AA Chief’s sister and brother-in-law remanded in custody for second time

By Myat Win Kyaw 01 Nov 2019

Myat Win Kyaw/ DMG

1 November, Sittwe

The younger sister of the Arakan Army (AA) Chief Maj-Gen Twan Mrat Naing and her husband were remanded in custody for the second time at Mayangone Township Court in Yangon on 1 November.

The brother-in-law of the Arakan Army (AA) chief Ko Kyaw Naing and his wife Ma Moe Hnin Phyu who was waiting at the Yangon International Airport to pick up her husband were arrested by the police after the husband returned from Chiang Mai, Thailand on 18 October. They are currently being questioned.

The couple has been charged under the Counterterrorism Law by Police Captain Min Khaing from the Yangon Region Special Branch, according to a source from Mayangone Township Court.

“The police said they have not yet received legal advice from the Yangon Regional Advocate General’s Office and approval from the Central Committee for Counterterrorism before suing the couple under the Counterterrorism Law,” said U Moe Swe, the court information officer. The pair will be held on remand at Insein Prison until 15 November, he added.

Ko Kyaw Naing was arrested on suspicion of financing Ko Maung Maung Soe, one of the suspects who was found with explosive devices in Mandalay in September. The police charged six suspects with violating the Counter-Terrorism Law, saying the suspects are allegedly members and supporters of the Arakan Army (AA).

Ko Aung Mrat Kyaw, younger brother of the Arakan Army (AA) Chief Maj-Gen Twan Mrat Naing was also detained by the Singaporean Government on 10 July on suspicion of fundraising for the ethnic armed group. He was later arrested by Myanmar authorities at the Yangon International Airport upon returning from Singapore and was charged under the Counter-Terrorism Law.

According to the Rakhine Ethnic Congress (REC), the Tatmadaw has so far arrested 217 people on suspicion of having ties to the Arakan Army (AA).