A 26 year-old Mandalay resident, Ko Zaw Myo, was shot dead while assisting anti-coup student protesters running from riot police and soldiers in his neighborhood on Friday.

Together with some other local residents, he attempted to block a road to hinder security forces loyal to the military regime as they hunted down engineering student protesters, a neighbor said.

Police and military troops fired shots, used tear gas, and stun grenades against the protesters and residents in the latest crackdown. Ko Zaw Myo was shot in the neck and died from his gunshot wound despite attempts by rescue workers to save his life. He leaves behind his pregnant wife and a son.

Residents’ houses were also fired upon with guns and slingshots as security forces searched for protesters. Some motor vehicles were vandalized, locals said.

A 26-year-old Mandalay resident Ko Zaw Myo was shot dead.

Locals also reported that the troops broke into a house in Maha Aung Myay Township, Mandalay region, and took cash and gold stored in a closet.

A couple of protesters were also reportedly arrested in Mandalay. But details weren’t available at the time of reporting.

The regime’s escalated killing of protesters didn’t deter the people of Myanmar who continued to take to the streets and demonstrate against the junta. Local residents in Mandalay, Monywa, Myingyan, Yangon—cities which saw bloodshed recently—also staged mass protests on Friday, voicing their rejection of the military regime which overthrew the elected government.

In Yangon, two protesters in Mayangone Township were arrested during a protest crackdown on Friday afternoon. Witnesses said riot police and soldiers kicked and beat the detainees before taking them into a military vehicle.

Youth protesters in Yangon’s Thaketa Township.

In Insein Township, riot police and soldiers set roadblocks on fire on a flyover on Friday, after protesters erected them to keep security forces away.

People continue to bang pots and pans at 8 p.m., another form of protest that has continued every single night since a few days after the Feb. 1 coup.

After banging pots, protesters shout, “We don’t want a military government,” “We must win,” and “Who is our president? U Win Myint, U Win Myint.” They then sing a revolution song loudly together with their neighbors.

At least 54 people have been shot dead and more than a hundred individuals have been injured in different cities in brutal crackdowns of riot police and soldiers on anti-coup protests.

The Irrawaddy

• The Irrawaddy 5 March 2021:
https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/600-police-join-myanmars-anti-regime-protest-movement.html

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 Local NLD Chair, Nephew Hacked to Death by Myanmar Military-Aligned Mob

YANGON— Two people including the local chair of the ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) in Magwe were hacked to death by a group of military-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) members on Friday, local residents said.

The attack by the USDP members came after villagers protested against military council members when they visited villages in Pwint Phyu Township. An NLD member in Khaung Gone Village told The Irrawaddy, “When members of the military council came, USDP members welcomed them. So, there was a small fight between the two sides.”

During the fight, USDP supporters called police and military personnel to arrest pro-democracy supporters. Later, security forces came and fired three shots to break up the crowd, according to a live broadcast by the residents.

“But that night they were unable to make any arrests, as the villagers beat pots and pans to alert each other,” the NLD member said.

Next morning at around 9:30 a.m., nearly two dozen USDP members attacked a group of villagers while they were coming back from a friend’s house. During the attack, U Htway Naing, 53, the NLD’s local chair, and his nephew Ko Nan Wai Aung, 17, were killed by sword- and machete-wielding men, and another two people were seriously injured.

“They not only hacked them to death, but also dragged their bodies into a house. We were not able to pick up the dead bodies,” another NLD member in Khaung Gone Village told The Irrawaddy.

Later, police and military personnel tried to take the dead bodies without arresting the suspects, the resident said. The villagers blocked police vehicles and prevented them from carrying away the bodies without arresting the suspects.

“The army and police told the crowd to disperse and not to interfere with their duties. But we insisted they arrest the suspects first. Later, they had to arrest 11 suspects at the scene,” he said.

The villagers alleged that U Kyaw Khine Oo, a former USDP candidate for the Lower House, was among the attackers. He lost to the NLD candidate for Pwint Phyu Township in the Nov. 8 election.

“He and other criminals have still not been arrested by the police. The family are planning to open a case today,” the witness said.

The Irrawaddy

• The Irrawaddy 6 March 2021:
https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/600-police-join-myanmars-anti-regime-protest-movement.html

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 With No Word for a Month, Families of Detained Senior NLD Figures Worry for Their Health

YANGON—The families of five senior figures from the National League for Democracy (NLD) who have been detained by Myanmar’s military pleaded to have their loved ones released or at least to be allowed to provide them with health care. All of those being detained have serious underlying medical conditions.

Since the military staged its coup, the NLD’s entire senior leadership, including all the Central Executive Committee members, were detained by the military. Families are not allowed to know their whereabouts.

CEC members U Nyan Win, U Thein Oo, U Han Tha Myint, Dr. Myo Nyunt, and NLD information secretary Monywa Aung Shin were arrested in Yangon early on the morning of Feb.1, soon after the military detained Myanmar State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

The last time Daw Khin Aye Myint saw U Thein Oo was about 4 a.m. on Feb.1, while he was being taken from his home by three men in military uniforms.

“It is [supposed to be for just] a while. They needed to discuss something with him, they said. Now, it is already more than a month,” Daw Khin Aye Myint, the wife of U Thein Oo said.

U Thein Oo, 72, has a fatty liver and benign prostatic hyperplasia diseases. He also has kidney problems and needs to drink plenty of water and eat a balanced diet. He missed a hospital appointment in February, and his family said that he already run out of his medications.

“We told them he needed to go the hospital on Feb.21. They said they would allow him [to go] for [a] medical check-up. But in reality they did not,” Daw Khin Aye Myint said.

This is not the first time the family of U Thein Oo has suffered this sort of ordeal. The old leadership of the NLD was arrested several times after 1990 under the previous military junta. But this time, his family expects that he should be allowed a medical check-up and related health care at the least.

Daw Khin Aye Myint said, “He is not young anymore. He needs a medical checkup and to take medication.”

“If he does not drink plenty of water or eat healthy diet, it would be very dangerous for him,” his wife said.

She said that if military intends to detain him for long, the family wants them to let him meet a doctor. “They can keep him under house arrest. We both are old. I want to stay with the family no matter what,” Daw Khin Aye Myint added.

Daw Swe Phone Myint, Daw Khin Aye Myint, Khin Ohn Myint and Daw Kay Thwe Moe. (left to right) / The Irrawaddy

“It is quite frustrating every day not to know his whereabouts and what could happen to him,” his wife added.

The wife of another NLD CEC member, Dr. Myo Nyunt, said that she has no information about her husband since military personnel took him away from home on the same day.

The 68-year-old is not in good health and has suffered from osteoporosis for a long time. Medication he has taken has already run out.

Daw Khin Ohn Myint said that Dr. Myo Nyunt needs urgent treatment. If left untreated, any of the bones in his body can easily break.

“He would face a life-threatening situation if it is not [treated] urgently,” Daw Khin Ohn Myint said.

CEC member U Han Tha Myint also arrested by the military personnel on Feb.1, the day he was scheduled to go to medical appointment for additional medications. Daw Swe Phone Myint, the wife of the 73-year-old said that he had surgery for prostate cancer and has suffered related health problems including hypertension.

Daw Swe Phone Myint said, “I am sure he is mentally strong, but he is old physically.”

“He needs to go to hospital for treatment. My biggest concern is the possible deterioration of his health,” Daw Swe Phone Myint said.

No one knows the whereabouts of U Nyan Win, a CEC member and who is also a legal adviser of NLD. U Nyan Win has been diagnosed with cardiomegaly, an enlarged heart, which is often a sign of heart disease.

Daw Khin Aye Myint said, “We are worried for him too. The family deserves to know his whereabouts and needs permission [to provide] medication.”

The 75-year-old NLD information secretary, Monywa Aung Shin, has asthma and always needs to carry an asthma inhaler, said Daw Kay Thwe Moe, wife of the outspoken politician.

Daw Kay Thwe Moe said, “He [has been] in detention for more than a month. He would definitely need a new inhaler.”

“I am expecting every day, someone may come and pass a message from him. I am hoping and praying every day to meet him,” Daw Kay Thwe Moe said.

“He does not do anything wrong. They should released him now,” she added.

Families said they would be submitting a letter to Yangon Regional Military Command where they believe most of the NLD senior leaders have been held. In the letter, they have requested to meet with their loved ones and want to provide them with medications and medical care if they are not released. Since the military takeover, several NLD leaders have been arrested and charged by the military. However, the five CEC members are being held by the military without facing any charges. Given the conditions, the families more worried that their loved ones might face life-threatening situations due to the possibility of brutal interrogations by the regime.

“There are a lot rumors. Some [are rumored to have] already died in detention. I am so saddened whenever my mind [wonders] whether our people are still alive or not,” Daw Khin Ohn Myint said in a faint voice as she cried.

“I can guarantee that if I have a chance to meet him for a moment, I just want to give him medicine. I am so worried every day,” she stressed.

Nan Lwin

• The Irrawaddy 6 March 2021:
https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/no-word-month-families-detained-senior-nld-figures-worry-health.html

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