Narinjara News, 18 February 2022

The trial of five Kyaukseik villagers under Ponnaguan township,  who werenot released on occasion of the Union Day amnesty initiative, continues atSittwe district court.

The accused villagers include Nyi Nyi Aung (24 years old),Myo Lin Oo (24), Maung Chay (24), Min Soe (38) and Kyaw Win Hein (22).

Six of the 13 prosecution witnesses in the case appeared during yesterday’strial, informed lawyer Hla Aung Thein. The rest will be produced on 3 Marchnext.

The concerned Kyaukseik villagers were arrested on 19 April 2020 on suspicionof being linked with the Arakan Army (AA). They were tortured on anaval ship. The Burmese military has already taken actions against threesailors after a video of the torture went viral.

Captain Tint Naing Tun of LIB 505 base in Ponnaguan accused those five villagers under section 50 (j) of the anti-terrorism law andsection 52 (a) of the penal code and the case was heard at Sittwe court on 22May last year.

On 12 February, the State Administrative Council released a number of AA members and their associates honouring the diamondjubilee celebration of Union Day  aiming for a lasting peace in Myanmar.But those five villagers were not released which made the people confused about the move.

Khin Hla Wai, wife of detainee Nyi Nyi Aung, expressed heranger over his continued detention.

“It is sad that my husband along with some others are stillin jail. I want justice and equal rights for every citizen,” she stated while respondingto Narinjara News.

According to author  Wai Hin Aung, who is supportingthe political prisoners in Rakhine State, revealed that over 70 people arestill behind bars under various cases relating to AA activities.

Most of the detainees are made responsible for terroractivities as they allegedly supported the members of ULA / AA during theconflicts between the AA members and Burmese army personnel that began in 2018.