Maungdaw, Arakan State: Two Myanmar Muslim Organization (MMO) members were acquitted on August 28. They were arrested by Maungdaw police on April 1, 2008, said a member of MMO.
 
When Salim Ullah (U Than Htun), the Chairman of the district branch of the Myanmar Muslim Organization was hosting a meeting in an unrecognized office with some local people on March 30 and some other members were arrested from their homes on April 1 on allegation that they had connection with the meeting, he added. 
 
The acquitted are Dr. Kamal alias Dr. Hla Myint son of Md Sayed of Ward No.4 of Maungdaw town and Dr. Zahir alias Dr. Zaw Nyint, a dentist. There are two categories of members ---Township and District level.
 
The MMO has two offices, one a District level office and the other a Township level office. But, the district level office is unregistered. The meeting was held in the district level office.
 
Some locals believe that Dr. Nurul Hoque alias Dr. Tun Aung, the Chairman of Township Islam Religion Council (IRC) of Burma complained to the authorities against the MMO. The two organizations (MMO and IRC) are into parallel work for the Rohingya community. Dr. Nurul Hoque does not want the MMO to be popular.
 
The MMO is a legal organization. The police arrested 10 prominent activists in Maungdaw, alleging that they were planning insurgent activities against the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). Though no evidence was found to prove the charge but they are still in police custody awaiting trial.
 
According to a local source, the two were acquitted because they were arrested from their home not from the meeting spot.
 
Earlier Noor Kodir (40), son of late master Abdul Khalek and a driver of UNHCR and Ba Maung who is also working for the UNHCR were released.