Sittwe monk arrested, charged over alleged ties to NUG and affiliated CRPH

By Admin 24 Nov 2023

DMG Newsroom
24 November 2023, Sittwe

A Buddhist monk from Tayza Yarma aka Thayetoak Monastery in the Arakan State capital Sittwe has been arrested on suspicion of having ties to the National Unity Government (NUG) and Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), the junta-controlled Myanmar Alinn daily reported on Friday.

U Kovissa aka Nyein Chan Win, the Buddhist monk detained, has been using the “Ashin Kor Wae Da” Facebook account to spread propaganda with the aim of disrupting national stability, the junta-affiliated newspaper said.

“The message he posted on Facebook is to warn people to be careful. There is no sin in that. The regime filed a lawsuit against the monk. We are not allowed to meet him [the monk],” said a source close to the Buddhist monk.

About 50 junta soldiers raided the Thayetoak Monastery in Setyonesu Ward and detained the monk and 17 internally displaced people (IDPs), who were taking refuge at the monastery, for questioning at about 10 p.m. on November 21.

The IDPs were released after they were fined K5,000 for failing overnight guest registration on November 23, but the monk was charged under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code.

“The regime officials should inform people in advance if they conduct overnight guest checks. The fact that junta soldiers checked people at night made us even more afraid without prior notice or the respective ward administrators [present],” said an IDP who was released.

About 150 people displaced by fighting in Rathedaung and Kyauktaw townships in Arakan State, and Paletwa Township in Chin State, have been taking shelter at the monastery since 2019.

Displacement camp officials have reported the list of IDPs and guest registration information to the concerned departments, IDPs said.

U San Shwe Maung, a local man from Mingan Ward in Sittwe, was arrested on suspicion of having ties to the NUG and CRPH on November 19.

If a person makes, shares, or assists in disseminating propaganda that will disturb the public, he or she can be charged under Section 52(a) of the Counter-Terrorism Law, Section 124(a) of the Penal Code, Section 505(a) of the Penal Code and/or Section 33(a) of the Telecommunications Law, the regime has said.

“The regime will take action against locals in Arakan State during the latest fighting. We have to go through the junta’s series of arrests of people in Arakan State. The regime is trying to make people panic, so we have to be careful about ourselves,” said an Arakanese youth.

Since the renewed fighting broke out on November 13, Myanmar’s military regime had detained 46 civilians in the Arakan State capital Sittwe as of Thursday. Of them, 28 people have been released.