Six Rohingya fishermen were arrested by the Myanmar Navy on the night of 27 January while fishing in waters near Pauktaw Township in Rakhine State, according to local residents.
Residents said the arrests took place at around 8:00 pm. Navy personnel reportedly stopped the fishermen’s boat at sea, detained all six men, and seized the fishing vessel before taking them to Sittwe.
Families left without information
The arrested fishermen are described as young men who rely on fishing as their primary source of income to support their families. Since the arrests, families said they have not received any official information about the men’s condition, whereabouts, or the reason for their detention.
“We have no news about them,” said one family member. “No one has told us why they were taken or when they will return.”
Fear among coastal communities
Local residents expressed growing fear following the incident. Community members said fishing is one of the few remaining ways Rohingya families can earn a living in the area.
“These young men were only fishing to feed their families,” said one resident. “If fishermen are arrested like this, everyone feels unsafe.”
Another community member said the arrests have created widespread anxiety. “Fishing is our only way to survive. If even fishermen are not safe at sea, how can we live?” he said.
Calls for release
Residents said public concern in the area is strong, with many condemning the arrests as unjustified. Community members are calling for the immediate release of the six fishermen and the return of their seized boat.
As of the latest update, authorities in Myanmar have not issued any public statement regarding the arrests, and independent verification remains difficult due to restricted access in the area.
