Incident Summary:

10/14/2020: Assailants attacked three National League for Democracy (NLD) candidates campaigning in Phaung Kha, Taungup township, Rakhine, Myanmar. At least 10 people were beaten and three candidates were abducted in the assault. The hostage was released on January 1, 2021. The Arakan Army (AA) claimed responsibility for the incident and stated that they would release the victims if student protesters, ethnic Rakhine politicians, and other political prisoners affiliated with the AA were released by the government. The AA also called the victims "crooked" and "Burmese puppets and traitors." They further accused the victims of "disturbing the revolution and collaborating with the Myanmar army to commit torture and killings against civilians."

GTD ID:
202010130014

When:
2020-10-14

Country:
Myanmar

Region:
Southeast Asia

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Rakhine

City:
Phaung Kha

Location Details:
The incident occurred in Taungup township.

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Armed Assault
Type of Attack (more) Hostage Taking (Kidnapping)
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property
Name of Entity National League for Democracy (NLD)
Specific Description Candidates: Daw Ni Ni May Myint, Daw Chit Chit Chaw and U Min Aung
Nationality of Target Myanmar
Additional Information
Hostages Yes
Number of Hostages 3
US Hostages 0
Days of Kidnapping 79
Outcome Hostage(s) released by perpetrators
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Minor (likely < $1 million)
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Firearms Unknown Gun Type
Melee Hands, Feet, Fists
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Arakan Army (AA) Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: E-mail)
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators 5
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 10 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities Unknown
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 10
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"Rakhine armed group seized Myanmar governing party candidates," Al Jazeera, October 19, 2020.
"Myanmar armed group releases abducted members of Suu Kyi’s party," The Nation Pakistan, January 1, 2021.
"Myanmar (Burma): NLD urges AA to release its abducted members promptly," Asia News Monitor, December 31, 2020.