5 Rakhine residents, imprisoned for 3 years, released after their term expires

Narinjara News, 23 February 2023

Five Rakhine residents, who were severely tortured on the navy ship and also imprisoned for  three years, were released after their prison terms have expired.

The Rakhine nationals, hailing from Kyauk Sit village under Ponna Gyun township, were released at around 9 am on Tuesday from Sittwe prison.

They have been identified as Ko Nyi Nyi Aung (24 years old), Ko Myo Hlaing Oo (24), Ko Maung Che (24), Ko Min Soe (38) and Ko Kyaw Win Hein (22).

Talking to Narinjara News, Nyi Nyi Aung said  that they were sentenced to three years in Sittwe prison following the false accusation of affiliating with Arakan Army members.

“I feel sad that I had to spend 3 years in jail for no reason. However it gives me a sense of pride that I could pay for my people who are presently suffering under the military rule,” he asserted.

On 19 April 2020, at least 38 people from Kyauk Sit village were arrested by the army personnel a week after eight villagers were killed in the army artillery shelling over the village.

“On 13 April 2020, the LIB no 555 based in Ponna Gyun town fired several artillery shells on our village intentionally as some soldiers lost their lives while fighting against AA members. Eight villagers also died in the shelling. A week later a group of Burmese army personnel arrived in our village and picked up 38 people. After preliminary interrogations, five villagers were arrested and the rest were released,” said a villager.

During the custody in a navy ship, some sailors tortured severely the villagers. After some days, a video footage showing atrocities on them went on viral in social media. The army authority agreed to take actions against those soldiers involved in the incident.

But the villagers continued to be in jail as captain Tint Naing Tun charged them under article 50 (j) and 52(a) of the anti-terrorism act.

They  faced the trial after two years in Sittwe prison during 2022. On 6 July 2022, Sittwe district judge sentenced them to three years in prison.