Court acquits five Myebon residents charged under Counter-Terrorism Law

By DMG 11 Mar 2021

DMG Newsroom
11 March 2021, Myebon 

Five residents of Myebon Township, Arakan State, who were charged under Section 50(j) of the Counter-Terrorism Law have been acquitted by the Kyaukphyu District Court, according to their lawyer. 

U Tin Hlaing Oo, lawyer for the accused, said the court decided to acquit them on March 10 because they were found not to have breached the law under which they were charged. 

“I’ve been facing livelihood difficulties with two children while my husband’s been in detention. I am happy that he is released,” said Ma Phyu Phyu Win, the wife of defendant Ko Tin Shwe Than. 

The five men were arrested in November 2019, and faced trial for more than one year on suspicion of having ties to the Arakan Army. 

“My husband does not have any connection with the AA. He is a daily wage worker,” said Ma Tin Ma Chay, the wife of defendant Ko Maung Than Myint.  

“It is not easy for a woman to struggle for livelihood while her husband is not near her,” she added. “I am taking shelter at an IDP camp. I cannot go and pick up my husband to welcome him back from being detained because I do not have money.” 

Fighting between the Tatmadaw and Arakan Army flared with regularity for almost two years, beginning in December 2018. Since November 2020, the two sides have observed an informal ceasefire, which has held through the early weeks of the military government that seized power on February 1. 

More than 360 people were arrested on suspicion of having ties to the Arakan Army during the conflict between the Tatmadaw and the ethnic armed group in Arakan State, according to the Thazin Legal Institute.