Two USDP members arrested in Myawaddy for staging unauthorised pro-military protests

Two USDP members arrested in Myawaddy for staging unauthorised pro-military protests

At least 15 similar protests have been held in the past month, leading to a number of arrests around the country 

Protesters led by USDP central executive committee member Ye Htut Paing gather in support of the military in Myawaddy township. (Thu Rein Min Htun / Facebook)

Two members of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) were arrested in Kayin state’s Myawaddy township on Friday for staging unauthorised pro-military protests.

Ye Htut Paing, a USDP central executive committee member, and Zaw Min Tun, were both charged with holding protests without formal permission, police told Myanmar Now.

The two men held separate protests last week, in each case defying article 19 of the Peaceful Protest and Peaceful Procession Law, which requires that police receive notice of a planned protest 48 hours in advance.

Zaw Min Tun held a solo protest in front of Myawaddy’s Bayintnaung market last Tuesday wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE) as a precaution against Covid-19, police said.

 

 

Ye Htut Paing’s 16-person protest was not reported to police until 30 minutes before it was held, according to Aung Kyaw Oo, a deputy officer at the Myawaddy township police station. 

“They didn’t apply until 10 in the morning and then started the protest at 10:30,” he said.

 

 

Both men will be tried within 15 days and are currently free on bail, he added.

Khin Maung Chin, the USDP chair for Myawaddy division, said the party was not involved in organizing the protests, but added that he was providing legal advice to both defendants at their request.

“Since I’m the closest lawyer they know, they asked me for my assistance. But I think they are also thinking in terms of party affiliation,” he said, adding that nationalists may have played a role in instigating the protests.

Ye Htut Paing said he was unaware of the requirement to report to the police at least 48 hours before holding a protest.

“The government is always shouting ‘Human rights! Human rights!’ but then it keeps hitting us with this law,” he said, noting that his group also followed Covid-19 guidelines.

“Everyone wore PPE outfits, as per Covid guidelines. Well, except for me. But I did wear a mask and everything,” he said.

“It’s not right that that we’re being hit with this charge in a time of democracy,” he added.

Since last December, there have been no fewer than 15 protests in support of the military nationwide. In recent days, police have arrested protest leaders in Yangon’s Insein and Mayangone townships and Myingyan in Mandalay.

Meanwhile, there have also been protests against the military in Kayin state over recent clashes with the Karen National Union. The latest involved thousands of local people.

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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.

 

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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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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.

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

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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. 

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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.   

 

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