Taungup Twsps man facing terrorism charges in poor health in prison, family says

By DMG 29 Oct 2021

DMG Newsroom
29 October 2021, Taungup 

Family members are worried about the health condition of U Than Naing, a resident of Sar Pyin village in Arakan State’s Taungup Township, who has been facing trial on Counter-Terrorism Law charges for more than a year. 

Ma Than Than Sint, the younger sister of Ko Than Naing, said she was worried because her brother’s health has shown signs of deteriorating in prison. 

“He was in poor health in prison for about a week and seemed depressed. Nothing changed although he appeared before the court, due to lack of prosecution witnesses. I am worried about him because of poor health,” she said. 

The Myanmar military arrested nine residents from Lamu, Kamar and Sar Pyin villages in Taungup Township on suspicion of having ties to the Arakan Army (AA) on June 2, 2020, charging them under the Counter-Terrorism Law. 

Three of the nine men have since been released by the junta in a gesture marking the sixth anniversary of the signing of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) on October 15. 

Officers from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 27 and LIB No. 51, under the military’s Western Command, filed lawsuits against the six other villagers. 

But the prosecution witnesses have not been present through 16 court hearings, said Daw Myint Myint Than, a lawyer involved in the case. The next court hearing has been rescheduled for November 10. 

More than 200 people were arrested and charged under the Counter-Terrorism Law after being accused of associating with the Arakan Army during some two years of fighting in Arakan State. 

Although dozens of cases have been dropped since the Arakan Army was de-listed as a terrorist group in March, more than 100 people arrested and charged under the Counter-Terrorism Law for alleged AA links have yet to be released, according to Arakan State civil society organisations.