Parliament will next week consider a proposal to condemn the Arakan Army for detaining a National League for Democracy MP.
The proposal, tabled by MP Dr Hla Moe, calls for the immediate release of Hawi Ting, who represents Paletwa township in Chin state, as well as others recently detained by the group.
The largely symbolic move came after the AA offered to exchange prisoners with the government in an apparent attempt to secure the release of the younger sister of the group’s top commander.
The AA said it was unwilling to release Hawi Ting but named others who it would exchange. The military rejected the offer saying it would not negotiate with “terrorists”.
A military spokesperson said he was concerned for the health of the AA’s captives after two people died in the AA’s custody in recent weeks.
Hawi Ting was detained alongside 5 Indian nationals and 4 locals on November 3. One of the Indian nationals died in custody of what the AA claimed was a heart attack.
And a firefighter died after being detained by the AA along with 18 of his colleagues last month.
The AA has released the remaining firefighters as well as the eight remaining people detained with Hawi Ting.
AA spokesperson Khaing Thuka claimed in an interview with Myanmar Now that firefighter Myint Zaw died of “shock” after stopping for a drink of water on the way to an interrogation camp. The firefighters were returning from training in Pyin Oo Lwin when AA soldiers stopped their bus.
Myint Zaw’s personal details are yet to be confirmed but documents seen by Myanmar Now suggest he is the 30-year-old deputy head of the Thandwe township fire brigade.
San Kyaw Htun, deputy head of the Rakhine State fire department in Sittwe, said last week he was still trying to contact seven of the freed firemen but the other 11 are currently in Sittwe in “good shape,” with no visible injuries. But he said they may need counselling.
Twelve civilians were also abducted with the firemen but were released on 28 October.
Ten days after Hawi Ting was detained Dr Hla Moe, the MP for Aungmyethazan, submitted an urgent proposal to discuss the issue in the parliament.
“I made the proposal to condemn violence,” Dr Hla Moe, who is also the Parliamentary Rights Committee secretary, told Myanmar Now.
Dr Hla Moe’s proposal says the AA’s actions go against national reconciliation and peace as well as the public’s right to political representation.
It also calls for the group to safely and quickly release Hawi Ting and other captives.
“This should be done. We are already late doing it,” said Sai Thiha Kyaw, an MP for the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy.
Myanmar Now approached five MPs from the Arakan National Party at the union parliament in Naypyitaw. They all refused to comment.
Military MP brigadier general Maung Maung told Myanmar Now that “the issue should be discussed.”
The AA has accused Hawi Ting of working with the Tatmadaw to gather intelligence against the group and of stoking ethnic tensions. The group has said it will take “necessary action” in response.
The have refused to say when the MP might be released, but have this week said they were willing to release 17 soldiers, police officers and government officials detained on October 26.
The group did not specify which of its prisoners it wanted released in return, but it is likely they include the sister and brother-in-law of the AA’s commander-in-chief Twan Mrat Naing.
The couple were arrested in October in connection with a seizure of explosives in Mandalay.
In response to the AA’s offer, military spokesperson brigadier general Zaw Min Htun told 7Day news on Tuesday that the Tatmadaw would not make a deal with a “terrorist group.”
AA spokesperson Khaing Thuka could not be reached for comment.
