Sittwe: Nine Muslims, including four women, were sentenced to two and a half years in prison by a court in Arakan on 8 September for traveling to Burma proper without permission from the authorities, report relatives.
One relative said, "They were sentenced to two and a half years in prison by a female judge in the Sittwe court at 4 pm on 8 September for traveling to Burma proper. I heard the female judge was pressured by the high authority in Naypyidaw to pass down the sentence for traveling to Burma proper."
The Chief of Immigration in Arakan State reported forced the judges to rule against the defendants in the case. Because of this, they were all sentenced under Article 188 of the penal code, and Article 6 (2) and 6 (3).
According to sources, 12 Muslims, including five children from Arakan state, were arrested by a joint force of authorities while they were traveling to Yangon by truck on 29th August, 2011. However, some of them reportedly hold National Registration Cards.
"They were arrested when they arrived at the Max Toll Gate in Maw Be Township, near Yangon, at 8:30 am Yangon time. After being arrested, they were detained in Maw Be police station. Some of them have genuine national identity cards," the relative added.
A day after their arrest, on 30 August, they were taken back to Arakan State by the Yangon immigration personnel via the Payi Township - Taung Goak - Sittwe Highway.
On 4 September, they arrived in Sittwe, the capital Arakan, and were detained in a police station there. On 5 September, five children under the age of ten were released without charges. On 6 September, five men were released on bail by a female judge but were approached by immigration personnel at their respective homes for questioning. They were then taken again to the police station and detained.
The Chief of Immigration called upon the judge who granted them bail in court. At 9 pm, the chief forced the judge to open her court and file charges against the defendants.
"The Chief of Immigration told the female judge to punish them according to Article 188 of the penal code, as well as Article 6 (2) and 6 (3), because there was a command from Naypyidaw," the source said.
Finally, on 8 September, all nine individuals - five men and four women - were sentenced by the female judge to two years and six months in prison.
The current government has imposed strong restrictions on the travel of Muslims from Arakan State to central Burma, much like the previous military government, despite that many have national identity cards, out of fear that Muslims will settle in Burma proper.
