Regime charges three Myebon Twsp residents under National Drug Law

By DMG 11 Oct 2022

DMG Newsroom
11 October 2022, Myebon 

The Myanmar military has arrested three men including a ferryboat owner and charged the trio under Section 19(b) of the National Drug Law for transporting medicines for Nga/Pa Thone cottage hospital in Arakan State’s Myebon Township, the accused told DMG. 

The accused have been identified as U Thein Bu Chay, 55, a ferryboat owner; U Khin Maung Win, a 50-year-old mechanic; and U Aye Tun, a 45-year-old boat operator from Nga/Pa Thone Village. 

The three men were arrested by the military near Taungphue Village in Pauktaw Township while transporting medicines from Sittwe to Nga/Pa Thone Village and were taken to No. 2 police station in Sittwe on September 25, said U Thein Bu Chay. 

“We operate ferryboat services between Sittwe and Myebon. We were arrested for allegedly transporting medicines for Nga/Pa Thone cottage hospital near Taungphue Village in Pauktaw Township and were abducted to a police station,” he explained. 

Dr. Win Naing Soe, a 37-year-old physician from Nga/Pa Thone cottage hospital who came to Sittwe to settle the military’s detention of three men, was detained by the military council on September 27, but was released one week later. 

A major from the military filed a lawsuit against three men under Section 19(b) of the National Drug Law at Sittwe’s No. 2 police station. The three men were released on bail on September 27. 

“The doctor from Nga/Pa Thone cottage hospital was released, but we were sued. We did nothing wrong. I run a cargo boat service and have a licence. The doctor requested me to bring the medicine for the rural hospital on that day. I feel sorry for being sued,” he added. 

Section 19(b) of the National Drug Law states that manufacturing, distribution, and transportation of drugs without registration can be prosecuted, and if convicted, offenders are subject to imprisonment for up to two years. 

Locals say the regime has banned the transportation of medicines, and some pharmacy owners have been arrested and investigated as military tensions between the military and Arakan Army are running high in Arakan State. 

U Pe Than, a former Arakan State lawmaker for Myebon Township, said the Myanmar military should not arrest doctors in addition to banning the distribution and sale of important medicines. 

On September 6, Dr. Kyaw Thura Tun from Taungup was arrested by the regime. After more than two weeks of detention and interrogation, he was charged under the Unlawful Associations Act on September 23. A pharmacy owner in his 60s in Mrauk-U’s Myoma Market was also arrested by the military on October 3, but was released the next day.