YANGON — Ahead of Monday’s planned general strike, Myanmar’s military regime has intensified its crackdown, detaining political activists during nighttime raids and quelling rallies across the country.

Police and soldiers in large numbers appeared in central Yangon late on Saturday night, forced entry into homes and sometimes firing warning shots.

At least 10 people were detained, including National League for Democracy (NLD) members.

On Sunday in Yangon, the security forces tried to block protesters’ access to rally venues on the main roads after dispersing them with teargas and stun grenades.

Until Saturday, protesters have been retreating into side roads to avoid the security forces, only to return to the major roads when soldiers and police move on.

The security forces tried to clear some protest roadblocks and set fire to debris. Residents’ videos show brutal beatings during the detentions.

Video from Bagan residents in Mandalay Region shows soldiers and police using live rounds against protesters on Sunday morning. The city was listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2019.

Tens of thousands of Mandalay residents gathered to oppose the regime on Sunday, despite a series of crackdowns. More than 90 people were detained and several were wounded, according to witnesses.

Sources said the soldiers were deployed at two government hospitals and five universities on Sunday morning.

The junta is facing resistance on several fronts. Civil servants are refusing to work for the regime, meaning some functions of government have ground to a halt.

Politically, the regime has struggled to establish legitimacy internationally as the committee representing elected NLD lawmakers — the Committee Representing the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (National Parliament) — gains popular support at home.

Since mass protests started in early February, more than 50 people have been killed and around 1,757 have been detained.

Since mass protests started in early February, more than 50 people have been killed and more than 1,400 are still being detained.

Despite the crackdowns prompting a wide range of international condemnation, a closed meeting on Myanmar at the United Nations Security Council on Friday failed to agree a response to the violence.

China’s UN ambassador, Zhang Jun, said the international community should act “on the premise of respecting Myanmar’s sovereignty”.

The Irrawaddy

• The Irrawaddy 7 March 2021:
https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-regime-steps-crackdown-ahead-mondays-general-strike-2.html

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 Myanmar Regime Launches Late Night Raids, Arrests Civilians and Opposition Members

The security forces conduct raids in Yangon on Saturday night.

Yangon – Myanmar’s security forces have detained at least 10 opposition activists in eight Yangon townships last night, including National League for Democracy (NLD) members, protest leaders, vigilante group members and other civilians.

U Khin Maung Latt, 58, a Muslim NLD ward chairman in Pabedan Township, Yangon, was tortured to death after police and soldiers took him from his home, according to the NLD.

His family collected his body from Mingaladon military hospital on Sunday.

U Moe Myint, the NLD’s lawmaker for South Okkalapa Township, said party members who have been actively protesting against the military regime are believed to have been targeted.

“The acts totally breach human rights and the Geneva Convention,” he said.

The MP said the military regime is compounding its initial mistake of seizing power on Feb. 1.

Police and soldiers harass a resident in central Yangon on Saturday night. / Kyaw Myint Myat Thi’s Facebook

A Facebook live stream showed an actor and his son being taken away without a warrant being provided by soldiers and police in Kyauktada Township on Saturday night.

“My father and my brother have been taken. Please don’t beat them,” screams the actor’s daughter.

She posted on Facebook on Sunday that she did not know their whereabouts.

Another Yangon video shows the security forces searching a house to detain the female owner. They only find the woman’s young daughter.

An unsuccessful attempt was made to detain a community elder in Kyauktada Township without a warrant, his niece posted on Facebook.

The security forces also fired warning shots in North Okkalapa Township to threaten residents, sources said.

Police and soldiers deploy during a raid against anti-regime activists in Yangon. / Myat Su Yee San’s Facebook.

Since the Feb. 1 coup, about 1,757 people – including elected leaders, election commissioners, journalists, writers, actors and striking civil servants – have been detained.

Approximately 1,439 people are in detention or have faced charges, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

Ko Aung Myo Kyaw of the organization told The Irrawaddy on Sunday that the military regime is arresting people without a proper reason.

He added: “They are acting like robbers, kidnappers and terrorists.”

The Irrawaddy

• The Irrawaddy 7 March 2021:
https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-regime-steps-crackdown-ahead-mondays-general-strike.html

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 NLD Member Tortured to Death by Myanmar Regime

U Khin Maung Latt, a National League for Democracy (NLD) ward chairman in Pabedan Township, Yangon, has reportedly died after being tortured, hours after he was detained by soldiers and police on Saturday night.

The 58-year-old Muslim was violently beaten and kicked before being taken from his home at around 10pm, according to witnesses.

On Sunday morning, his family was informed that he died after “fainting” and retrieved his blood-soaked body from Mingaladon military hospital.

U Tun Kyi from the Former Political Prisoners Society, who is helping the family arrange the funeral, said the detained NLD member was tortured to death. The funeral is scheduled for Sunday evening.

NLD ward chairman U Khin Maung Latt in Pabedan Township. / Facebook

U Khin Maung Latt actively campaigned for the NLD candidates in Pabedan in the 2015 and 2020 general elections. He was known for working for the social welfare of residents.

Following violent daytime crackdowns, the security forces moved into several wards in Yangon last night, breaking up NLD members’ homes, firing shots and making arrests. At least four NLD members in Pabedan and three party members from Kyauktada Township were detained on Saturday night.

The Irrawaddy

• The Irrawaddy 7 March 2021:
https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/nld-yangon-representative-tortured-death-myanmar-security-forces-sources.html

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