Families of nine Taungup men facing terrorism charges call for probe into prolonged trial

By DMG 18 Sep 2021

DMG Newsroom
18 September 2021, Taungup 

Family members of nine detainees in Arakan State’s Taungup Township, who were arrested by the Myanmar military on suspicion of having ties to the Arakan Army (AA) and charged under the country’s Counter-Terrorism Law, have demanded an immediate investigation into the case. 

The nine men were taken from their homes, ostensibly for questioning by security personnel, on June 2 of last year, according to family members of the detainees. 

The Tatmadaw has charged the nine with illicit links to the Arakan Army under Section 50(i) and Section 50(j) of the Counter-Terrorism Law, and they have been facing trial for more than a year. 

Ma Than Than Hsint, an older sister of one of the detainees, Ko Than Naing, has called for an immediate investigation into the case, as the families of the detainees are poor and travel their expenses have continued to mount due to the length of the trial. 

“I want them [the defendants] to be released whether they are convicted or not because of the length of the court hearings. The families of the detainees are also struggling to make ends meet due to travel expenses,” she said. 

The case was last heard by the Thandwe District Court on September 17, but the prosecution witness did not appear and the hearing was rescheduled for September 29, according to the family. 

“The soldiers took my son away from home, but he has not been released yet,” said Daw Than Nyunt Aye, the mother of detainee Ko Nay Ye Win. 

Family members of the accused said Myanmar military (Tatmadaw) soldiers searched their homes on the day of the arrest and took their ID cards and mobile phones. 

The Anti-Terrorism Central Committee announced that the Arakan Army and United League of Arakan (ULA) were designated as terrorist groups and unlawful associations on March 23, 2020, with the approval of the previous Union government. Less than a year later, the Anti-Terrorism Central Committee said on March 11 that it had removed the AA from the terrorist group list. 

Seventeen cases of children under the age of 18 who were arrested on suspicion of illegal AA ties were dropped by the military regime in May of this year. 

Under the military regime that seized power on February 1, more than 30 people have been released, including six from Kyaukphyu Prison and 10 from Sittwe Prison, and the Mrauk-U District Court has so far dropped charges against 16 people this month. 

But dozens of cases involving allegedly illegal AA affiliations remain before the courts in Arakan State, and more than 160 people are still being detained in relation to terrorism charges, according to data compiled by local civil society organisations.