Court-Martial to start trial for Gutapyin incident occurred in Gutapyin village, Buthidaung Tsp on Nov-26

Court-Martial to start trial for Gutapyin incident occurred in Gutapyin village, Buthidaung Tsp on Nov-26
The press conference of Tatmadaw True News Information Team is in progress in Nay Pyi Taw on November 24.
The press conference of Tatmadaw True News Information Team is in progress in Nay Pyi Taw on November 24.
Published 26 November 2019
Min Naing Soe

The Court-Martial is going to begin a trial for Gutapyin incident occurred in Gutarpyin village in Buthidaung Township, Rakhine State as security members lacked military regulations on November 26, Tatmadaw True News Information Team reported on November 25.

Myanmar security members are accused of killing many Bengalis during the crackdown on ARSA terrorists during August in 2017 and Bengali bodies were separately buried in five graves.

Some foreign media showed that three of the five graves were near the entrance road to the north of Gutapyin village and two remaining ones were near the village’s cemetery. The faces of the Bengali bodies were sprinkled with acid.  

According to the opinion of the Court of Inquiry, the incident is being carried out in accord with process of military justice. The Summary General Court-Martial is going to start a trial for those who have earlier been found guilty in the local battalion in Buthidaung Township on November 26 in 2019, it said in the statement of Tatmadaw True News Information Team issued on November 25.

Now, we can’t tell the exact number of those who have been earlier found guilty of mass killing. The earlier list of offenders includes officers and other ranks, said Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun, Secretary of Tatmadaw True News Information Team

“We can’t tell the exact numbers. The Summary General Court-Martial is going to start a trial for those who were earlier found guilty. Officers and other ranks are among those found guilty. At present, we can’t use the terms of ‘plaintiff’ and ‘defendant’. In the civilian courts, the terms of ‘plaintiff’ and ‘defendant’ can be used,” said Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun.

The Tatmadaw, on its part, is cooperating with the Independent Commission of Enquiry-ICOE. When the report of ICOE comes out, if such report mentioned that Tatmadaw members are involved in committing the offence, investigation will be conducted and action will be taken against them in accordance with the law, according to the Office of the Judge Advocate General, it said in the statement of Tatmadaw True News Information Team.

“Tatmadaw will have to deal with processes of military justice in accord with Defence Service Act and Defence Service Rules. If a Tatmadawman commit an offense in the areas designated by the military, the Court-Martial will handle the case according to Defence Service Act (71).The Court–Martial is disallowed to handle the case if the offense occurred out the areas designated by the military and it has to be handed over to the civilian side. It is the same matter in the international community,” said Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun.  

Translated and Edited by Win Htut