Police arrested three residents of Taungup Township on Sunday morning including a member of the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD), according to an official of a party concerned and local residents.

Dozens of people were protesting against the military coup when the military and police arrived and arrested U Kyaw Kyaw Linn, a member of the ALD, and two residents, Ko Min Hlaing Tun and Ko Zar Nay Htoo, on February 28.

“We started the protest at about 9 a.m. We arrived near Myoma football field at about 9:30 a.m., the military and police cracked down on the protest. Two protestors were arrested,” said a protestor who asked for anonymity, citing security reasons.

The ALD said U Kyaw Kyaw Lin is its associate secretary. Ko Zar Nay Htoo was subsequently arrested.

U Myo Kyaw, general secretary of the ALD, said: “The party will help them get released from detention. We denounce the arrest of peaceful protestors.”

Family members of the detainees were allowed to meet them at the police station over the weekend.

Across Arakan State, more than 20 residents of Ann, Taungup, Manaung and Thandwe townships were arrested over protests against the dictatorship in recent days.

An Ann Township court on February 24 delivered an K80,000 fine against each of seven residents from Ann townships for offences charged under the Natural Disaster Management Law and Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law.

Some leaders of the protest in Ann Township have fled their homes because they have been issued arrest warrants, residents said.