Junta charges two Thandwe Twsp men under Unlawful Associations Act

By DMG 06 Oct 2022

DMG Newsroom
6 October 2022, Thandwe

Four local people in Arakan State’s Thandwe Township have been arrested in recent days, among whom two were reportedly charged under Section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act.

The Myanmar military detained Ko Myo Khaing from Shwe Hlay Village and Ko Khin Maung Than from Linsi Village on October 3, and Ko Nyi Lay Gyi and Ko Khin Maung Aye, members of the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) from Zeephyugon Ward in Thandwe, on September 30.

Of the four men detained by the military, the two ALD members were sued under Section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act at the Thandwe police station, an unnamed police officer told DMG.

“The duo have been transferred to the police and charged under Section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act. The case was opened because information related to AA [the Arakan Army] was found on their mobile phones,” the police officer said.

The police have not informed family members about the opening of the case against the two men, said the wife of Ko Khin Maung Aye.

“They were reportedly detained for questioning. I don’t know where they were taken. The police have not informed the family members about the opening of the case against the two men. I don’t know their whereabouts,” she added.

The reason for the arrest of the two men is still unknown, family members said. “We are concerned for their safety and want them released as soon as possible, '' said a family member of Ko Khin Maung Than.

DMG was unable to obtain comment from Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun, a spokesperson for the regime, regarding the matter.

The junta has arrested dozens of people on suspicion of having ties to the Arakan Army (AA) in recent months, charging several of them under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code and Section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act amid renewed fighting between the military and AA.

The United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) were declared terrorist groups and illegal organisations on March 23, 2020, by the Central Committee for Counter Terrorism and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

On March 11, 2021, the junta announced that it had rescinded the terrorist group designation for the ULA/AA.

Myanmar’s military regime has opened a case against two detained village administrators from Buthidaung Township under Section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act at the township court. The administrator of Mee Kyaung Zay Village, Amy Hunsen, and Tet Min Chaung Village administrator U Kyaw Hla were arrested last month. They were remanded until November 29.

Dr. Kyaw Thura, a resident of Taungup who was detained by the Myanmar military, was charged under Section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act on September 23, according to family members.