Families of 60 detainees at Taungup Myoma police station concerned about escalating military conflict

Saw Shin May, Narinjara News, August 25, 2024

Family members of 60 detainees at Taungup Myoma Police Station told Narinjara News that they were concerned about their safety amid escalating military clashes in Taungup town, Arakan State, where the Military Operations Command (MOC-5) is based.

“The military situation in Taungup is becoming increasingly volatile and we are therefore concerned. We ourselves have fled the conflict, but the detainees are still in police custody in Taungup. We would prefer if they were released before the fighting escalates,” said a family member of one of the detainees.

According to a source close to the junta, there are still about 30 detainees at Taungup Myoma police station facing charges under Articles 17 (1) and 17 (2) of the illicit association law, and 30 others facing other charges.

Some of these inmates also suffer from diarrhea and other ailments and require urgent medical attention.

“Many of the inmates are not politically active. Some have health problems. We hope they will be released as soon as possible,” said a family member of a person detained under anti-terrorism laws.

Meanwhile, the situation in Taungup is deteriorating as fighters from the Arakan Army (AA) are gradually approaching the town.

On January 31, junta forces killed former journalist Ko Myat Thu Tun (alias Phoe Thiha) and six other people held at the 378th Light Infantry Battalion base in Mrauk-U.

Junta soldiers also killed two prisoners during the battle of Minbya in February. Families are concerned because junta soldiers often kill prisoners in crisis situations.

About 20 detainees suspected of having links with the AA were taken from Taungup Police Station to MOC-5 in private cars on the night of August 9.

Now the junta plans to transfer twelve prisoners from the Taungup police station to the mainland.

A local military source told Narinjara News that the junta plans to transfer another group of 12 detainees from Taungup police station to the mainland.

As tensions between the junta soldiers and AA fighters remain high in Taungup, residents expressed serious concern about the military operations conducted by the soldiers in the area.