The All Arakan Students’ and Youths’ Congress (AASYC) launched a campaign for justice at View Point Beach in Sittwe on Thursday to mark Right to Truth Day.

Commemorated annually on March 24, the UN-recognised day is known in longform as International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims.

Daw Nyo Aye, chairwoman of Rakhine Women’s Network, called attention to the continued detention of people in Arakan State accused of illegal ties to the Arakan Army (AA), many of whom have been subject to prolonged trials while behind bars.  

That includes five residents of Kyaukseik village, Ponnagyun Township, who were arrested in April 2020 and whose legal case is ongoing. Their trial only began in January of this year.

“It is very unfortunate that the young people in Kyaukseik village have not been released to this day,” said Daw Nyo Aye. “As more and more children are being held captive, human beings are suffering from a lot of stress. I see the detention of innocent people for almost two or three years as a major human rights violation.”

More than 30 young people from local civil society organisations in Arakan State took part in Thursday’s event, wearing identical T-shirts that highlighted Right to Truth Day and proclaimed, “Let us speak the truth for justice”.

“People in Arakan State do not get the opportunities they deserve, so we have to join this campaign like any other civil society organisations. We also want the immediate release of all those arrested on suspicion of having links with the Arakan Army,” Ma Nu Nu Lwin, a participant, told DMG.

“Many human rights are being violated globally. As human beings, we are losing the rights that human beings deserve. That is why we are participating in this campaign, because we want the rights that every human being deserves,” said Ko Twan Twan, a campaigner.

Participants also condemned authorities’ actions contravening the rule of law throughout Myanmar.