Htun Khaing (Taung Yin Kyun)

Narinjara News, 14 May  2020

Five men including Hsar Pyin village ANP Chairman in Taungup Townshipof Rakhine were charged  on Monday underthe Counter-Terrorism Law Section 52 (a), according to family members.

The five men are the ANP Chairman Ko Pyone Cho from Hsar Pyinvilllage, Ko Than Naing, Ko Aung Htoo, Ko Maung Myint Aung and Ko Hla Phyu, allfrom Taungup.

On April 5 the five men were arrested and investigated underthe Unlawful Associations Act Section 17 at La Mu Police Station but werereleased on May 5 after the court found insufficient evidence to chargethem. They were then almost immediately rearrested by police concerning abombing incident near Ma Ei Town, and are now facing charges under the CounterTerrorism Law.

The Taungup Judge gave four days of pre-trial custody andtoday at the court hearing, the men were charged under Section 52 of theCounter Terrorism Law, according to Daw Than Than Hsint, sister to U Pyone Cho.

“They went to court today and were charged under section 52(1). The case has been filed against the men by the officer in charge of Ma YiPolice Station”, she said.

She added that the next court hearing will take place on May22.

U Tin Nyo, the lawyer representing the five men could not becontacted for interview.  However his post on social media networksexplained that five people including the ANP chairman of Hsar Pyin villagetract were charged today under Section 52 (a) of the Counter -Terrorism Law atTaungup Township Court. The law authorises a minimum of three years to amaximum of seven years in prison, the post said.