Myanmar villagers told RFA’s Myanmar Service on Thursday that a military column had entered the village and apprehended 27 locals the troops believed to be connected to the AA, but that they had no ties to the ethnic army fighting for autonomy in Rakhine state
The Myanmar military’s True New information Team said in a statement that Arakan fighters detained the construction workers from the Su Htoo San Company, which is building the Paletwa-Mizoram highway to connect Myanmar and India, and used small arms to attack a boat transporting construction materials for a bridge project on March 16
Rights groups and diplomats have condemned the sentencing of the the reporters, saying their convictions have dealt a blow to freedom of the press in the developing democracy
Thousands were killed and roughly 730,000 Rohingya fled across the border to Bangladesh where they have been living ever since in sprawling displacement camps
Chin state authorities have warned local residents in Matupi township, north of Paletwa, to stay away from military camps and refrain from hunting with guns during the night and early morning
The report “Dashed Hopes: The Criminalization of Peaceful Expression in Myanmar” documents the use of broad and vaguely worded laws against activists, journalists, and ordinary citizens by Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy-led government
Throughout, Aung San Suu Kyi has been internationally criticized for her silence. When she finally spoke out, she dismissed and downplayed the accusations and the military’s role