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Junta cracks down on town in southern Myanmar, arresting more than 30 locals

The raids came in retaliation for an attack on a military outpost in Tanintharyi region.

By RFA Burmese 2023.06.30 -- Myanmar's junta has been cracking down on residents of a Tanintharyi region town, raiding homes and arresting more than 30 locals this week, Kawthoung residents told RFA.

Residents said that the arrests were made after the Kawthoung People's Defense Force attacked an army outpost and the home of a local leader of the junta-affiliated Pyu Saw Htee militia on June 22.

The following day, the defense force announced that it had killed the leader and second-in-command of the local Pyu Saw Htee.

One local, who didn't want to be named for security reasons, told RFA troops targeted young people.

"The arrests started on the night of the 24th," said the local. "A woman from the Shwe Min Won neighborhood was arrested in her home. She was arrested and phones were confiscated.

"The junta tracked young people from the Aye Mya Kan Thar neighborhood through her.

"That night, 16 people were arrested and junta forces continued capturing people on June 25, 26 and 27.

"I heard that all the young people who were in contact by phones were being chased," he said, adding that all those arrested are being held at Kawthoung's Seven Mile interrogation center.

RFA contacted the junta spokesperson for Tanintharyi region, Yin Htwe, seeking comment on the arrests but hadn't received an answer as of late Friday.

More than 23,600 people have been arrested since the Feb. 1, 2021 coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn.

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