Charity group provides K10 million to families of Counter-Terrorism Law defendants

By DMG 28 Aug 2021

DMG Newsroom
28 August 2021, Sittwe 

A local philanthropic group is providing more than K10 million to over 200 families of people sentenced to prison in Arakan State after being charged under the Counter-Terrorism Law, or who went missing during clashes between the military and Arakan Army (AA). 

Each family was given K50,000, according to the writer Wai Hun Aung, who established the philanthropic organisation. He said the cash assistance was provided because he thought the families of those charged under the Counter-Terrorism Law would face many difficulties during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

“It is difficult for people to get everything from food to clothing amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. We have to support the families of those who were detained in prison because they are facing livelihood hardship,” he added. 

“We have been providing assistance to the accused and their missing family members since August 26. At present, we have been providing assistance to the families of the accused in Kyaukphyu and Thandwe townships,” he explained. 

Wai Hun Aung said that although the Arakan Army has been removed from the list of officially designated terrorist groups, there have been trial delays for those charged under the Counter-Terrorism Law. 

“Since the Arakan Arm has been delisted as a terrorist group, I believe that those accused and charged under the Counter-Terrorism Law need to be quickly investigated and released by the courts or the Central Committee for Counter Terrorism,” he said. 

The military government announced the removal of the Arakan Army from its list of terrorist groups on March 11, 2021. In the weeks and months since, initial hope that the delisting would prompt the withdrawal of numerous Counter-Terrorism Law cases has given way to frustration as many remain detained and facing charges.

 There are 64 people charged with terrorism in Sittwe Prison, 47 in Mrauk-U, 76 in Kyaukphyu, nine in Thandwe and five in Buthidaung Prison, for a total of 201 people in Arakan State.

Cash assistance will also be provided to the families of 18 people from Tinma village in Kyauktaw Township, one person from Darlat Chaung village in Ann Township, and two from Yoe Chaung Ywathayar village in Myebon Township, who went missing and whose whereabouts are unknown, the charitable group said.