The Myanmar’s military council has sentenced more than 300 Rohingya, including women and children, who were detained for more than six months to respective prison terms, reports Ayeyarwady-Myanmar Muslim Network.
Relevant military regime courts sentenced 325 of the total 475 Rohingya men and women arrested for crossing into Ayeyarwady Region between January and 30 June 2023, under Section 6 (3) of the Residents of Burma Registration Act.
“Under the previous NLD government, they were sent back after questioning. But under the current military government, they are thrown into prison. In some cases, confiscated phones and cash were not returned to them,” said a local Myanmar Muslim youth.
A local immigration official said Rohingya from neighboring Arakan State and Bangladesh have frequently entered townships such as Pathein, Chaungtha, Shwethaungyan, Ngayokaung, Hainggyikyun, Ngapudaw, Bogale, Myaungmya, Wakema, Yegyi, Kyangin, and Thabaung in Ayeyarwady Region.
They were charged under Section 6 (3) of the Residents of Burma Registration Act and some of them were sentenced to two years imprisonment while others were sentenced to five years imprisonment. They are currently detained in various prisons in Ayeyarwady Region.
The Myanmar Muslim Network said that those who are under 18 years old have been sent to youth training schools.
Sources close to the court said that the Rohingya who entered Ayeyarwady Region and were subsequently arrested and detained are mostly people from the rural areas of Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Sittwe and Kyee Kan Pyin in Arakan State and include those who left the IDP camps in the state.
A member of Ayeyarwady Myanmar Muslim Network said, “Most of them are Rohingya from Arakan State. They left their homeland in search of livelihood opportunities. Unfortunately, they have been arrested and detained, resulting in violation of their civil and human rights. They have also been victims of human trafficking”
Also in 2022, the Myanmar’s military council arrested about 700 Rohingya, including women and children, who had entered the Ayeyarwady Region and prosecuted them under the Immigration Law.
They were subsequently sentenced to prison terms, according to sources close to the regional judicial authority
Sent by NMG.