The military junta released 15 fishermen the same day, who were detained by the navy personnel from Ah Nauk Ye Muslim village under Pauktaw township of Arakan State.

They were released at 1 pm on 23 September, but two more Muslim fishermen and their boats remain under military custody.

“We don’t know why they haven’t been released or why the other 15 were allowed to come out,” said a local resident, adding that they are concerned about their safety.

The fishermen were arrested after warning shots were fired while they were preparing to set a stow net in Kaladan river using their boats.

The residents in Arakan are facing a livelihood crisis as the junta cut off all transportation mechanisms in the region.

World Food Programme (WFP) has also not provided food items to the Muslim internally displaced persons in Pauktaw for nearly five months.

So, the Muslim IDPs are taking the risk to go fishing despite the junta’s warning.

Photograph: A fishing boat in Arakan (old photo).