Terrorism charges loom anew in Arakan State

By Admin 03 Sep 2024

DMG Newsroom
3 September 2024, Sittwe

Young people in towns still controlled by the military regime are concerned about their safety after the regime declared the Arakkha Army (AA), Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) to be terrorist organisations.

The regime has made many arbitrary arrests of residents in towns it still controls including Sittwe, Ann, Kyaukphyu, Taungup, Gwa and Manaung on suspicion of having ties to the AA, prosecuting them under the Unlawful Associations Act and other provisions.

Residents are concerned that they might face terrorism charges now as the Counter-Terrorism Law carries longer prison sentences.

“The regime has made arrests even before it declared the AA a terrorist organisation. It may step up arrests now. The regime now has another reason to arrest civilians, so it is a cause for concern,” said a young man from Kyaukphyu Town.

According to the AA, the regime arrested more than 400 civilians in the six months since the fighting broke out in Arakan State in November.

The regime has charged many detainees under Section 17 (1) and (2) of the Unlawful Associations Act, and jailed hundreds.

On August 30, the regime sentenced 144 detained villagers from Byaing Phyu Village in Sittwe Town to three years under Section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act.

One woman from Sittwe Town said: “People are filled with fear because of arbitrary arrests and imprisonment. We have greater concerns for our safety as the regime has declared the AA a terrorist organisation.”

The AA was declared a terrorist organisation and unlawful association under the now ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) government in March 2020. It was removed from the list following the coup in March 2021.

During that period, over 600 civilians were arrested, and about half of them were jailed under the Unlawful Associations Act and Counter-Terrorism Law.

One social activist from Arakan State said: “The regime is reviving its old policy. So, people in junta-controlled areas must exercise greater caution.”

Military analysts said the three ethnic armed groups and other revolutionary organisations would step up their attacks on the regime.

The regime has been committing more human rights violations in Arakan State as it suffers from consecutive military defeats.