One of 24 Lekka villagers who has been charged under Counter-Terrorism Law is a minor and the Sittwe district court ordered on 15 August to move his trial to juvenile court in Mrauk-U Township.

Maung Soe Moe Kyaw’s age was stated as 19 in the records. But he is actually 16 and lawyers requested to relocate his trial to juvenile court.

“We applied to move Maung Soe Moe Kyaw’s case to juvenile court under the Child Rights law, so it will be relocated,” said Daw May Thet Khaing from Thazin Legal Aid Group.

Maung Soe Moe Kyaw was transferred from Sittwe prison to Sittwe police station and he will be transferred to Mrauk-U police station.

He has been detained for five months now and his family is worried about him missing school.

“It has been five months since he was detained, so he is behind in his lessons and he can’t keep up with other students. His physical condition has deteriorated so he has trouble focusing on studying and he’s sensitive to the intense heat of the sun,” said Daw Khaing Shwe Than, the mother of Maung Soe Moe Kyaw.

Maung Soe Moe Kyaw is studying in Lekka village school in Mrauk-U Township. He was one of the 27 Lekka villagers arrested on 10 April. Three of them were killed during interrogations of the Tatmadaw.

The Sittwe district court scheduled the next court hearing for 23 accused on 22 August.