Myo Myint Zaw — Five men facing charges under Section 52(a) of the Counter-Terrorism Law were questioned by Tatmadaw officers from the No. 5 Military Operations Command at a police station in Arakan State’s Taungup Township on June 4, according to the accused.

The five defendants including Sar Pyin village’s Arakan National Party chapter chairman, U Pyone Cho, appeared before the Taungup Township Court on June 5 for a second time. They were questioned by military officers prior to the court hearing, according to the accused.

“They [military officers] questioned us as to whether we have any links to the Arakan Army or not. We replied that we didn’t have any ties to the Arakan Army,” U Pyone Cho said.

A lawyer representing the accused, U Tin Nyo, said the five men should not have been questioned because they had already been charged under the Counter-Terrorism Law.

“Because the accused were remanded in custody for about 30 days and the case has been filed against them at the court, they shouldn’t be investigated by the Tatmadaw,” he said.

The court summoned the plaintiff and the Sar Pyin village administrator, who is a prosecution witness, for the June 5 hearing. The pair were no-shows, however, and in their absence a 100-household head from Taungup’s Kan Paing ward was summoned, U Tin Nyo said.

He noted that the plaintiff was also absent when the defendants appeared in court for the first time on May 22.

The Tatmadaw arrested the five men on April 5.