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

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By THE IRRAWADDY 7 March 2021

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.”