The military council has issued a statement denying reports that Daw Win Win Aung, a lecturer from the Zoology Department at Yangon Distance University in Meiktila Township, Mandalay Region, was being detained and interrogated by the People’s Defense Force (PDF). According to the military council’s statement, Daw Win Win Aung has instead joined the Arakan Army (AA). The council claims that she had pre-planned to collaborate with AA in educational activities within their controlled territories.
The military council’s statement indicates that Daw Win Win Aung had established prior communications with the AA and traveled on May 7 from Meiktila to Kyartat village in Salingyi Township with the assistance of Ko Zeyar Min Htay from Salingyi PDF. She then allegedly proceeded to meet with Ko Zaw Aye Tun from the AA. The council reports that Daw Win Win Aung had unexpectedly abandoned her duties on May 7, 2025. She had arrived at Meiktila University on May 1 with other instructors from Yangon Distance University to provide close guidance to students retaking matriculation exams in the Mandalay Region due to earthquake damage. She had been teaching at Basic Education High School No. 2 in Pyawbwe since May 2.
On May 7 at 5:45 AM, before departing from Meiktila University to Pyawbwe, Daw Win Win Aung called team leader Daw Mu Mu Aye to request permission, citing a meeting with friends. However, she failed to return to her duty station by the regular class dismissal time and became unreachable when authorities attempted to contact her. Around 9:30 PM, she sent an email to her son Maung Ye Lin Myat Hein stating that she was fine and would be released after questioning. According to the military council’s investigation of CCTV footage, Daw Win Win Aung was seen leaving Meiktila University’s Gate No. 1 with a small bag from the Kahkyar Building. She was then observed having breakfast alone at the Arun Oo Tea Shop near the university before willingly boarding a gray Toyota Passo (license plate under investigation) that arrived at the shop.
Daw Win Win Aung is an ethnic Rakhine who was born in Sittwe, Rakhine State. She completed her education from kindergarten through university in Sittwe. Before taking up lecturer positions at universities, she had previously served as primary and middle school teachers at various basic education schools in Sittwe. The military council’s statement emphasizes her connections to Rakhine State while attempting to establish a narrative about her alleged voluntary collaboration with the AA, though it’s important to note that such claims from the military council should be viewed within the context of ongoing conflict and tensions between the military and various ethnic armed organizations.
