The Arakan Army (AA) has agreed to free six Chins abducted in Paletwa Township in June on suspicion of collaborating with the Burma Army (BA), but hasn’t set a release date.
The ethnic armed group has clashed with the BA in southern Chin State several times, threatening an unofficial ceasefire with the army that was forged before it staged a coup and toppled the democratically elected government.
According to a representative from the Interim Khumi Affairs Coordination Council (IKACC), which has been advocating for the freedom of the Chin prisoners, they’re trying to work out a release date.
“AA has told us they had evidence that they reported on their activities to the BA and government’s departments. However, they also said they’ll be releasing them at a suitable time,” the source has told Khonumthung News.
In a late June statement, the Khumi organisation said the prisoners were innocent of AA’s charges.
AA, Chinland Defense Force and BA all have troops based in Paletwa. IKACC would like the groups to not disturb regular civilians during the revolutionary period, he said.