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

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

Source close to the Daw Khin Kyi Foundation believes military is trying to find grounds to bring more serious charges against Suu Kyi

Aung San Suu Kyi seen in 2015 with rafts donated by the Daw Khin Kyi Foundation for relief efforts in flooded areas of Ayeyarwady region (Daw Khin Kyi Foundation) 

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.

Junta arrests two more journalists in Naypyitaw

Those arrested include a BBC reporter and a former Mizzima correspondent. 

Myanmar Now
Published on Mar 19, 2021
Photojournalists take cover near the entrance of a monastery where military supporters gathered to attack protesters and media in Yangon on February 18 (EPA-EFE/LYNN BO BO)

A BBC journalist and a former Mizzima News reporter were arrested by men believed to be plainclothes officers in Naypyitaw on Friday afternoon, a family member confirmed.

BBC Burmese journalist Aung Thura was in front of the Dekkhina District court to report on a hearing for National League for Democracy patron Win Htein when he was arrested. Former Mizzima correspondent Than Htike Aung was with him at the time of the arrest.

No further details of the arrest or the reporters’ detention were known at the time of reporting, according to Aung Thura’s relative. 

“I saw some plainclothes officers dragging away a person in trousers into a car,” lawyer Min Min Soe, who was near the court at the time, told Myanmar Now. The man she saw is believed to be Than Htike Aung.  

“Two other officers in plainclothes were hassling another individual in a paso [traditional sarong for men] and glasses,” she said, referring to Aung Thura. “It was quite a scene so I don’t know what happened next.”

BBC News issued a statement on Friday afternoon saying that they are "doing everything [they] can" to find Aung Thura, who they described as being taken away by unidentified men.

“We call on the authorities to help locate him and confirm that he is safe,” the statement said.

As of March 16, a total of 38 journalists had been arrested or targeted for arrest since the February 1 coup. The latest arrests of the BBC and former Mizzima journalists push this number up to 40.  

Only 22 of these reporters have been released. Ten journalists have been charged with violating Section 505(a) of the penal code, which has been used against people who are seen as causing fear, spreading fake news, or agitating government employees. Under recent amendments to the law, the charges come with a three-year prison sentence if convicted.

Online news website The Irrawaddy has also been charged by the junta as violating the same statute for showing “disregard” for the armed forces in their reporting of the ongoing anti-regime protests.

Five publications, including Myanmar Now and Mizzima had their offices raided and their publishing licenses revoked earlier this month by the regime.

Editor's note: This story was updated to include the BBC's statement, which was not available at the original time of publishing.

 

Myanmar Now

Myanmar Now is an independent news service providing free, accurate and unbiased news to the people of Myanmar in Burmese and English.
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KIA attacks police bases in Hpakant

The offensives come in the wake of deadly crackdowns against anti-coup protesters in Myitkyina 

Myanmar Now
Published on Mar 18, 2021
A KIA soldier watches from an outpost in Kachin state in this undated file photo (Kachinwave) 

The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) launched attacks against police bases in the jade mining region of Hpakant on Thursday morning, a local resident told Myanmar Now. 

The attacks targeted police battalions where soldiers were stationed near Nam Maw village in the Seik Muu village tract.

“There are Myanmar police battalions around Nam Maw,” a resident said. At least three bases were attacked, he added. 

A 41-year-old civilian in Seik Muu village injured his left hand during the clash, the Kachin-based Myitkyina News Journal reported.

The KIA has launched several offensives against the coup regime’s forces recently. Fighting has also been reported in Mogaung and Injangyang this month. 

Some 200 people fled the Injangyang villages of Gway Htaung and Tan Baung Yan on Monday after the KIA launched an offensive against the military there. 

The offenses began in the wake of deadly crackdowns against anti-coup protesters in Myitkyina. The KIA has warned the junta not to harm anti-coup protesters. 

 

Myanmar Now

Myanmar Now is an independent news service providing free, accurate and unbiased news to the people of Myanmar in Burmese and English.
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Four shot dead, five injured during junta attack on protesters in Kalay on Wednesday 

The coup regime’s forces took the injured people away and locals do not know their whereabouts 

Myanmar Now
Published on Mar 18, 2021
Kalay residents move the body of a man who was shot dead on Wednesday (Supplied) 

Four young men were killed and five people were injured in the town of Kalay in Sagaing region on Wednesday as protesters continued their fight to topple the regime despite daily massacres across the country aimed at terrorizing them into submission. 

The Tahan Protest Group gathered in the town at around 10am and police and soldiers began shooting. One young man was shot dead on the spot as he tried to help people who were trapped amid gunfire, residents told Myanmar Now.   

The regime’s forces also shot at and chased fleeing protesters along roads and through narrow alleys, a resident said.

“The crowd of protesters dispersed but one person was shot dead while trying to rescue those trapped in the protest site,” the resident added. 

As the crowd dispersed, a man riding a motorcycle was shot outside a branch of KBZ Bank. “He also died,” the resident said. 

Despite the murders, protesters gathered again in the afternoon around 4pm. Police and soldiers started shooting again and killed two people. 

“They were shot dead while trying to set up barricades at the protest site. They were shot while trying to obstruct the army’s way as the army troops chased and shot the trapped protestors,” the resident said. 

The two who were killed in the morning were identified as Salai Kyong Lian Kye O, who was 25, and Kyin Khant Man, who was 27 and had three children. The identities of the other two have not yet been confirmed.

Five people were also injured and then taken away. Locals said they did not know where they had been taken.   

 

Myanmar Now

Myanmar Now is an independent news service providing free, accurate and unbiased news to the people of Myanmar in Burmese and English.
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