23 Rakhine people sentenced to prisons on terrorism charges

Narinjara News, 26 July 2022

At least 23 people have been sentenced to prison under anti-terrorism laws since April this year for allegedly being associated with the Arakan Army (AA).

Among them, eight individuals were sentenced by the Sittwe district court, two by  Mrauk U district court, nine by Kyauk Phyu district court and four by Maungdaw district court.

Among those who were convicted by the Sittwe court, four hail from Kyauk Sike village, two from Aydin village under  Ponna  Kyunt township and one from Bura Gyi Chaung Na village under Mrauk U township. They have been sentenced to three years in prison under section 52 (a) of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Mrauk U court also sentenced two residents to three years in prison under the same act.

Kyauk Phyu court sentenced one from Zin Chaung village and eight from Alay Chaung village to three years in prison.

Maungdaw district court sentenced two from Phawat Chaung village and two from Ngwe Taung village to long prison terms under article 50 (s) and 51(a) of the same act.

The military personnel arrested the 23 people from various Rakhine townships from the year 2019 to 2020 accusing all of them to be linked with AA.

It may be mentioned that the military council disbanded the AA from the list of terror outfits on 11 March 2021. These people have been convicted under various anti-terrorism laws after the develpment is unjustified, alleged a family member from Maungdaw township.

"As the AA has been withdrawn from the group of terrorist organisations, I believe this is not justified,” he added.

Not less than  68 local people have been arrested and jailed in various prisons of Rakhine State for allegedly maintaining links  with the AA, said Wai Hin Aung, who has been documenting the names of arrested people by the military council.