JURIST EXCLUSIVE – One of our law student correspondents in Myanmar sends this update on the latest arrests of protesters and dissidents opposed to the new military government that seized power in the country in the February 1 coup:

Right now, they’re targeting the lawyers.

Dr. Ye Lwin (now former mayor of Mandalay city) is my [relationship redacted]. He’s now being chased too. Her father is also a very active NLD [National League for Democracy, the former Myanmar ruling party chaired by Aung San Suu Kyi] supporter so her whole family is very worried. Her grandfather (an author) was also a political prisoner and was released only when we were in [institutional affiliation redacted] (he was in jail for more than 10 years).

All these people are arrested at night time. They have no legal procedure or manner in entering people’s houses.

We ask people not to open the door. First, they should go live on Facebook and tell us who they are and where they are and then bang the pots to give notice to the neighbors. When there are many people surrounded, the police/soldiers dare not arrest people. Some houses do not open door so they break into the house. The police/soldiers are acting like thieves. This is a breach of all fundamental human rights. They’re not relying on any legal and reasonable grounds.

In some townships, they cut off the electricity first to arrest people so our plan does not work.

The military is trying to kidnap people who worked at UEC [Myanmar Union Election Commission] during election period and coerce them to sign “a fake contract admitting that there were mistakes while counting the vote sheets” [an reason for the Myanmar coup alleged by the military]. They’re trying to fake the evidence.

Before the military coup, the military asked for the list of voters from the military because even in some region with a lot of soldiers, NLD still won so they wanted to find their betrayers among themselves. At that time, UEC denied handing over that list of voters and so did NLD government in order to protect those soldiers in the list. Now, they announced the coup and they stole that list from UEC. They made unofficial investigation into NLD offices and headquarter and just steal any files they want. They also robbed all funds from Daw Khin Kyi Foundation (named after Daw Suu’s mom). The problem is they need money. They don’t even have money to pay salary to government staffs. They officially announced this for Myawaddy on TV.

What if they cut off internet again

What if they cut off electricity

What if they build a firewall with the help of China

What if they use the weapons bought from Russia to kill civilians

We can’t sleep soundly at night. We have to sleep with one eye open thinking “what if they come to arrest me or my family”.

Please help us. Just free us from this cage.

This is the full list of recent arrests and detentions passed to JURIST, by date, including some known arrests and detentions just overnight in Myanmar.

10 Feb 2021

About 20 youths from May Myoe (aka Pyin Oo Lwin) book club were arrested.

1. Thura U Shwe Mann

2. Shan chief minister

3. Chin

4. Kachin

5. Karen

6. Rakhine

7. U Htun Htun Hein

8. U Kyaw Toe

9. Lawyer U Khin Maung Zaw (destroy the door and come in to arrest)

10. Presidents of townships UEC ….

 

11 Feb 2021/ 12 Feb 2021 (around 2 am) arrest/kidnap

1. U Thiha Zaw (aka U Yae Kae), just a normal civilian who participated in protest

2. Nyung Shwe industry president U Than Htun Aung

3. Maw Bee township, Yangon UEC president (He was called for a meeting and kidnapped with a minibus)

4. U Lin Nyo Tar Yar (South Oakkalapa, Yangon)

5. Senator U Naing Nwe Soe (downtown of Mawlamyaing)