Many residents and student activists were arrested by junta troops in Mrauk-U Township in Rakhine State on 22 June.

Junta troops arrested and interrogated over 30 Mrauk-U residents on 22 June, following the Arakan Army’s (AA) arrest of three junta Military Intelligence (MI) officers in Shwe Gu Taung Ward, in Mrauk-U Township on 21 June.

A Mrauk-U resident said: “Pedestrians were arrested and some were inspected in the downtown areas of Mrauk-U. I heard that more than 20 to 30 people were arrested. Some people heard that three students were also arrested. We are asking for an accurate list of the detainees.”

Currently, Mrauk-U residents are worried because junta troops keep arresting pedestrians, who they think look suspicious, in downtown areas and checkpoints on the town gates.

The Mrauk-U resident said: “Some people avoid going out and some rarely go outside. Everyone in the township is worried. Security is tight everywhere.”

Khaing Thukha, an AA spokesperson explained that the AA is arresting junta soldiers in retaliation because junta soldiers keep arresting members of the AA and United League of Arakan (ULA, the political wing of the AA).

The AA has arrested nine junta soldiers and one junta policeman since the beginning of June.