NarinjaraNews, 26 July 2022

Atleast 23 people have been sentenced to prison under anti-terrorism laws sinceApril this year for allegedly being associated with the Arakan Army (AA).

Amongthem, eight individuals were sentenced by the Sittwe district court, twoby  Mrauk U district court, nine by Kyauk Phyu district court and four byMaungdaw district court.

Amongthose who were convicted by the Sittwe court, four hail from Kyauk Sikevillage, two from Aydin village under  Ponna  Kyunt township andone from Bura Gyi Chaung Na village under Mrauk U township. They have beensentenced to three years in prison under section 52 (a) of the Anti-TerrorismAct.

Mrauk U court also sentenced two residents tothree years in prison under the same act.

KyaukPhyu court sentenced one from Zin Chaung village and eight from AlayChaung village to three years in prison.

Maungdawdistrict court sentenced two from Phawat Chaungvillage and two from Ngwe Taung village to long prison terms under article 50(s) and 51(a) of the same act.

Themilitary personnel arrested the 23 people from various Rakhine townships fromthe year 2019 to 2020 accusing all of them to be linked with AA.

Itmay be mentioned that the military council disbanded the AA from the list ofterror outfits on 11 March 2021. These people have been convicted under variousanti-terrorism laws after the develpment is unjustified, alleged a familymember from Maungdaw township.

"Asthe AA has been withdrawn from the group of terrorist organisations, I believethis is not justified,” he added.

Notless than  68 local people have been arrested and jailed in variousprisons of Rakhine State for allegedly maintaining links  with the AA,said Wai Hin Aung, who has been documenting the names of arrested people by themilitary council.