Narinjara News, 1November 2022

With an aim to suppressand prevent further expansion of support bases for theUnited League of Arakan and Arakan Army (ULA/AA) towards thesouthern part of Rakhine State, the Burmese militarycouncil has arrested and prosecuted a number locals inthe last few days.

A Taungupresident informed that a number of local people werearrested from Taungup and Thandwe townships located at southern part ofRakhine state. 

Healso added that arbitrary arrests are happening almost every dayand hence everyone remains scared of thesituation.

The people arebeing arrested for providing financial support and sending information about militaryactivities to AA members. The locals are also accused of leakinggovernment data to them.

Recently,at least 15 people were arrested withthe charge of raising funds to AA members.

Fourindividuals from Taungup township namely U KyawThaung (42 years old, son of  U Kyaw Tun Aung), Ko KoNaing (29, son of  U Thein Chey), Soe Min Tun (32, son of U KyawLwin) and U Aye Kyaw Kyaw (29, son of U Kyaw Zaya) are facing legalproblems.

A case has beenopened against U Aung San (b) U San Tin (45), a Chin national Christian pastorhailing from Talai Taung village under Ann township.

They all areaccused of sending vital information about the activitiesof government employees including military personnel to theRakhine Army.

On 27 October, NaMyo Aung, U Kyaw Kyaw Naing and U Maung Mat from Thandwetownship faced police cases under the unlawful act.

Moreover, Daw Khin Hlaand U Kyaw Kyaw Naing from Taungup township are alsobeing prosecuted under the act.

Win Maung Maung Phyo, asenior clerk at the general administration department ofThandwe township, also faces charges under the unlawfulact. He has been accused under section 505 (Ka) ofthe penal code with the allegation of sending informationabout households, villages and departmental meetings to AA leaders.

A case was openedunder section 505(a) against U Hlaing Win Htut (aka) Win Htut, a wardclerk hailing from Saekgyi village under Thandwe township,for maintaining links with ULA/AA. He also allegedly sent inputsabout the military council Army to AA leaders.

More than 150people have been arrested in Rakhine State since theresurgence of gunfighting, where most of them had beenarrested and charged under article 17(1) of the unlawful actand also under section 505 (a) (b) of the penal code.