The Arakan Army (AA) released three of the four young Chin hostages it abducted in southern Chin State at the end of July. The ethnic armed organization (EAO) is fighting with the Burma Army in southern Chin State and Rakhine State.
Ko Kyaw Aung, secretary of Chin Internally Displaced Persons Support Committee (CISC), confirmed the release of the three hostages. “I’ve talked to them. Three Chin youths were released on the morning of August 25 and they arrived in Paletwa by the evening.”
AA troops abducted the four youth, who is from Nga Tharine village, located in Kyauktaw Township, on July 29 while they were traveling to Paletwa town.
Ko Khin Maung Tun, Ko Benjamin and Ko Aung Tun have been released. But Ko Aung Soe, who works with a civil society organization in Paletwa Township, remains a prisoner of the EAO.
“I don’t know why AA didn’t release Ko Aung Soe,” Ko Kyaw Aung told Khonumthung News. “His friends were released, so we’re very worried about him.”
While they were in custody, AA soldiers did not beat or threaten the youth, Ko Aung Soe said.