Two monks and three people who have been charged under Counter-Terrorism Act have appeared in Sittwe district court on 17 September.

Inspector Kyaw Zaw Myo Myint from Nay Pyi Taw seized mobile phones of the accused when they appeared in court, their family members said.

They have been wrongly accused and family members were in a very distraught state, said U Oo Saw Maung, father of Ko Kyaw San, one of the three accused.

“He has been arrested since April. I have to feed his family. And my visit to the court has caused a great deal of stress for me,” U Oo Saw Maung said.

The Thiri Myitzu monastery’s senior monk U Thuwunna from Ponnagyun town accompanied U Nyar Na, senior monk of Gandama monastery, traveled to the latter monk’s residence in Mrauk-U by car. Ko Oo Kyaw San, Ko Thein Han and Ko Maung Mya Tun were also in the car. They were arrested by the Tatmadaw near Kan Sauk Taung in Kyauktaw Township on 1 April night.

Two monks and Ko Oo Kyaw San have been charged under section 52 (a) of the Counter- Terrorism Act while Ko Thein Han and Ko Maung Mya Tun have been charged under section 50 (a) and 52 (a) of the Counter-Terrorism Act.

“My son has been detained although he did not commit any offence. I feel heartbroken. He has appeared in court many times. I want him released,” said Daw Ma Sein, mother of U Thuwunna.

More than 90 civilians have been arrested on suspicion of involvement with the AA since fighting between the Tatmadaw and the AA and some of them were killed during detention.