Two soldiers from Shan ethnic armed group, the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army – South (RCSS/SSA-S), which is a signatory to nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA), have been released from Kengtung Prison in the eastern Shan State after being detained for seven months.
The RCSS/SSA-S soldiers, namely Sai Loun and Sai Sur Loun, were released last Monday morning.
“Kengtung Military Affairs Security Unit (Sa-Ya-Pha) and Kengtung Township Administrator handed over the RCSS/SSA-S’s two soldiers, Sai Loun and Sai Sur Loun, to our RCSS/SSA-S liaison office in Kengtung at 10:30 am on March 5. They had to stay seven months in the jail. They appeared at the trial six times. Then, they were released on bail,” said the in-charge of RCSS/SSA-S’s liaison office in Kengtung.
Sai Loun and Sai Sur Loun were arrested on July 25 by the Mong Hsat-based 527th Light Infantry Battalion of the Tatmadaw, in Kain Hain village of Mong Pu Long Village Group under Mong Ping Township and were transferred to Kengtung Prison.
They were charged with possession of weapons and a cordless handset and tax collection from the public. The RCSS/SSA-S faced the trial by responding that the Tatmadaw’s accusations were groundless.
The RCSS/SSA-S is one of the eight ethnic armed organizations who signed the NCA the NCA on 15 October, and has been removed from the list of unlawful associations.
