Myanmar army hunts protest backers over social media comments
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Splash
    • Videos
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Tuesday
August 16, 2022

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Splash
    • Videos
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2022
Myanmar army hunts protest backers over social media comments

World+Biz

Reuters
13 February, 2021, 06:40 pm
Last modified: 13 February, 2021, 06:43 pm

Related News

  • Tom Holland makes brief return to social media, Justin Bieber reacts
  • Freetown in shock after dozens killed in Sierra Leone protests
  • Not worried over allies' protesting fuel price hike: Obaidul Quader
  • Tea garden workers' demo for pay hike continues
  • Fuel price hike: Police file attempted murder charges against Shahbagh protestors

Myanmar army hunts protest backers over social media comments

All seven are opponents of the Feb 1 coup in which the military took over and elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi was detained

Reuters
13 February, 2021, 06:40 pm
Last modified: 13 February, 2021, 06:43 pm
A man flashes the three-finger salute after being arrested during a protest against the military coup in Mawlamyine, Myanmar February 12, 2021. Than Lwin Times/Handout via REUTERS
A man flashes the three-finger salute after being arrested during a protest against the military coup in Mawlamyine, Myanmar February 12, 2021. Than Lwin Times/Handout via REUTERS

Myanmar's army is hunting for seven well-known supporters of protests against this month's coup and they face charges over comments on social media that threaten national stability, the army said on Saturday.

Among those named was Min Ko Naing, a one-time leader of bloodily suppressed protests in 1988, who has made calls supporting the street demonstrations and a civil disobedience campaign.

All seven are opponents of the Feb 1 coup in which the military took over and elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi was detained. The majority are also supporters of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party.

The announcement came on the eighth day of protests across the Southeast Asian country against the coup, which halted an unsteady transition to democracy that began in 2011 and roused fears of a return to an earlier era of repression.

People should inform the police if they spot any of the seven people named and will be punished if they shelter them, the army's True News information team said in a statement on its Facebook page on Saturday.

It said cases had been filed under section 505 (b) of the penal code - which was often used by previous juntas and imposes a sentence of up to two years for comments that could cause alarm or "threaten tranquility".

"I am so proud to have a warrant issued along with Min Ko Naing. Catch me if you can," said one of those named, NLD lobbyist Ei Pencilo, on her Facebook page, which has over 1.6 million followers.

The United Nations human rights office said on Friday more than 350 people have been arrested in Myanmar since the coup.

Journalist Shwe Yee Win, who had reported on opposition to the coup in the western town of Pathein, was taken away by police and soldiers on Thursday and has not been heard from since, her TimeAyeyar news website and her mother said.

"I am really worried," said Thein Thein, now looking after her daughter's one-year-old child. "Her son is in trouble now since she was breastfeeding him. She didn't even get chance to put on her shoes before they took her."

The government did not respond to requests for comment.

Families Left in The Dark

Anger in Myanmar has been fuelled by videos showing more arrests of government critics - including a doctor who was part of the civil disobedience movement. Some arrests have taken place during the hours of darkness.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a watchdog group for political prisoners, voiced concern.

"Family members are left with no knowledge of the charges, location, or condition of their loved ones. These are not isolated incidents, and nighttime raids are targeting dissenting voices," it said in a statement.

The army said it had seized power because of alleged fraud in a November election that Suu Kyi's NLD won in a landslide. The electoral commission had dismissed the army's complaints.

Suu Kyi, for decades the standard bearer of the fight for democracy in Myanmar, faces charges of illegally importing and using six walkie-talkie radios.

NLD press officer Kyi Toe said on Facebook that she was healthy under house arrest in the capital Naypyitaw.

The 47-member UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on Friday calling on Myanmar to release Suu Kyi and other detainees and to refrain from using violence ion protesters.

Thomas Andrews, the UN rights investigator for Myanmar, said the UN Security Council should consider imposing sanctions and arms embargoes on Myanmar.

The United States this week began imposing sanctions on the ruling generals and some businesses linked to them.

Airline staff, health workers, engineers and school teachers were among groups that joined the protest marches on Saturday and that have rallied to a civil disobedience campaign that has shut down a swath of government business.

Top News

Myanmar Army / hunts / protest / backer / Social Media / comment

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • This is how people are choked with rising cost of living
    This is how people are choked with rising cost of living
  • File photo. Forty-four countries imported LNG last year, almost twice as many as a decade ago. Photo: Asim Hafeez/Bloomberg
    Unaffordability of LNG may leave new import terminals redundant: IEEFA
  • Photo: TBS
    5 crushed to death as BRT girder falls on car in Uttara

MOST VIEWED

  • Kenya's Deputy President William Ruto and presidential candidate for the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Kenya Kwanza political coalition reacts after being declared the winner of Kenya's presidential election at the IEBC National Tallying Centre at the Bomas of Kenya, in Nairobi, Kenya August 15, 2022. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya
    Kenya's Ruto declared president-elect in chaotic scenes
  • The corporate logo of financial firm Morgan Stanley is pictured on a building in San Diego, California September 24, 2013. REUTERS/Mike Blake
    Goldman, Morgan Stanley seek to end investors' Archegos-linked lawsuits
  • A small toy figure and gold imitation are seen in front of the Polyus logo in this illustration taken November 19, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
    Russia's Polyus plans bond issue denominated in yuan
  • Traders work on the trading floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., August 2, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
    Global stocks fall, US dollar gains after surprise China data
  • Russian Navy vessels are anchored in a bay of the Black Sea port of Sevastopol in Crimea May 8, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
    Explosive item kills three swimmers off Ukrainian Black Sea beach
  • A French soldier stands guard in a watchtower at the Relay Desert Platform Camp (PfDR) during Operation Barkhane in Gossi, Mali, July 30, 2019. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo
    France says all its troops battling Islamists in Mali have now left

Related News

  • Tom Holland makes brief return to social media, Justin Bieber reacts
  • Freetown in shock after dozens killed in Sierra Leone protests
  • Not worried over allies' protesting fuel price hike: Obaidul Quader
  • Tea garden workers' demo for pay hike continues
  • Fuel price hike: Police file attempted murder charges against Shahbagh protestors

Features

TBS Sketch

Bangabandhu and the spirit of Liberation War were killed in 1975

11h | Supplement
The macabre multicide: How we failed our supreme leader

The macabre multicide: How we failed our supreme leader

14h | Supplement
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with his eldest daughter Sheikh Hasina and his grandson Sajeeb Wazed at his Dhanmondi residence. Photo: Achieve

The darkest night of 15 August

16h | Supplement
As long as the Padma and the Meghna will flow…

As long as the Padma and the Meghna will flow…

17h | Supplement

More Videos from TBS

Public pay homage to Bangabandhu

Public pay homage to Bangabandhu

6h | Videos
What will happen if Ukraine's Zaporizhia nuclear plant explodes?

What will happen if Ukraine's Zaporizhia nuclear plant explodes?

6h | Videos
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the undisputed leader

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the undisputed leader

7h | Videos
How is Bangladesh benefited from receiving India's daily import quota?

How is Bangladesh benefited from receiving India's daily import quota?

8h | Videos

Most Read

1
Dollar crisis: BB orders removal of 6 banks’ treasury chiefs 
Banking

Dollar crisis: BB orders removal of 6 banks’ treasury chiefs 

2
From left Afzal Karim, Murshedul Kabir and Mohammad Jahangir
Banking

Sonali, Agrani and Rupali banks get new MDs

3
Photo: TBS
Bangladesh

5 crushed to death as BRT girder falls on car in Uttara

4
Dollar price drops by Tk8 in kerb market
Economy

Dollar price drops by Tk8 in kerb market

5
Representational Image. Photo: Collected
Bangladesh

Air passengers should plan extra commute time to airport: DMP

6
Photo: Collected
Transport

Will Tokyo’s traffic model solve Dhaka’s gridlocks?

EMAIL US
[email protected]
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2022
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - [email protected]

For advertisement- [email protected]