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On Monday night, after the 8pm curfew, thousands of protesters took to the streets in many Yangon townships. People left their homes after news spread that hundreds of young protesters had to hide in strangers’ homes in Sanchaung after the security forces began rounding people up after Monday’s protests.
The news of potential raids and hundreds of detentions in Sanchaung spread quickly on social media.
Thousands of people took to the streets in many townships to show solidarity with protesters in Sanchaung. The US, UK, Canada and United Nations diplomatic missions immediately issued statements condemning the security forces for blocking streets to prevent demonstrators returning home.
Despite a late night raid, young protesters took to the streets in Sanchaung Township on Tuesday. / nyeinchanie / Twitter)
Earlier, the security forces announced that they would search every home to hunt down protesters and told residents to hand over anyone they were sheltering.
After the nighttime protests started elsewhere in Yangon and the diplomatic community condemned the regime’s response, the security forces only searched a few homes. Most protesters managed to escape on Tuesday morning with residents’ help.
Around 50 protesters who had been hiding were reportedly detained during the night.
A protester, who hid overnight in Sanchaung, told The Irrawaddy this morning that she and her friends were trapped after soldiers and police blocked exit routes from the township after a crackdown on their protest near the corner of Kyuntaw and Bargayar streets at midnight.
In Lanmadaw, central Yangon, residents reported that soldiers arrested at least 25 male residents in the township at around 1am. Lanmadaw vigilantes stopped a carload of strangers in the neighborhood wearing civilian clothes during the curfew and found weapons in the car. The men, who were soon released by the residents, said they were military personnel. Residents claimed the captured soldiers returned later, raided homes and seized residents.
More arrests and raids
In Nyaungdon Township, Ayeyarwady Region, two women and five men were detained in a crackdown on Tuesday, a resident told The Irrawaddy. The security forces used rubber bullets to disperse protesters. On Monday, at least 15 protesters were detained in Ayeyarwady Region.
Two civilians were injured and several others detained when police and military personnel clamped down on anti-regime protests in Mohnyin, Kachin State, at around 10am on Tuesday. A man was hit in his arm by a live bullet and a woman was injured by at least three rubber bullets.
A Tanintharyi Region news outlet reported that at least 50 student protesters and some residents who hid them in Myeik Township were detained.
In Hakha Township, Chin State, a charity clinic opened by doctors who had joined the civil disobedience movement was raided at around 11:30am and a doctor was detained, according to the Hakha Post.
In Ye Township, Mon State, an ethnic Kayin protest was broken up with three young Karen protesters detained and others injured, Myanmar Now reported.
At least 2,000 people have been detained by the regime since the Feb. 1 coup, including elected leaders, lawmakers, election officials, protesters and civil servants who joined the civil disobedience movement.
Coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said on Monday that protests had been staged in more than 200 townships and 29 men and five women had died due to security forces’ response to “rioters” while operating legally.
The military regime said riot police had not been ordered to use live ammunition to control crowds.
The media has counted at least 60 deaths since mid-February with many victims shot in the head.
The Irrawaddy
• The Irrawaddy 9 March 2021:
https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmars-anti-regime-protests-go-despite-crackdowns-detentions.html
Another NLD Member Dies While Detained by Myanmar Junta Forces
Ko Zaw Myat Lin, in charge of Suu Vocational Institute in Shwe Pyi Thar Township, has died while under military detention. (Photo: facebook)
Another National League for Democracy (NLD) member has died while under detention by Myanmar’s military regime.
Ko Zaw Myat Lin, who was in charge of Suu Vocational Institute in Shwe Pyi Thar Township of Yangon region, was arrested by security officers during a raid on the institute late Monday night.
His family was informed of his death Tuesday afternoon by township police when they asked his wife to identify his body at Mingaladon military hospital.
During the raid at vocational institute, three students and three local residents were arrested. Computers, vehicles, phones and money at the school were confiscated, according to Ko Min Wai, a teacher volunteering at the school. The school has offered free training courses on computers, language, and mechanics to young people in Shwe Pyi Thar.
Ko Min Wai said that, according to the deceased’s wife, Ko Zaw Myat Lin suffered a large wound to the abdomen. The military claimed Ko Zaw Myat Lin was injured by a pointed object when he climbed over a fence while attempting to escape arrest.
“It is not possible,” Ko Min Wai said. “I can’t bear this. How could they do this to an unarmed civilian? Even I was in tears after I heard of this shocking death.”
The military declined to hand over the body and asked the family to come back on Wednesday morning for the funeral, he said.
Ko Zaw Myat Lin leaves behind his wife and a son.
On Sunday, U Khin Maung Latt, a NLD ward chairman in Pabedan Township, Yangon, reportedly died after being tortured, hours after he was taken from his home by soldiers and police.
The Irrawaddy
• The Irrawaddy 9 March 2021:
https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/another-nld-member-dies-detained-myanmar-junta-forces.html
Myanmar Media Groups Vow to Defy Junta’s Publishing Bans
Myanmar’s military regime banned five media groups for their supposed anti-regime coverage but most have announced that they would continue to cover the news in the fight for democracy and human rights.
On Monday, the Ministry of Information said it had revoked the publishing licenses of 7Day News, Myanmar Now, Mizzima, DVB and Khit Thit Media without giving a reason.
Since Feb. 22, coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has repeatedly said that referring to the military’s State Administration Council as the “military regime” or “junta” will result in publication licenses being revoked. The military claims it seized power constitutionally.
Only 7Day News did not announce that it would keep publishing independently, defying the regime’s orders.
On Tuesday, DVB condemned the ban as prohibiting the rights to information and freedom of expression. Two of its reporters covering crackdowns on anti-regime protests have been detained.
DVB said it would fight for democracy and human rights alongside Myanmar’s people. It said its broadcasts will still be available on PSI bands, the DVB website, Facebook and YouTube.
Schoolteachers take part in the civil disobedience movement in Mandalay. / The Irrawaddy
“Following the order is fulfilling the regime’s strategy. So we will keep reporting as we have been doing,” U Sein Win, acting editor-in-chief of Mizzima News, told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday. The Mizzima said it will keep publishing news and broadcasting via its website, Facebook, PSI band, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram.
After the announcement, the security forces reportedly raided Mizzima’s Yangon office and confiscated equipment on Tuesday.
Before the ban was announced Myanmar Now’s Yangon office was raided. Computers, printers and data servers were seized but no one was detained, Myanmar Now reported online.
However, 7Day News stopped publishing on Tuesday after the announcement.
Other outlets, including the BBC’s Burmese service, Radio Free Asia’s Burmese service and The Irrawaddy have been covering anti-regime movement and the military’s violent crackdowns against protesters, including killing and arbitrary detentions since the Feb. 1 coup. They have been using terms like “coup”, “military regime” and “military council” despite the junta’s repeated warnings.
Raids continue. On Tuesday afternoon, the security forces raided the Kamayut Media office in Yangon and detained its editor and co-founder, although the firm does not face a ban.
Numerous journalists have been seized while reporting on anti-regime protests. Though some were released, 14 have been detained and most of them are reportedly charged with sedition under Article 505(a) of the Penal Code. Another two journalists have been released on bail after being sued under the same charges.
Civic organizations also raided
To battle the civil disobedience movement (CDM), the security forces raided the office of the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society in Yangon on Monday for supporting the CDM and anti-regime demonstrations. A safe box, computers, office equipment and paintings were taken.
The bloody floor of the Free Funeral Service Society office after being raided by the security forces on March 3.
The organization is led by veteran activist U Min Ko Naing, who was a leader of the 1988 uprising and is now on the run from the authorities. He has been urging civil servants and the public to protest and defy the regime.
In Shwepyithar Township, Yangon, the security forces raided the vocational training school of the National League for Democracy, detaining six people, including three trainees.
Cash, a truck, five motorbikes, more than 20 computers, 18 mobile phones, clocks and other office equipment were confiscated.
State-run television announced on Monday that the regime has charged U Kyaw Thu and his wife, Daw Myint Myint Khin Pe, of the Free Funeral Service Society for allegedly supporting the CDM.
The couple have been in hiding and they were sued for incitement under Article 505(a), carrying up to three years’ imprisonment, after the regime’s amended the legislation last month.
On March 3, the society’s office was raided and its belongings destroyed and 10 staff members brutally tortured by the security forces.
The Irrawaddy
• The Irrawaddy 9 March 2021:
https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/another-nld-member-dies-detained-myanmar-junta-forces.html
Myanmar Regime Claims Australian Adviser Tried to Flee with Financial Information
YANGON — Myanmar’s coup leaders have accused Australian economic adviser Professor Sean Turnell of trying to flee the country with secret financial information following the Feb. 1 military takeover.
After being detained by the military regime for more than a month, the military-controlled MRTV broadcaster on Monday said: “An attempt to flee the country by the former government’s foreign economic adviser, Sean Turnell, was stopped in time and secret state financial information was found through him.
“Union-level ministers are taking legal action,” the announcement said.
The junta’s claim came one day after the Australian government suspended its defense cooperation program with Myanmar due to concerns over the escalating violence and rising death toll.
Australia has repeatedly called for the release of Turnell and nobody knows his whereabouts since he was detained by the military on Feb. 6. Turnell served as one of the top economic advisers to State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for several years.
The Australian media reported that Turnell had a chance to speak to his wife, Dr. Ha Vu, an economics lecturer in Sydney, last week. He told her he was being treated well but he still did not know what charges he would face.
The military regime detained ministers and their deputies from the Ministry of Planning, Finance and Industry and other civilian-controlled ministries and the deputy governor of the Central Bank of Myanmar.
The Irrawaddy
• The Irrawaddy 9 March 2021:
https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-regime-claims-australian-adviser-tried-flee-financial-information.html
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