A Tatmadaw soldier stands guard at Goke Pi police outpost in Buthidaung township, northern Rakhine State. Photo: EPA
The Tatmadaw (military) paid a surprise visit to Tain Nyo refugee camp in Mrauk-U township, Rakhine State, over the weekend to look for Arakan Army (AA) members among its residents, according to refugees there.
One refugee said troops came to the camp on Saturday to check the household records of the people living there, especially those from Lat Kar and Auk Kan Thar villages.
“Some young people fled because the Tatmadaw has been known to arrest young people on suspicion of being AA members,” said the person, who refused to be named for safety reasons.
Tatmadaw spokesperson Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun said the Tatmadaw inspected the camp after receiving a tip that AA members and supporters were among the refugees. “We conducted the inspection after informing camp officials and administrators.”
U Tun Thar Sein, Rakhine parliament member for Mrauk-U, said the Tatmadaw did not inform lawmakers about the visit.
More than 3200 people from about 12 villages live in Tain Nyo. They had to flee their homes because of fighting between the Tatmadaw and AA.
In June 2019, the Tatmadaw sought AA members among the more than 600 people living at a refugee camp in Pauk Taw Byin village, Ponnagyun township. It made no arrests during the inspection.
The Tatmadaw often arrests villagers in Rakhine suspected of being AA members or supporters. Some have been charged under the Counterterrorism Law.
In April, the Tatmadaw arrested 38 villagers from Kyaukseik but released 33 of them the next day. The other five were charged with being involved with bombings in the area.
In May, a video on social media went viral that showed five civilians being tortured by Tatmadaw troops on a boat. The Tatmadaw admitted the incident took place and promised that those involved would be punished.mmtimes
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