The military regime has sentenced 18 residents of Shwe Pyi Aye village in Pekon Township to three years in prison each after they were arrested a year and two months ago, an official from the Progressive Karenni People’s Force (PKPF) said.
“They were charged under Section 52 (A) of the Counter-Terrorism Law and the verdict was handed down on December 17, though I am not sure. I don’t remember the date exactly. The verdict was announced in prison that day. They were charged tried in Taung Laylone Prison and the verdict was announced there. We heard that they were all sentenced to three years in prison each,” the PKPF official said.
Military council troops abducted 19 residents of Shwe Pyi Aye village in Pekon Township on October 27, 2021, and arrested another villager the following day.
A total of 20 people were arrested at the time, two of whom died, relatives of the victims told the Kantarawaddy Times. The rest were sentenced to three years in Taung Lay Lone prison.
Currently, the 18 of them have reportedly not yet been charged under any other law.
“I don’t know what condition they are in. But until the day the verdict was announced, they were in good condition,” a PKPF official said of their situation.
Those who died after their arrest are U Maung Yo, 67, and U Soe Tint, 49, according to their relatives. Among the 20 villagers of Shwe Pyi Aye arrested by the military council troops are elderly people, apart from those who had difficulty fleeing the fighting and those who stayed behind as village guards.
Sent by Kantarawaddy Times.