Prosecution witnesses questioned in case against writer accused of financing terrorism 

By DMG 26 Nov 2021

DMG Newsroom
26 November 2021, Mrauk-U 

Min Di Par, the young writer from Mrauk-U Township’s Panmaw village who was arrested last month on suspicion of financing the anti-regime People’s Defense Force (PDF) militia, appeared before the Mrauk-U District Court on November 26 facing Counter-Terrorism Law charges. 

“Four prosecution witnesses, including the plaintiff, were questioned today,” said U Kyaw Soe Lin, a lawyer from the Thazin Legal Institute who is involved in the case. “The case is not finished because only four prosecution witnesses were examined.” 

Police Captain Soe Tin filed the lawsuit against 23-year-old Ko Aung Naing Myint aka Min Di Par, who was arrested on October 15 on suspicion of financing the PDF, which the junta considers a terrorist organisation. Min Di Par was formally charged under Section 50(j) of the Counter-Terrorism Law on November 12. 

Prosecutors have lined up a total of seven witnesses in the case, including the plaintiff. The next court hearing has been scheduled for December 3, when the remaining three prosecution witnesses are due to be questioned. 

“I want the truth about this case. I want the case to be completed as soon as possible,” said Ko Aung Myint, the older brother of Min Di Par. 

At least six people in Arakan State — five from Thandwe Township and one from Mrauk-U Township — have been arrested on suspicion of PDF affiliations and charged under the Counter-Terrorism Law in recent weeks.