By Nway / MPA
Myanmar military troops have detained a married couple who were travelling to a clinic for medical treatment in the central Magway region, local sources say.
The incident occurred on the morning of 5 February* at the Weilat Bridge checkpoint, a key entrance to the town of Gangaw.
According to the local monitoring group Yaw Alin Tan, soldiers stopped four people—two married couples—from Zahaw village who were on their way to the town for medical care.
While one couple was reportedly released later that evening, the other remains in custody at the Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 50 base in Gangaw.
“They are just a married couple in their 40s who went to the clinic because they were sick,” a spokesperson from Yaw Alin Tan told the Myanmar Pressphoto Agency (MPA).
“We understand that one couple was released, but the other is still being held. We haven’t heard of any beatings, but we can’t confirm if they had to pay a bribe for the release. In the past, people have had to pay money to be freed.”
Local sources allege the continued detention is based on accusations that the couple has links to the resistance movement.
Zahaw village, located about four miles from Gangaw, is frequently targeted by the military due to its location in a resistance stronghold.
“You could say Zahaw is a target for them,” the spokesperson explained. “When the military fires heavy artillery from the town, they mostly aim directly at Zahaw.”
Tensions in the area remain high, with reports that the military planted landmines around the perimeter of the LIB 50 battalion earlier this month.
