Mawlamyine, 10 November
While losing political, military, and diplomatic battles, the military council has been continually keeping tabs on Mon State’s social media users and making more arrests, locals told Than Lwin Times.
For the past few months, the junta army, which controls the majority of Mon State, has been tracking and arresting locals via social media.
The military council also arrests and prosecutes local people who write comments or share posts on social media such as Facebook and Tik Tok.
On November 4, Ko Ko Htut from Mawlamyine was charged under Section 505-A of the Penal Code for recording a video of the barriers in front of the Minister’s House and sharing it on Tik Tok.
Similarly, on November 2, a CDM midwife living in Mawlamyine was arrested by the military council under Article 505-(a) for sharing the report of the assassination of the head of the Ye Fisheries Department on Facebook.
According to a political prisoner, the military council’s actions are further oppressing the people of the region under its control and are grave violations of freedom of expression and human rights.
According to information obtained by Than Lwin Times, the military council arrested at least 20 social media users from Mawlamyine, Paung, Kyaikto, Thaton, Thanbyuzayet, and Belin between October and November.
Most of those arrested were for sharing the news of the National Unity Government (NUG) and the People’s Defense Army PDF and criticizing the military council.
A young local said, “Since the military coup, freedom of expression has been lost, and the military council is arresting people because they want to rule by instilling fear in them. The military council is likely to cover up the truth during the revolution and to prevent people from criticizing their wrong actions.
On the other hand, military lobbyists are urging the military council to arrest critics by revealing their photos, addresses, and occupations.
According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), the military council has arrested nearly 800 locals in Mon State since the coup.
News-Than Lwin Times
Photo-CJ
Thanlwintimes