Kyauktaw residents face livelihood hardship after terrorism charges against them dropped

By DMG 30 Sep 2021

DMG Newsroom
30 September 2021, Kyauktaw

Five residents of Mala village in Arakan State’s Kyauktaw Township were recently released after being charged under the Counter-Terrorism Law, but they now face livlihood difficulties as IDP camps they once took refuge at are not accepting them again, they told DMG.

Ko Maung San Thein, U Mya Kyaw, Daw Ma Chay, Ko Than Tun Maung and U Me Tote Chay were released from their charges on September 14.

They subsequently went to IDP camps where their family members are sheltering, but they were denied refuge there.

Ko Than Tun Maung told DMG that Dr. Tun Aye, secretary of the Kyauktaw Township committee, told them new IDPs would not be accepted.

“My family is taking shelter at Maha Kan Gyi Shin IDP camp. My mother told the manager of the IDP camp to accept me. When we were denied, we told Dr. Tun Aye to accept me. But he said new IDPs would not be accepted,” he said.

Ko Than Tun Maung sustained a bullet wound under his right arm during his arrest, and requires medical treatment for the injury.

“When I was in detention, my family helped to provide medical treatment for me at the clinic. But I’m not provided medical treatment after I was released from detention. I cannot work because of my injury. Our names are not included in the list of IDPs, so we are facing difficulties with livelihoods,” he said.

DMG phoned U Kyaw Nyein, manager of Maha Kan Gyi Shin IDP camp, seeking comment on the five villagers being denied refuge at displacement camps, and he responded that the regime council instructed not to accept new IDPs and the township committee decided not to accept new IDPs.

“The government accepts the old IDP list. They can stay at the camp with their family, but they are not officially listed as IDPs and will not be provided food separately. But, if there is more food, I will share with them. I’ve also arranged to submit their issue to the township council to accept them as IDPs,” U Kyaw Nyein said.

Residents of Mala village fled their homes due to clashes near the village in March 2020.

The five villagers were arrested by the military when they returned home to gather their property at the village while they were taking shelter at IDP camps in Kyauktaw town.

They were charged under Sections 50(j) and 52(a) of the Counter-Terrorism Law, and faced trial for more than 19 months at the Mrauk-U District Court.