Yangon – Myanmar’s military regime has intensified its crackdown against anti-coup demonstrators in Mandalay as protests in the city gain momentum.
During the recent crackdowns, more than 100 protesters were injured, including 10 who were seriously hurt, according to the Kanaung Institute, a Mandalay-based NGO working to promote democracy and public participation in governance.
At 9pm on Tuesday, troops in six trucks reportedly attacked residents banging pots and pans in Chanmyathazi Township.
A video shows troops targeting people’s homes with slingshots.
On Monday, the security forces at the corner of 26 and 82 streets used batons, slingshots and air guns against protesters. Observers say the air guns, which fire lead pellets, are more dangerous than rubber bullets.
“The military is not using live bullets but they are still using deadly weapons,” Than Myat Soe, chief executive officer of the Kanaung Institute, told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday.
The police have also been accused of targeting people on their balconies using slingshots and air guns. Several journalists covering the protests have been injured with slingshots or beaten.
After being released, Ma Yonn Nadi Tun, 16, told The Irrawaddy that she was hit on her head with a slingshot and beaten when she hid from the security forces.
She said she was only watching the anti-coup demonstration and did not participate.
“I am scared. I am very angry at being violently arrested,” she said.
Mandalay-based video journalist Ko Kyaw Zay Win said he was beaten on his head and kicked by police while being arrested. He was released after showing a media identity card to police and military commanders.
On Feb. 9, hundreds of anti-coup demonstrators in Mandalay were fired on with rubber bullets and tear gas by the security forces.
Ko San Yu Kyaw, a Mandalay-based journalist, said the regime seemed to be using more force in Mandalay than elsewhere.
“We see journalists are also being targeted and attacked. It is impudent,” he said.
He said a disabled boy was beaten by the police.
Crackdowns have also been launched against anti-coup demonstrators in Naypyitaw and Mawlamyine. Hundreds of thousands of people take to the streets across the country daily to protest against military rule.
Citizens clap, honk car horns and bang pots and pans at 8pm every night in defiance against the regime.
Zaw Zaw Htwe
• The Irrawaddy. 17 February 2021 :
https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/100-people-injured-myanmar-militarys-crackdowns-mandalay.html
Six More Myanmar Celebrities to Face Arrest for Support of Civil Disobedience Movement
Myanmar’s military added six more artists and film directors to its list of arrest warrants on Wednesday. The six, charged with incitement against the military regime, have urged civil servants to take part in the nationwide civil disobedience movement (CDM) in resistance to the Feb. 1 coup.
Started by healthcare workers two days after the coup, the CDM movement has been gaining momentum with some police, teachers, engineers, railway staff, bank staff as well as news announcers from the Ministry of Information boycotting the coup.
In its public statement on Wednesday evening, the regime accused the six — Myanmar’s famous film actors Pyay Ti Oo and Lu Min, film directors Ko Pauk, Wyne and Na Gyi, and rapper Anaga — of using their popularity to call for civil servants to join the CDM and anti-coup protests.
They are charged under Article 505 [b] of the Penal Code at the respective townships where they reside.
The regime also warned the public that “those who host them will also be [subject to] legal actions.”
Since Feb. 6, hundreds of thousands of Myanmar citizens have taken to the streets to protest against the coup, denouncing the regime and urging the release of detained civilian leaders, including State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint.
Since the pre-dawn coup on Feb. 1, the military has detained more than 450 people. Few have been released.
On Saturday, the military announced arrest warrants for seven people — including veteran student leaders U Min Ko Naing and U Kyaw Min Yu (a.k.a. U Jimmy) and social influencers — accusing them of same charge.
Veteran leaders went into hiding but sent out messages online frequently to anti-coup protesters. Their social media messages also called for civil servants to take part in the civil disobedience movement.
The charge has been widely used to stifle political dissent under previous military regimes. If found guilty, the accused face up to two years in prison.
Zaw Zaw Htwe
• The Irrawaddy. 17 February 2021 :
https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/100-people-injured-myanmar-militarys-crackdowns-mandalay.html
Military Regime Issues Arrest Warrants for 17 Elected MPs for Incitement
Myanmar Military’s State Administrative Council has issued arrest warrants for 17 legally-elected members of Parliament charging them with incitement.
The 17 are members of the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), an NLD-dominated and self-declared parliamentary committee that was formed after the coup to counter military rule.
The warrants were issued at each township the MPs represent, under article 505 [b] of the Penal Code, according to sources.
On Saturday, the military also issued arrest warrants for seven people, including the prominent political activists U Min Ko Naing and U Jimmy, singers and celebrities, accusing them of incitement against the regime.
The military this time made no public announcement about the warrants against the CRPH members.
The CRPH was initially formed with 15 members of the National League for Democracy on Feb. 5. On Feb. 10 two ethnic MPs from Kayah State Democratic Party and Ta’ang National Party joined the CRPH.
The military seized power on Feb. 1, the day the Union Parliament was scheduled to convene, and detained the country’s democratically elected leaders, including the State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the President U Win Myint. The military confined the MPs-elect for a few days in the government guest house where they had been accommodated after the parliament was dissolved.
The NLD won a landslide in last year’s election, with 396 seats (83 %) out of total 476 elected seats in Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (or Union Parliament).
CRPH has performed a supportive role for the legitimate government of Myanmar, which is led by the detained President U Win Myint, and has denounced the military’s forced takeover of power.
The CRPH members said the regime’s township administrative councils are preparing legal action against them, but they haven’t seen the warrants yet.
Daw Myat Thida Tun, a member of CRPH and the upper house lawmaker from Mon State constituency no. 8, which represents Thanbyuzayat Township, said she heard about the arrest warrant on Monday and that the military’s Township Administrative Council was prepared to take legal action against her.
U Wai Phyo Aung, another member of CRPH and the lower house lawmaker from Thaketa township of Yangon Region, added, “In addition to forced seizures of power and detaining the President and State Counselor, who are being accused of different charges, they are planning to arrest us and charge us.”
The lawmakers said the regime’s leaders will try to do anything to legitimate their illegal seizure of power because “their action [the coup] was unconstitutional.”
They urged the international community to understand the situation and “stand with the people,” citing the nationwide mass rallies opposing the military regime.
“We, our people, cannot accept the military’s action, therefore many people, including the civil servants are participating in the protests and civil disobedience movement (CDM),” said Daw Myat Thida Tun.
She added that the CRPH is also trying to help those who joined the CDM, “through our CDM-Supporting Team at each township level because the [regime] is forcing civil servants to work for them.”
Following the coup, healthcare workers initiated the CDM movement and were soon joined by many other sectors, including the staff from different departments including police, electrical and energy, teachers, and railway transports.
The coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who declared himself as the chairman of the State Administration Council, said on Monday that they will take actions against those taking part in the CDM and crackdown on the “parallel government formation,” referring to the CRPH.
Meanwhile the SAC has revoked sections of privacy law and amended a few articles of the Penal Code.
U Wai Phyo Aung added, “We don’t accept the regime’s Council and we will counter with legal means. The Council immediately needs to transfer power to the people. And the international community must not acknowledge the coup leaders’ [State Administrative] Council.”
The Irrawaddy
• The Irrawaddy. 16 February 2021 :
https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/veteran-student-leaders-rocker-social-influencers-myanmar-militarys-arrest-warrant-html
Veteran Student Leaders, Rocker, Social Influencers on Myanmar Military’s Arrest Warrant
Arrest warrants have been issued for seven people — including veteran student leaders as well as social influencers — accusing them of incitement against Myanmar’s military regime. The warrants were announced Saturday evening by Myanmar’s military.
Those facing arrest are U Min Ko Naing and Kyaw Min Yu (a.k.a. Ko Jimmy) who are the veteran democracy activists and leaders of the 1988 uprising ; singer Linn Linn, who is a former bodyguard of detained leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi ; Insein Aung Soe ; Myo Yan Naung Thein, the director of Bayda Institute for a Just Society ; presenter Maung Maung Aye and Facebook cele Ei Pencilo. They are charged with incitement, under Article 505 [b] of the Penal Code.
The military is alleging that the accused made and circulated a statement on social media intending to undermine the peace and order of the state.
The charge has been widely used to stifle political dissent under previous military regimes. If found guilty, the accused face up to two years in prison.
Since the pre-dawn coup on Feb. 1, the military has detained more than 300 people. Veteran leaders went into hiding but put out messages online daily to anti-coup protesters. Their social media messages also called for civil servants to take part in the civil disobedience movement (CDM).
Since last week, U Min Ko Naing also urged the public to boycott the businesses run by the military.
The accused actively support the CDM and are organizing to financially support those government staff, who take part in the CDM. Started by healthcare workers, the CDM movement is gaining momentum with some police, teachers, engineers, railways staff, as well as news announcers from the ministry of information boycotting the coup.
The military attempted to arrest the cele Ei Pencilo during the coup day, but have been unsuccessful.
The Irrawaddy
• The Irrawaddy. 13 February 2021 :
https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/veteran-student-leaders-rocker-social-influencers-myanmar-militarys-arrest-warrant-html