The Information Officer, Khaing Myo Tun, said: “It is true that a lawsuit has been filed. It was filed on 5 May. Lt-Col Tin Naing Tun, a staff general (grade 1) from the Sittwe-based Regional Operations Command (ROC), filed it directly with Sittwe Township Court. I heard that I have been charged with Section 505, Defaming the State.”

In a statement released on 24 April the ALP accused the Burma Army of forcibly recruiting local residents as porters, using civilians as human shields, and breaching the Geneva Convention by executing prisoners of war during their ongoing war against the Arakan Army in the Arakan State.

The Arakan State Borders and Affairs Security Minister Colonel Htain Linn then summoned Khaing Myo Tun and Major Khaing Ye Linn, the ALP Kyauk Taw Relations Officer, to the government offices on 27 April and told Khaing Myo Tun that if he could not produce evidence for the allegations made against the Burma Army in the ALP statement he would be arrested.

The ALP then submitted their evidence against the army to Col. Htain Linn on 1 May.

Despite the ALP’s evidence Lt-Col Tin Naing Tun still filed the defamation case on 5 May.

Arakan State Government representatives met with ALP representatives led by Daw Saw Mya Yarzar Lin in Sittwe on 9 May to discuss the case, but there have been no further developments.

Daw Saw Mya Yarzar Lin said: “I read about the lawsuit in the newspapers. The government also told us. They told us about the charges. Both [the government] and us have signed the NCA (nationwide ceasefire agreement). According to the NCA, it stands on the principle of finding solutions through negotiations when issues arise. I have told them that we believe the issues in Burma can only be resolved through negotiation and we can continue while maintaining our friendship.”

She said that she did not know whether the lawsuit against Khaing Myo Tun would proceed as negotiations about it are ongoing.

Translated by Thida Linn
Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI