By Benezer – With no indication resistance against the military regime is slowing down, the numbers of civilians arrested by the State Administration Council in Chin State keeps rising. Since the coup happened two months ago, the junta’s armed forces detained at least 171 people in the western state, according to Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO).
Authorities released 112 people, but 59 remain in custody. Among these, 11 are charged with violating Article 505/a of Burma’s Penal Code, and 48 are waiting for court arraignments. There were 9 members of the former Chin State government arrested, 25 people from the Election Commission, 7 police who joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) and 130 civilians.
Last Friday, Burma Army soldiers arrested at least eight people in Chin State’s capital, Hakha.
Soldiers grabbed Van Dawt, Thaawng, Bawi Cung Nung, Siang Tha Cem, Tum Cung and Siang Ling at around 5 pm, while they were leaving for the town of Gantgaw. Thar Aye was arrested at his home around 7:30 pm. And armed forces detained Ester Zing Tha Cuai and her sister Aye Maw at their house around 11:45 pm.
It wasn’t clear what prompted authorities to arrest the eight people in the Chin State capital.
Soldiers destroyed CCTV cameras on homes near a roadside in Hakha on April 1, and arrested at least 6 people. Police issued arrest warrants for 23 people in Chin State, including protesters and government servants who joined the CDM.
Salai Bawi Lian Mang, CHRO director, told Khonumthung News his organization is concerned about police and soldiers using excessive force on people in the street. He said armed forces beat people up while arresting them.