Kyaukphyu pair accused of raising funds for AA to appear before court on June 23

By DMG 22 Jun 2022

DMG Newsroom
22 June 2022, Kyaukphyu

Family members are worried about the health of a man and woman in Arakan State’s Kyaukphyu who were charged with incitement under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code for allegedly raising funds for the Arakan Army (AA).

U Than Hlaing, 41, and Daw Khin Ohn Ngwe, 56, from Ceditaung ward in Kyaukphyu, were taken into custody by security personnel from the military’s Light Infantry Battalion No. 34 on May 26.

Lieutenant Ye Thet Zaw from a Kyaukphyu-based military battalion on Friday filed a lawsuit against the pair at the township court, and the plaintiff will be questioned at a hearing on June 23, a lawyer with Legal Remedy Group (Kyaukphyu branch) told DMG.

“My mother was on medication and was in poor health. I hope that my mother will be released soon and that she will be able to reunite with her family,” Maung Soe Marm, the son of Daw Khin Ohn Ngwe, told DMG.

The pair is set to appear before the court on June 23 and is currently being held at Kyaukphyu Myoma police station.

Ma Cho Cho Thein, the wife of U Than Hlaing, said her husband is a sidecar driver and suffers from the aftereffects of an injury he sustained in a motorbike accident.

“He had an injury to his head in a motorbike accident. I face financial difficulties to pay my Grade 10 daughter’s tuition fees and rental fees. I want him released as soon as possible because he is the breadwinner in my family,” she added.

The two were charged under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code for obstructing the morale or conduct of military personnel or government employees while on duty while inciting hatred or demoralisation of their conduct. The law provides for up to two years in prison if convicted.

The Myanmar military has made a series of civilian arrests and interrogations of civilians in Arakan State in recent days. The military arrested Ko Zaw Win, a social activist in Kyauktaw on June 21, seven residents in Ponnagyun on June 16 and at least 20 civilians including some high school students in Mrauk-U on June 22.

The Arakan Army also detained junta soldiers and policemen in Arakan State’s Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U and Ponnagyun townships.

Fighting between the Arakan Army and the Myanmar military broke out in Paletwa Township, Chin State, in early June, escalating military tensions between the two sides, according to a statement released by the ethnic armed group.