Arakanese composer charged under Unlawful Associations Act makes court appearance in Thandwe

By DMG 24 Nov 2022

DMG Newsroom
24 November 2022, Thandwe 

U San Ko, an Arakanese composer and owner of the Arakan Ar Mahn bus gate in Arakan State’s Thandwe, who was charged under Section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act earlier this month, appeared in court on Thursday. 

The military’s Ngapali-based Light Infantry Battalion No. 55 took U San Ko from his home in Sat Lae Myaw Village on October 23. 

“Captain Ye Lin Tun from the military’s Ngapali-based LIB No. 55 filed a lawsuit against U San Ko under Section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act in the second week of November,” said a police officer at the Thandwe Police Station said. “He [U San Ko] was transferred to Thandwe Prison after being charged. I don’t remember the date that U San Ko was charged.” 

The Arakan State military council this month ordered the closure of the Arakan Ar Mahn bus gate in Thandwe, with family members saying the decision was directly related to the junta’s detention of U San Ko. 

According to family members, U San Ko is in poor health and requires medical treatment, with his condition adding to concerns about his well-being behind bars. 

The regime has made a series of civilian arrests on suspicion amid renewed hostilities between the military and Arakan Army in Arakan State.