Father and Son Vanish: Arakan Army Detains Ex-Politician and His Son

Arakan Now | 3 September 2025

U Aung Myint, also known as Zahidullah, who contested in the 2010 elections for the State Hluttaw seat of Buthidaung Township from the National Democratic Party for Development (NDPD), and his son, Maung Hla Myint of Ward 2, were abducted by the Arakan Army in June 2024, shortly after the AA took control of Buthidaung Township. The AA accused them of collaborating with the military.

 A local resident told Arakan Now, "they were completely innocent. Now the AA has imprisoned them for 27 years each. No one is allowed to see them, and we have no idea what their condition is."

The family's disappearance has left the community in fear and despair. Their fate remains unknown, and the uncertainty is a haunting reminder of the escalating violence and arbitrary detention in the region.