Family members say they have not been in contact with four men in Arakan State’s Kyauktaw Township since they were arrested by the Myanmar military over recent weeks, and are worried about their safety.

An internally displaced person (IDP) was among those detained by the military in Kyauktaw Township; U Kyaw Hein, a 39-year-old traditional medicine practitioner, went missing while returning to Kavi Yadana displacement camp after providing medical treatment to a patient from neighbouring Kangyishin IDP camp on the night of July 19, according to his wife Daw Ma Aye Than.

“I have not been in contact with him and I don’t know his whereabouts. I have been worrying about my husband’s safety since his arrest. I have four children and don’t know how to deal with my difficulties,” she said.

In addition to his work as a traditional medicine practitioner, U Kyaw Hein earns a living as a motorbike taxi driver.

Meanwhile, junta soldiers and police stationed near the Mahamuni Buddha image in Kyauktaw arrested a resident of Thayettapin village and two others on August 1, and they too have not been heard from since, according to family members.

The Thayettapin villager has been identified as U Maung Saw Thar, 53, while the two other detainees have so far only been described only as men.

“I have yet to contact my husband and I don’t know where he was taken,” said Daw Ma Aye Khin, the wife of U Maung Saw Thar. “My husband makes a living as a motorbike taxi driver and is an innocent man. I am worried about his safety because he is an old man. I want him released as soon as possible.”

U Maung Saw Thar was arrested after he transported two passengers to the Mahamuni Buddha image.

U Than Maung, the administrator of Thayettapin village, described U Maung Saw Thar as a motorbike taxi driver and a philanthropist.

“He is an honest man and leads the locals in community activities such as novitiation ceremonies. The two other men are not from our village and I don’t know their native [places of residence],” he added.

DMG’s phone calls to Arakan State Minister for Security and Border Affairs Colonel Kyaw Thura to seek comment on the matter went unanswered.

The military also detained Ko Zaw Win aka Ludu Zaw Win, U Kyaw Than Maung, and Ko Zaw Moe Htet from Kyauktaw on June 21, subsequently charging the trio with incitement under the Penal Code’s Section 505(a).

Caption: U Kyaw Hein, an IDP detained by the Myanmar military on July 19. (Photo: CJ)