Convicted military and BGF members released early from jail, but not local resident

By Cha Lu Aung 28 May 2019

Cha Lu Aung | DMG

May 28, Sittwe

Even though members of the Military Force and Border Guard Force were jailed for the killing of 10 Muslim people from Inn Din village in northern Arakan State in 2017 they were granted early release, however a local teacher from the village jailed for the same case is still incarcerated, according to his family.

Ko Aye Tun was sentenced to five years imprisonment by the Maungdaw district court for abetting in the killings of 10 Muslims in Inn Din village while three military officers and four soldiers of different ranks were sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for the killings in Inn Din village.

“When we heard about the pardon, we were expecting he would be included on the list. The President granted amnesty three times this year, but my son was not pardoned. You do not know how I feel as a mother. There was no evidence to convict my son. They came and searched our house and took three grape hoes. Then, he was sentenced to five years in prison,” said Daw Yaing Nu Phyu, mother of Ko Aye Tun.

The Maungdaw district court ordered the punishment on December 30 in 2018 for abetting in the killings.

The Wife of Ko Aye Tun said that she wanted her husband to be given early release because members of the Military Force and Border Guard Force who were involved in the killings and two Reuters reporters who exposed the murder were given early release.

“When the court queried 12 prosecution witnesses, they said there was no evidence. Authorities from government departments and CID came and searched our house, but they did not find any incriminating evidence. Now, all people related to the murder were given early release, only my husband is still in the prison. That’s why I demand that my husband gets released now as well,” said Ma Khin San Myint, wife of Ko Aye Tun.

She added that they face difficulties for their day-to-day living and their children’s education because her husband was convicted and fired from his job as a school teacher.

For the court to make a decision, Ko Aye Tun submitted an appeal to the High Court of Arakan State, but it was dismissed, said his lawyer U Khin Win.

“My client was sentenced to five years in prison for abetting in the murder. Now the murderers are given early release. Only he is still in prison now,” he said.