Military regime raids office of Suu Kyi’s charity, detains two executives 

The military regime has detained two executives from the Daw Khin Kyi Foundation, founded by Aung San Suu Kyi in honour of her mother, a source close to the charity has told Myanmar Now. 

Moe Zaw Oo, who is also a member of the Peace Commission set up by Suu Kyi’s government, and Thant Thaw Kaung, a publisher known for advocating for libraries, were detained on Friday. Their whereabouts are unknown.

There has been no confirmation from the authorities regarding their detention.

The source speculated that authorities are interrogating the executives because the military wants to establish grounds to hit Suu Kyi with more serious charges. 

“They’re planning to file a financial case against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and slander her. So it’s of utmost importance that the world knows and follows this case and intervenes as quickly as possible,” the source said.

The foundation is being investigated by the Bureau of Special Investigation under the police force, the source added. Police confiscated computers, financial documents, and bank books during a raid on its Yangon office on Friday.

“They said there was an order from the Bureau. At first, the people at the foundation tried to refuse since it wasn’t an official court warrant. But then they said they would only take a look and everything would be returned,” the source said. 

The officers said it “forcefully but also softly and the people opened the office,” the source added. 

Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest since the morning of February 1, when the military staged a coup. She is being charged with illegally importing walkie-talkies found in her home and held in remand until February 15.

The foundation was set up in 2012 by Aung San Suu Kyi and named after her late mother, Daw Khin Kyi. 

It has since launched mobile libraries and vocational schools, including the La Yaung Taw academy in Naypyitaw, which trains young people in environmental conservation and horticulture.

A company that works on the La Yaung Taw project is also being investigated, the source said. 

The Independent Lawyers’ Association of Myanmar said on Saturday that Min Aung Hlaing’s coup was unconstitutional and Win Myint, who was also detained last week, still holds the presidential office under the charter.