Case moves forward against Thandwe men accused of terrorism

By DMG 09 Mar 2022

DMG Newsroom
9 March 2022, Thandwe

The case against two men from Arakan State’s Thandwe Township who have been accused of ties to the anti-regime People’s Defence Force (PDF) was examined for basis at a court hearing on Wednesday, according to their lawyer.

Captain Nay Zaw Htet from Ngapali-based Battalion No. 55 opened the case against defendants Ko Sein Chit and Ko Ye Naing Oo under Section 52(a) of the Counter-Terrorism Law, after they were arrested on October 9, 2021, and accused of having links to the PDF.

“The two sides argued whether the case should be charged officially or not during the hearing at 10 a.m. During the hearing, the court charged the duo under Section 50(a) of the Counter-Terrorism Law,” said Daw Theingi Maung, an attorney for the defence.

“The two men were sued under Section 50(a) of the Counter-Terrorism Law. The two defendants denied that they were related to the PDF, so a military member was summoned to testify as a witness at the next court hearing,” the lawyer added.

The next hearing has been scheduled for March 17, when Kyaw Myint, a member of the military, has been summoned to testify.

The two defendants are social workers in Thandwe Township, and their alleged links to anti-regime forces are nothing more than unfounded accusations, their families say.

The military regime has charged at least 10 people from Arakan State’s Taungup, Thandwe and Mrauk-U townships for allegedly providing financial aid to the PDF, or otherwise having illegal ties to the anti-regime militia group.

Author Ko Min Di Par from Mrauk-U Township, who was arrested on suspicion of financing the PDF and charged under the Counter-Terrorism Law, was sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labour on February 25.