Three Arakan State residents imprisoned two years for AA ties

By Admin 14 Sep 2023

DMG Newsroom
14 September 2023, Sittwe
 
Charged for their alleged ties to the Arakan Army (AA), three residents from Arakan State’s Sittwe and Ann townships were recently handed down two-year prison sentences.
 
The three were arrested during the latest fighting between the Myanmar military and the AA last year.
 
U Aung Tin Myint, a former administrator of Lonekauk village-tract in Ann Township, was given two years’ imprisonment on Wednesday by the Ann Township Court for alleged violation of Article 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act, according to his lawyer.
 
He was arrested at a junta security checkpoint while travelling to Ann town in November of last year.
 
On Monday, two Sittwe Township residents — U Ba Thein from Byinephyu (Setyoekya) village, and U Saw Lein from Thakkelpyin (Muslim) village — were handed two years’ imprisonment by the Sittwe Township Court under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code for alleged incitement.
 
The pair were detained at their houses in June of last year on suspicion of having ties to the AA.
 
U Hla Myint, the head of Thakkelpyin village, said: “I heard U Saw Lein was given two years by the Sittwe Township Court. He has been detained for more than one year.”
 
It has been more than 10 months since the Myanmar military and the AA observed a ceasefire on humanitarian grounds in November of last year.
 
Myanmar’s military regime should immediately release those who were detained for their alleged ties to the AA, said a resident of Ann town.
 
“If the regime is really desirous of peace, it should release those who were unfairly arrested over their alleged ties to the AA.
 
More than 60 Arakan State residents charged under the Unlawful Associations Act for their alleged ties to the AA were released in a regime mass amnesty on August 2.
 
According to a DMG rally, a total of 128 people are still on trial across Arakan State for charges under Section 17 (1) and (2) of the Unlawful Associations and/or Section 505(a) of the Penal Code.