Even though the military council has reached an agreement of ceasefire with the Arakan Army (AA), theimprisoement of those arrested in connectionwith the AA is increased in the recent days.

Today, two people from Kyauk Taw township, who were charged with section 505-A, were sentenced to hardlabour with two years in prison.

Ko Zaw Moe Thant, a company employee from Pan Phae Chaung village and U Kyaw Than Maung, anIndian tricycle (locally known as Tok Tok) driver from Khaung Dokevillage were sent to prison at around 10 am on Friday by the Kyauk Taw township court.

"The order was passed today. My son was accused a crime and hence he was punished under the law,” said Zaw Moe Thant’s father.

Two convicted individuals along with U Zaw Win, a local social worker, were arrested by the junta forces on 21June 2022 and charged under section505-A. Zaw Win will face trial on 26 September next.

Earlier on 13 September, a  village administrator from Ann township was sentenced to two years in prison bythe junta court on suspicion ofbeing associated with the AA.

U Aung Tin Myint, a former administrator of Nyaung Chaung village under Ann township, was also sentencedto prison by the Ann township courtunder section 17(1) of the unlawful association act on 13 September.

On 11 September,  two local residents (U Ba Thein from Byai Phyu village and U Sao Lai (aka) Maung MaungKhin from Thet Kay Pyin Muslim village)from Sittwe were sentenced to two years in prison by a junta court for allegedlybeing associated with the AA.

The Sittwe township court, after convicting as AA affiliates, sentenced them under section 505(a) inthe sedition act.

In June 2022, both were arrested by the junta forces during theperiod of resurgentgunfighting in the Rakhine region.

In June last year itself, when the AA members detained one navy officer along with asoldier in Sittwe, the junta forces arrested 21 civilians as an act of retaliation. Some of them were releasedand many are stillfacing trials with the suspicion of being AA members or supporters.

According to the Rakhine human rights protection and promotiongroup, morethan 100 Rakhine people are still under trials following their arrest as being the AA members.