Soldiers and civilians brawl in Sittwe

Nyein Chan
Mizzima News: 1 August, 2006

A fracas between soldiers and a group of youths in Sittwe, capital of Arakan state, in western Burma led to two civilians being arrested.

The fight broke-out on July 25, when a quarrel between Htun Lin, son of Sittwe Ohndabind ward Peace and Development Committee Chairman and his friends led to intervention by three soldiers from Sittwe Recruitment detachment, said Kyaw Kyaw Oo a local resident quoting an eyewitness.

"The soldiers were in mufti and had been drinking at a nearby shop. Given they were not in uniform, the local youths had no idea that they were soldiers. In the brawl that followed a soldier sustained serious head injuries and had to be given three stitches. No body else was injured," a local youth from Ohndabind ward told Mizzima.

Later the soldiers raided the homes of the youths and arrested Ashin Maung, father of Htun Lin, the Chairman of the local PDC on July 26 when they failed to locate the youths who had fled. Ashin Maung was detained in Sittwe No. 1 police station lockup, added the local youth.

 On July 27, Ashin Maung was released when Htun Lin and his friends surrendered to the police. The youths are in police custody but the charges filed against them are still not known.