CNI News
12 August 2022
The Arakan Army has detained Lt-Col Khaing Paw Lin, a central executive committee member of the Arakan Liberation Army not because of his affiliation to the ALP but because of crimes he committed, according to AA Spokesperson Khaing Thukha.
At a press conference on 11th August, the AA spokesperson said that Lt-Gen Khaing Paw Lin was detained for his crimes but refused to elaborate on the details of his crimes.
He said, “It is true that we have detained him. I have already said that. Now, I have explained the reason for detaining him. There is no serious issue to negotiate between the AA and the ALP. We will have to take action against anyone who are guilty of crimes. He has been detained not as a member of the ALP but as a criminal. To tell the truth, we are not handling the matter because he is an ALP member.”
Lt-Col Khaing Paw Lin of the ALP. (ALP)
The ALP announced that the AA abducted Lt-Col Khaing Paw Lin from the ALP at his house on 2nd August, 2022.
Then, members of the ALP detained a resident of Narzi Village in Sittwe on 8th August, accusing him of involvement in the arrest of Lt-Col Khaing Paw Lin.
As the United League of Arakan and its armed wing, the AA, announced at the press conference that there must be only one armed organization in Rakhine State, negotiations over the arrests of each other’s members were not likely, Rakhine Politician U Pe Than told the CNI.
Leaders of the ALP and the AA.
U Pe Than said, “The ULA/AA has adopted a policy that there must be only one armed organization in Rakhine. It was also learnt that they detained Lt-Col Khaing Paw Lin not for his political affiliation but for his criminal acts. So, the ALP abducted suspected informers and hard-cores in the arrest of Khaing Paw Lin. “Based on these and statements made at the press conference, it is unlikely that they will engage in negotiations. I think they will detain members of the ALP if it causes trouble for the public or undermines the position of the AA by joining hands with the junta. Moreover, they announced at the press conference that there must be only one armed organization in Rakhine State, I don’t think negotiations are possible,” U Pe Than said.
The CNI contacted the ALP for comments over the issue unsuccessfully as the party did not answer the phone.
Both the ALP and the ULS/AA are armed organizations of Rakhine ethnic group but the former is a signatory to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement but the latter is still negotiating to do so.
