Man Yu Kyaw (Shwe Wa Mye)

Sittwe,13 May 2020

TheOffice of the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services announced yesterdaythat legal action is being taken against security personnel involved in theunlawful interrogation of five men from Kyauk Seik village, PonnarkyunTownship, Rakhine.

On May 10 a video appeared on social medianetworks showing Tatmadaw soldiers mistreating and beating five blindfolded menaboard a boat. The men were arrested by the Tatmadaw in Kyauk Seik,Ponnarkyun. 

The five men can be seen being kicked and beaten about theface and body, punched and slapped in the face, and having their chests stampedon. The video, which has since gone viral,  has prompted widespreadcriticism of the Tatmadaw soldiers and on May 12 the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the DefenceServices made the announcement.

It mentions a previous report issued on April 21 which statesthe five men had been detained in Kyauk Seik village in Ponnarkyun and wereundergoing the necessary interrogations.

“On the morning of April 27 the five men were transferred bymilitary boat from Ponnarkyun to Sittwe for further investigation and legalproceedings, and during their transfer a video has emerged showing securitypersonnel tasked with guarding the men conducting interrogations in a way whichis not in accordance with the law. Investigations into these security personnelwho conducted this interrogation that was not in accordance with the law willcontinue, and action will be taken in accordance with military law” theannouncement said.

USaw Maung Thein, uncle to Ko Nyi Nyi Aung who was among the five arrested, saidthat the Tatmadaw announcing that it was taking action against its own soldierswas just words, nothing more.

“Its just talk, saying they will take action in accordancewith the law. We’ve heard this all before. In Myanmar there is no justiceor equality in the legal system.  It’s biased and favours one side.And this is what we have at the moment” he told Narinjara.

According to family members, the five men in the videoinclude Ko Nyi Nyi Aung (24), Ko Myo Linn Oo (24), Ko Maung Chay (24) who arefrom Kyauk Seik.  The remaining two include Ko Min Soe (38), fromPonnarkyun Town and Ko Kyaw Win Hein from Zi Pin Gyi village, Mrauk Oo.

Ko Kyaw Hein from Mrauk Oo Township lives in Sittwe but wasarrested when he went to Kyauk Seik village to care for his father who hadsuffered a stroke.  Ko Min Soe was arrested when he went to KyaukSeik to collect a debt owed to him.  

On April 19, 38 people, including these five, were arrestedby the Tatmadaw on suspicion of affiliation with the AA. So far 33 have been released.