Terrorism charges leveled against social affairs activist from Thandwe 

By DMG 25 Oct 2021

DMG Newsroom
25 October 2021, Thandwe 

A lawsuit has been filed against Ko Ye Naing Oo, a social affairs activist in Arakan State’s Thandwe Township, under Sections 50(a) and 52(a) of the Counter-Terrorism Law. 

He was arrested on October 23 in relation to purported ties to Thandwe-based activist Ko Sein Chit, who has been detained for alleged links to the People’s Defence Force (PDF), an officer of Thandwe town police station said. 

Captain Nay Zaw Htet from Battalion No. 55 in Thandwe’s Ngapali has opened the case against Ko Ye Naing Oo, the police officer said. 

“He has been detained at Thandwe police station,” he added. 

Ko Ye Naing Oo is reportedly a rickshaw driver who was involved in social aid activities with Ko Sein Chit during the most recent wave of Covid-19. Police personnel arrested him while he was at a rickshaw stand outside Ngapali Hotel, and he has not been allowed to meet family so far, his wife Ma Tin Tin Nwe. 

“He was arrested yesterday,” she said on Sunday. “We do not know why he was arrested and where he was taken. I have not had contact with him so far.” 

Ko Sein Chit was arrested for his alleged affiliation with PDF members who were detained in Maubin town, Ayeyarwady Region. He was taken from his home on October 9, and a lawsuit has been opened against him under Sections 50(a) and 52(a) of the Counter-Terrorism Law. 

Min De Par, a 23-year-old writer from Pan Maw village in Mrauk-U Township, was arrested at his home on October 15 for similarly having alleged ties to the PDF, and a lawsuit has been filed against him under Section 50(j) of the Counter-Terrorism Law. 

In Arakan State, the known number of people arrested on suspicion of having ties to the PDF — an umbrella term for several of the anti-junta militias that have been formed since the Myanmar military’s February 1 coup — has reached three.