The military council arrested the managing director of a construction company in Rakhine State’s Thandwe at his house on Friday on suspicion of contact with the Arakan Army.

A government official was also charged in Thandwe the same day under Unlawful Associations Act, it is learnt.

The detained person is managing director of Pyae Phyo Thandar, U Aung Kyaw Win, 53 and the one charged under section 17 (1) of Unlawful Associations Act is a clerical staff of Thandwe District General Administration office, Phyo Maung Maung.

A source close to Pyae Phyo Thandar company’s MD  said the military arrested him at his house on 7 October.

“I think he was detained for relating to the AA,” he said.

The No 55 battalion based in Thandwe arrested U Aung Kyaw Win at his Dwarawady Ward Andaw 2 Street (lane) at about 7:30am on Friday, he added.

Sources close to U Aung Kyaw Win said he used to be a war veteran and had been imprisoned for defection from the military and after being released from detention he turned to business.

Businessmen from Thandwe said they had been summoned together with departmental officials by Brigadier General Kyaw Kyaw Than from No 55 battalion who told them not to contact the AA and also not to support them.

If found doing these things, serious actions will be taken, the BG threatened the businessmen, according to the businessmen.

U Aung Kyaw Win had been detained following the meeting.

A clerk at Thandwe District General Administration office, Phyo Maung Maung was also arrested in Thandwe and charged under section 17 (1) of Unlawful Associations Act on 7 October.

Local residents have been worried about their fate due to the increased arrests of residents under suspicion of contact with the AA.