AA recruiting locals for its judiciary

By Admin 12 Oct 2023

DMG Newsroom
12 October 2023, Sittwe

The United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA), which runs a parallel administration in Arakan State that includes a judiciary and other governmental institutions, is recruiting young local people for its court system.

Applications were invited on October 1. AA spokesman U Khaing Thukha said: “The legal affairs training school of our Arakan people’s government has been recruiting new trainees to serve at courts and legal offices under the judicial department.”

According to the AA, those who swear allegiance to Arakan State and the Arakan people’s government, and have at least passed the matriculation exam or obtained a university degree, are eligible to join. Selected trainees must serve at least five years in the ULA/AA’s judiciary.

The recruitment comes more than two years after the ULA, the political wing of the AA, announced its plan to establish a court system in August 2021. The ULA/AA has been running courts in parallel with Myanmar’s military regime in both rural and urban parts of Arakan State.

The AA court system is not without its critics.

“Firstly, rulings are not fair. Secondly, the trial process is slow,” said a resident of Arakan State who asked for anonymity. “Out of the nationalist sentiment, local people who are not satisfied with the junta’s judicial system tend to rely on ULA/AA. There is also bribery and corruption, which affects the administering of justice.”

The AA has come under fire after a homicide suspect reportedly died during interrogation in AA’s custody. The Arakanese armed group claimed that the man had underlying health problems, which led to his death.

The ULA’s judicial branch in Kyaukphyu Township is also involved in a corruption scandal, according to a Kyaukphyu resident who did not want to be named.

“It is fair to say the judiciary in our township has a lot of shortcomings,” he said.

At a press conference in April of last year, the AA said it had no tolerance for corruption and abuse of power in its administration and judiciary, and that locals could file complaints if they are aware of any corruption or abuses of power.