Dozens of civilian detainees in Arakan State remain behind bars

By Admin 22 Aug 2023

DMG Newsroom
22 August 2023, Sittwe

There are 128 people in Arakan State who were charged under Section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act or Section 505(a) of the Penal Code, according to a DMG tally.

Among those charged and behind bars were 21 people from Sittwe, five each from Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U and Buthidaung, three from Minbya, 27 from Kyaukphyu, 28 from Thandwe, 15 from Ann and 19 from Taungup.

“My husband has been detained for more than one year and he has not been released yet. The plaintiff was absent during the hearing. The next hearing has been scheduled for August 29. If he is innocent, I want him released as soon as possible,” said Ma Aye Aye Khaing, a local woman from Ponnagyun Township.

The military regime arrested Ko Ba Hlaing, the husband of Ma Aye Aye Khaing, and six others in Ponnagyun on June 26, 2022, and charged them under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code.

Sixty-one Arakan State residents charged under Sections (1) and (2) of the Unlawful Associations Act and behind bars for their alleged ties to the Arakan Army (AA) were released in a junta amnesty on August 2.

But 13 people from Sittwe Prison, five from Buthidaung Prison, two each from Kyauktaw jail and Thandwe Prison, 10 from Kyaukphyu Prison and 19 from Taungup Prison are still facing trial at various courts under Sections (1) and (2) of the Unlawful Associations Act.

In addition, eight from Sittwe Prison, three from Kyauktaw Jail, five from Mrauk-U, 17 from Kyaukphyu Prison and 26 from Thandwe Prison are reportedly facing trial under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code.

The family members of the accused said the plaintiffs were absent and the hearings were repeatedly postponed.

“I was not allowed to meet family members due to the junta’s ban on prison visits. I want all people accused of various charges released as soon as possible.  Frequent court hearings are difficult for families and those who have been arrested,” said Ko Hla Aung Thein, who was released from Sittwe Prison in a junta amnesty on August 2.

The junta and Arakan Army (AA) reached their latest informal ceasefire, on humanitarian grounds, more than nine months ago. Some people arrested on suspicion of having ties to the AA should be released during the ceasefire, politicians have said.

The military regime arrested 594 local people in Arakan State during the fighting and released 391 people as of February 2023, according to figures compiled by the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA). 142 people remain behind bars as 61 people were released in a junta amnesty in August.