Arakan News Agency | Special
Local fishermen in Arakan State are facing increasingly harsh living conditions as Myanmar’s military navy continues to carry out arrests, pursuits, and attacks in coastal waters, residents told Arakan News Agency.
According to local sources, naval boats and vessels have intensified patrols along the Arakan coast, targeting fishermen on alleged security suspicions. These actions have crippled the livelihoods of many families, leaving fishermen unable to carry out their daily work.
Residents said naval forces routinely stop fishing boats, extort money from fishermen, and carry out arbitrary arrests. In some cases, troops have also opened fire at sea.
Local sources reported that on December 22, military naval forces arrested 28 Muslim fishermen and seized three fishing boats near Pannantha Island in Pauk Taw Township.
They added that other fishermen in the Pauk Taw area have been forced to flee their villages due to growing fear of naval patrols stationed near Sittwe.
In a separate incident, local sources said that on January 18, military naval forces arrested six fishermen and seized four fishing boats from Jet Taw Village in Thandwe Township.
Those detained were identified as Ko Moe Kyaw Aung, Ko Maung Soe Kyaw, Ko Aung Min Lwin, and Ko La Pyae, who remain in custody. Another fisherman, Ko Aung Kyaw Tun, was reported missing after falling into the sea during the arrest operation, while Ko Kyaw Zan Phyo managed to escape.
Residents said warships anchored offshore have not only arrested fishermen but have also fired heavy weapons toward nearby coastal villages on several occasions, causing widespread fear among civilians.
According to local testimonies, these military actions have forced large numbers of coastal residents to flee their homes in search of safety, amid reports of injuries and deaths, and in the absence of any protection for civilians as pressure on their livelihoods continues.
These violations come amid escalating military and security operations by the ruling junta in Arakan State, particularly in coastal areas where thousands of residents depend on fishing as their primary source of income.
In recent months, the military navy has intensified its sea patrols, severely restricting fishermen’s movements and leading to a rise in arrests and harassment, alongside worsening humanitarian conditions and repeated displacement of civilians from coastal villages.
