charged under the Unlawful Associations Act.  

Moreover, Ko Htay Aung, another villager from Thayetpyin village, was arrested on December 31 and has been charged under the Explosive Substances Act.

Currently, there are about 700 IDPs in the downtown area of Buthidaung town and over 3000 IDPS in Buthidaung Township.  

They all fled from Donethein, Zedi Daung, Pan Myaung, Kyarnyopyin, Zey Ywer, Sangodaung, Nahone Nahan, War Net Yone, Sabarhtar and Kanpyin villages.

Artillery shells were fired from Htate Two Pauk hill in Buthidaung Township into Sangodaung, Shitshardaung and Uyinthar villages on March 31, according to U Aung Thaung Shwe, Pyithu Hluttaw representative for Buthidaung Township.