Detainees claim forced terrorist training, joining of border post attack in Myanmar western state

Four detainees have claimed that they were forced to undergo terrorist training and then join the Oct. 9 attack on three border posts in Maungtaw, Myanmar's western Rakhine state, setting fire to their own villages, the newly-formed Information Committee of the State Counselor's Office said on Friday.

The detainees, suspected of being involved in the deadly border post attacks and arrested during a recent clearance operation by the government troops, made the claim when interrogated by the authorities.

The detainees revealed a systematic recruitment of members of the Muslim community in the state by foreign extremists that was carried out by the intimidation and the threat of execution.

They said people in the village were forced to attend the course conducted at the back of the Mayin Mountain and the Muslim cleric at local mosque acted as organizer, adding that each one from local households had to join the attack, otherwise all family members would be slashed to death

According to the Information Committee's Friday news release, 59 more armed attackers were arrested during the government troops' area clearance operation in three villages, Kyargaungtaung, Gwazone and Dargyizar.

They were being further questioned.

A series of fightings have been following after nine policemen and five soldiers were killed in violent attacks by armed men on Oct. 9 on three border posts in Kyikanpyin of Maungtaw, Kotankauk of Rathedaung and Ngakhuya Office in the state.

Islamic extremists were exposed as being involved in the attacks, which were supported financially by foreign terrorist organizations, the government said. Enditem