Court ‘not ready’ to deliver expected verdict in Lekka villagers’ terrorism trial

By DMG 05 Nov 2021

DMG Newsroom
5 November 2021, Mrauk-U

An anticipated verdict in the long-running trial of more than 20 Lekka villagers in Arakan State’s Mrauk-U Township, who were charged under the Counter-Terrorism Law in 2019, went undelivered on Friday.

“The court did not rule on the case during the court hearing because it was not ready to deliver a verdict in the terrorism case against the Lekka villagers. The verdict was not made due to the transfer of a judge,” said U Khaing Thant Zin, a senior lawyer with the Min Htee Law Firm who is involved in the case.

The court hearing has reportedly been rescheduled for November 19. Many of the defendants’ family members arrived at the court on Friday in hopes that the detained Lekka villagers would be released.

“The abbot of the village monastery and village administrator gave me money to come to the court hearing,” said Ma Thein Yay, the wife of Lekka defendant Ko Khin Maung Soe. “I came to the court hearing to hear the verdict. The court is reportedly awaiting a letter to dismiss the case. They [the Lekka villagers] would be released when the court receives the letter.”

The Lekka villagers were arrested in April 2019 and have since been facing multiple charges under the Counter-Terrorism Law, as well as under Section 21(a) of the Arms Act. The villagers have been on trial for more than two years.

Myanmar’s military regime has withdrawn some of the cases prosecuted under the Counter-Terrorism Law in Arakan State after it de-listed the Arakan Army (AA) as a terrorist organisation in March.

For months, family members have been hoping that loved ones facing Counter-Terrorism Law charges in relation to alleged AA links would be released after the junta removed the designation of the ethnic armed organisation as a terrorist group on March 11. Dozens of cases have since been dropped, but dozens of others remain before the courts.

Daw Nyo Aye, chairwoman of the Rakhine Women’s Network, said she objected to the lengthy, inhumane detention of innocent civilians.

“I want to urge the immediate release of innocent civilians who have been wrongfully arrested. I want to say that human beings should not be so inhumane,” she added.

More than 200 people were arrested and charged under the Counter-Terrorism Law after being accused of associating with the Arakan Army during some two years of fighting in Arakan State.

As of November 5, 102 of those arrested and charged under the Counter-Terrorism Law had been released, but more than 100 remained detained.