Two arrestees in connection with AA imprisoned with hard labour

Even though the military council has reached an agreement of ceasefire with the Arakan Army (AA), the imprisoement of those arrested in connection with 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 hard labour with two years in prison.

Ko Zaw Moe Thant, a company employee from Pan Phae Chaung village and U Kyaw Than Maung, an Indian tricycle (locally known as Tok Tok) driver from Khaung Doke village 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 21 June 2022 and charged under section 505-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 by the junta court on suspicion of being associated with the AA.

U Aung Tin Myint, a former administrator of Nyaung Chaung village under Ann township, was also sentenced to prison by the Ann township court under 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 Maung Khin from Thet Kay Pyin Muslim village) from Sittwe were sentenced to two years in prison by a junta court for allegedly being associated with the AA.

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

In June 2022, both were arrested by the junta forces during the period of resurgent gunfighting in the Rakhine region.

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

According to the Rakhine human rights protection and promotion group, more than 100 Rakhine people are still under trials following their arrest as being the AA members.