Narinjara News


9 Arakanese arrested by MI for complaining to Prime Minister Khin Nyunt

Akyab, August 9: 9 Arakanese people were arrested by Burma Military  Intelligence in Pauk Taw Township for sending a letter to PM Khin Nyunt  expressing their dissatisfaction over the delivery of storm aid to victims.

According to our correspondent, some of those arrested were U Aung Thaung,  former chairman of Sai Tauk village under the Pauk Taw Township, U Mae Aung,  retired primary headmaster from Pauk Taw town, and U Maung Tun Tha, a trader from Pauk Taw. The remaining arrestees are from Sai Tauk and Kyuat Suu village of Pauk Taw Township.

Another participant, U Thein Maung, a clerk from Pauk Taw Township administration, was able to escape from the MI arrest.

The local government relief team of the Pauk Taw Township had given 14,000 Kyat per family that was affected by a devastating cyclone, however the victims were asked to sign receipts stating that they had each received  20,000 Kyat. The difference of 6,000 Kyat went to cover the expenses of the relief team.

In addition, the receipts that they were forced to sign stated that they each received 2 rice sacks, 4 cooking pots, and 4 blankets but the relief team only gave each family one rice sick, 2 cooking pots and 2 blankets.

Dissatisfaction over the misappropriation of the government relief fund led 10 people to draft a letter of complaint to Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt. One week later, on 18 July, nine were arrested by military intelligence under the Western Command Brigadier, General Maung Oo and are currently being held without bail in the police station of Pauk Taw.

The government relief team in Arakan is under Brigadier General Maung Oo’s supervision and the team was formed by several organizations of the Burmese military government including the Women's Welfare Association, the Myanmar Red Cross, the Union Solidarity Development Association- or USDA as well as the local township administration.

On 19 May, a cyclone storm hit the Arakan coast, leaving over 1000 dead and damaging the property of many local residents. #


For further information, please contact Narinjara:
Phone: 880 018 9 42 55 36 (Mobile)
E-mail: narinjar@aitlbd.net