Breaking: Thai Authorities Arrest Wife, Children of Arakan Army Commander

By NETWORK MEDIA GROUP (NMG)
Friday, December 6, 2019

Authorities in Thailand arrested, detained and brought to Burmese border the wife and children of the Arakan Army’s commander-in-chief, Maj-Gen Tun Myat Naing on Friday.

Thirty-nine-year-old Hnin Zar Phyu and her 11-year-old daughter and infant son were taken into custody in the immigration office in Chiang Mai on December 4, when they attempted to extend their visas. They were then brought to the Mae Sai-Tachileik border by helicopter at 3:00 p.m.

Thai officials said that the Burmese authorities had asked them to arrest Hnin Zar Phyu, alleging that she had used a false passport and had ties to an insurgency movement.

The Arakan Army and the Burma Army have engaged in intensified clashes in southern Chin State and northern Rakhine State in recent years. The group is among the ethnic armed organizations that recently came out in support of charges against Burma at the International Court of Justice for genocide.

Unconfirmed information stated that Thailand has not yet sent them back to Burma until this report is written in the evening of December 6.