Suspected links to AA, 9 Kyauk Phyu locals sentenced to 3 years in prison

Narinjara News, 22 July 2022

Altogether nine residents of Kyauk Phyu township, the second largest city of Rakhine State, were sentenced to three years in prison under section 52 (a) of the Anti-Terrorism Act on 21 July.

They are accused of being associated with the Arakan Army. They have spent two years in Kyauk Phyu prison and faced trial in the Kyauk Phyu court, said lawyer U Kyaw Thura, who is pursuing the case.

Among the convicted individuals, U Win Naing  hails from Zin Chaung village and U Ng Lo Aung (b) Tun Tun Win,  U Nyi Nyi Zaw, U Zaw Tun U Myint Tun, U Chan Nyein, U Zaw Htay (b) Myo Win, U Tun Win and U Ye Ko Naing from Alay Chaung village.

They were arrested by the junta personnel separately from Kyauk Phyu locality within 2020. All of them were charged with 50 (u) and 50 (j) and 52 (a) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, added the lawyer.

As they have already completed two years in Kyauk Phyu prison, they need to remain behind the bars for only one more year.

During the last few days, many locals across Rakhine State were arrested and prosecuted by the authorities for allegedly maintaining links with the AA.

Even after the AA was dismissed as a terrorist organization, a number of innocent people were convicted with the charge of maintaining links with the group, said social activists, adding that it’s simply unfair.