YANGON-The Arakan Army (AA) announced a statement yesterday that they had released sixteen driver hostages from the Road Administration Department.

AA detained sixteen drivers from Road Administration Department on December 31st while they were traveling on Aung Takon (7) vessel from Sittwe to Buthidaung Township, Rakhine State, said Aung Lin, Deputy General Manager of Inland Water Transport Department of Rakhine State.

The AA’s announcement also reported that they temporarily detained 16 hostages near Pyaintaw village, Yathedaung Township, Rakhine State but handed them over to the ward administrators and town elders at a School in Thekan village, Buthidaung Township, Rakhine State, on January 1st as they were deemed as non-suspects as they had no ties with the military.

If those people will be travelling collectively to the conflict and curfew areas in Rakhine State, they must be informed AA, according to the AA’s announcement.  

Those 16 drivers, including the deputy supervisor from Road Administration Department, were on the Aung Takon vessel at Sittwe Jetty on the morning of December 31st. They were en route to drive 20 Sinoturk HOWO vehicles donated by the People’s Republic of China for the repatriation program being carried out in Maungdaw Township, Rakhine State.

On arrival at between Sapho and Oakpho village in Yathedaung Township, about 70 members of AA arrived at a place by seven boats. And then, they stopped vessel and detained 16 drivers who will serve in the repatriation program in Maungdaw Township, according to the announcement of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services.

The vessel can carry passengers and cargos and 89 passengers are onboard at that time, Aung Lin said.