Two More IDP Camp Officials, Including a Woman, Arrested in Sittwe

Narinjara, 17 June 2026

A man and a woman serving as Internal Displaced Persons (IDP) camp officials were arrested by junta forces in Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine State, during overnight guest list checks.

The arrested officials have been identified as Ma Aye Aung, 35, the head of the Thobitarama Monastery IDP camp, and U Tha Han, 58, the head of the Sinku Land Road IDP camp.

A local resident reported that approximately 10 police officers entered the Sinku Land Road monastery camp last night.

After conducting a routine check of the guest registration list, they took U Tha Han into custody.

"They checked the guest list and then arrested the camp head. I don't know the reason behind it," the resident told Narinjara.

U Tha Han, originally a resident of Byang Phyu Village, had been managing the Sinku Land Road IDP camp prior to his arrest.

Myanmar military authorities arrested at least two camp leaders, including Ma Aye Aye Aung, during guest list inspections at Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps across Sittwe overnight.

Myanmar military authorities arrested Ma Aye Aye Aung, head of the Thobitarama monastery IDP Camp, during overnight guest list inspections.

According to an IDP source, the military conducted checks at least five other camps in Sittwe, including the Sinku Lant and Thobitarama monastery IDP camps. During the inspections, Ma Aye Aye Aung and U Tha Han were arrested by the junta officials.

The reason for their arrests remains unknown, and both are currently being held for questioning at Sittwe Police Station No. 2.

In a separate incident, a female camp supervisor in charge of the Mani Yadana Monastery refugee shelter in Sittwe was arrested on April 24 and subsequently released on May 6.