Sittwe Villager Missing Following Arrest by Myanmar Military

Narinjara, 18 July 2026

A resident of Aung Tai Village in Sittwe Township has gone missing after being arrested by the Myanmar military, with his family reporting no contact since his detention.

The missing man has been identified as 48-year-old U Tun U Sein. Since his arrest, he has been denied legal representation and the right to face a court.

According to his son-in-law, the Myanmar Army arrested U Tun U Sein at approximately 1:23 a.m. on June 9, 2024, while he was sleeping in his home in the southern part of Aung Tai Village.

"They took him straight from his bed in the middle of the night," the son-in-law stated.

"The soldiers provided no reason for the arrest. They simply handcuffed him and took him away immediately."

Following the abduction, the family contacted a military major at the Sittwe Regional Military Command (Dakasa) with whom they share a personal connection. While the major initially promised to look into the matter and assist the family, he also issued a stark warning against speaking to public outlets.

"The major told us he would help, but he explicitly warned us not to speak to the media, claiming that U Tun U Sein would be in danger if the story went public," the son-in-law added.

Despite the family's compliance and initial silence, U Tun U Sein’s location and status remain entirely unknown.

“He asked me if my father in law had committed any crime, and I told him he had done nothing wrong. The major then instructed me not to speak to the media. That is why I stayed silent when my mother-in-law was arrested,” he recalled.

After a day of silence, the major contacted him again with an update: U Tun U Sein had been taken in for questioning by Sarapa, the military intelligence unit.

“The major told me my father-in-law had been detained. When I asked what he had done wrong, the major said only one thing was certainthat my father-in-law was affiliated with the Arakan Army (AA),” he continued.

“It has been over two years since my father-in-law was arrested, and now it has been more than seven months since my father-in-law disappeared. He has been missing without any contact, which is why his I finally decided to open up to the media.”

The family is consumed by agonizing uncertainty, not knowing whether he is even still alive. Making matters worse, his father-in-law suffers from a chronic illness.

“I am deeply concerned about his health. Our family has been living in constant anxiety since the day they were taken. If you are still alive, no matter where you are or how difficult it is, please just contact us once,” he pleaded.

His family’s plight is not unique.

In Sittwe Township, numerous residents have been arrested from villages like Aung Tai, leaving a trail of missing people and desperate families completely cut off from their loved ones.