Sittwe Villager Rearrested at Prison Gate and Sentenced to 10 Years

Hnin Nwe Ni

Narinjara, 7 September 2026

A villager from Sittwe was rearrested at the prison gate moments after his release on September 4 and immediately sentenced to an additional 10 years in prison, according to local sources.

The individual is a 33-year-old resident of Byai Phyu Village, located in the capital of Arakan (Rakhine) State.

"He was originally arrested under Section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act in Byai Phyu Village," a local resident said. "He was released from Sittwe Prison at around 9 a.m. on September 4, but police officers from Station No. 1 immediately rearrested him at the prison gate. He was then charged and sentenced to 10 more years in prison, though I do not know under which legal section."

The man had been initially detained by the military in March 2024, just before the high-profile Byai Phyu village incident. He was sentenced to three years in prison under the Unlawful Associations Act. Local sources expressed shock that he was subjected to immediate re-imprisonment right after completing his initial term.

Residents stated that this practice has become a pattern for political detainees in Sittwe Prison.

"Many people are being rearrested right at the gate after serving their sentences," another local resident noted. "It has reached a point where political prisoners cannot realistically expect to gain their freedom even after completing their prison terms."

This incident follows a similar case last August, where the village administrator of Thro Saung in Sittwe Township was also rearrested at the prison gate immediately after his release and handed a 10-year prison sentence.

The military junta has maintained a tight grip on the region. On May 29, 2024, junta forces raided Byai Phyu Village, killing 75 residents. Following the raid, more than 150 villagers were arrested and hit with various charges, including Section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act and Section 505-A of the Penal Code.