Kaladan News

Dated: Monday August 11, 2003

Five Muslims Arrested in Myawaddi Town

Myawaddi, August 11: A combined operation cell consisting of Military Intelligence (MI), Nasaka (Border Security Force) and USDA members arrested five Muslim youths in Mya waddi town of Karen State, a border town of Thai- Burma, on August 8, 2003, according to Muslim Agency for News.

The arrested persons are Sidique, 31, of Insein town, Amin, 26, of SanginGgyunt town, Solaiman, 34, of Moulmein, Junite, 39, of Taunggyi and Aras, 20, of Mandalay, source further said.

The combined operation cell members are U Aung Gyi, a leader of USDA, Captain Lwin Oo Muint of MI and Major Than Zin of Nasaka.

The arrested persons are unskilled workers who worked in farms of Mae Sot, a border town of Thailand, since long time. Recently, the harassments of Thai Government increased towards Burmese migrant workers and became the scarcity of works day by day. Regarding this, they felt that there would be no security for them in future. So, they decided to return to their motherland. While they were on way back to their home, the said combined operation cell in Myawaddi town arrested them.

While they were arrested, they have Kyat 250,000/- and one Tical(15.87 gm) of gold. The victims offered to the authority this cash and gold for their release but, they refused to accept it. The authority demanded at least Kyat 200,000/- per head, but the victims could not afford to fulfill their demand.

Two days later of their arrest, they have been sent to the Moulmein Jail after filing cases with the Moulmein police station against them. According to a defense lawyer of victims from Moulmein town, all the victims were accused in cases of border cross. ##

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