“The authorities need to release all the people charged under the Anti-Terrorism Law since the AA (Arakan Army) and the United League of Arakan (ULA) have now been removed from the list of terrorists,” said former Lower House MP Daw Khin Saw Wai from Yathaedaung Township.

She added that if the political prisoners were released “It would contribute a lot to the future peace process.”

“Due to a two-year-long armed conflict between the AA and the Tatmadaw, there was an increased number of IDPs, fatalities and arrests. The government declared the ULA/AA as a terrorist group on March 23rd, 2020. The State Administration Council formed by the army removed the ULA/AA from the terrorist list on March 11st.

MP U Tun Tha Sein from MraukU Township submitted a proposal from the Arakan State government, urging the Union Government to remove the AA from the list of unlawful associations and terrorists at the final-day session of Arakan State Parliament on January 11st. The Arakan parliament unanimously approved that proposal.

MP U Tun Tha Sein said: “This is the aspiration of the Arakanese people. The SAC reflected the desires of the people and parliament. ” Around 600 people were arrested and charged under the Anti-Terrorism Law during the war.

Since November, 2018 to October, 2020, the fighting between the AA and the Tatmadaw took place in Arakan State and Paletwa Township of Chin State.