Five sheep farmers, belonging to the New Mon State Party (NMSP), were released on Tuesday [May 17] after being arrested by a navy unit, according to the families of the arrestees.
On May 15, a government navy unit arrested five workers of a sheep livestock operation owned by NMSP on Kawkonlon Island, west Andin Village, Ye Township. The five workers, two villagers from Andin Village and three migrant workers, were then detained at Military Operation Management Command No. 19, based in Ye Town.
“Until now, we still do not know why they were arrested. They released them this evening at 4 PM [May 17],” said Nai Maung Shin, the father of arrestee Nai Min Zaw.
Nai Maung Shin added that the officials at the Ye Town-based NMSP’s liaison gave approval, with signatures, that the employees were honest and the NMSP hired them to work on their sheep farm.
However, when MNA contacted an official at NMSP’s Tavoy District, he said that it was true that the five workers were arrested but uncertain as to the cause. Thus, he could not give further comments on the topic.
“It’s true that five villagers were taken away. However, we did not inform the police regarding this case. This is because we got to know that it’s the navy unit who took them away,” said Nai Tin Chaung, Andin Village Tract Administrator.
Nai Tin Chaung added that the NMSP received a land grant on the island from the government lasting 30 years.
