Ship carrying Rakhine IDPs detained at Myanmar junta naval base

A cargo ship full of civilians fleeing war-torn Rakhine State was finally allowed to leave a junta naval base in Ayeyarwady Region’s Ngapudaw Township on Monday after being detained there for more than a week, according to sources familiar with the situation. The ship, the Shwe La Min 5, was on its way to Yangon when it was detained last week at the Pammawady Naval Regional Command base on Hainggyi Island, the sources said. The vessel’s 270 passengers were mostly internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Rakhine State’s Manaung, Kyaukphyu, Taungup, and Sittwe townships, as well as military families and junta civilian personnel. The cause of the delay was reportedly related to the number of people aboard the ship, which was three times more than it was registered to carry. “The passengers heard that they couldn’t depart because the permission from Naypyitaw hadn’t arrived,” a source close to one of the passengers told Myanmar Now. “It was quite difficult. There was only one toilet. With so many people, no one could even take a shower.” Stranded under the hot sun for days, the passengers—including many elderly people and children—also had trouble meeting other basic needs. Boiled eggs sold for 1,500 kyat (around US $0.35) apiece, while charging phones cost twice that amount. According to the source, the fare was also more than double the normal price of around 150,000 kyat ($35). During the week, naval officers conducted inspections while soldiers were stationed as guards. However, no one was taken into custody, despite suspicions that regime authorities were searching for passengers with ties to the Arakan Army (AA). “There were no individual interrogations. They just spoke to the crew and then left,” the source said. Locals from Hainggyi Island confirmed that the ship left the area at around 4pm on Monday. Since launching a major offensive for control of Rakhine State more than a year ago, the AA has captured 14 of its 17 townships. Only the capital Sittwe, the major port town of Kyaukphyu, and Manaung on Cheduba Island remain under junta control. Currently, only Manaung remains free of fighting. However, residents and IDPs have reportedly begun evacuating the town as the conflict continues to spread across the state.Earlier this week, the AA announced its capture of Gwa, Rakhine State’s southernmost township. During fighting for control of the town, residents reportedly faced extortion from junta officials as they fled overland to neighbouring Ayeyarwady Region.

Ship carrying Rakhine IDPs detained at Myanmar junta naval base

The ship was finally allowed to proceed to Yangon late Monday after being held up for more than a week

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