Two punk musicians are calling for an end to police misconduct after allegedly drunk officers harassed and arrested them at their stall during a festival in Yangon.
Kyaw Kyaw, 32, and Kyaw Gyi, 32, were selling handmade clothes and bags as well as distributing food to homeless people during the Tazaungdaing Festival market in Lanmadaw township when police visited their stall around 10pm on Wednesday (November 13).
One of the officers who had a Myanmar Beer in his pocket was visibly drunk and swaying, says Kyaw Kyaw whose Facebook post describing the ordeal has been shared 2,500 times and sparked anger against police corruption and misconduct.
Police told the group that drinking alcohol on the street was illegal and arrested the two musicians, taking them to the township police station where the officers reportedly mocked their clothes and touched their heads.
One officer threatened to cut their mohawks, says Kyaw Kyaw.
Although many festival-goers were drinking alcohol, the pair were charged for having beer under section 41 (16) of the Rangoon Police Act (1945) which criminalizes “behaving in a disorderly manner” in public.
The punishment stretches from a 50-kyat fine to eight days’ imprisonment.
Friends of the pair tried to act as guarantor for the musicians and showed identification to the police in the hope of securing their release until the court hearing.
But the police rejected the attempt and the musicians spent the night without a pillow or blanket on the cell floor. No food was provided and a cellmate shared his water with them, says Kyaw Kyaw.
“Police were even drinking [alcohol] around the cell,” the Rebel Riot band member told Myanmar Mix.
Staff at Lanmadaw police station gave Myanmar Mix the phone number of the arresting officer. On hearing the allegations, the officer declined to give his name and said he was not authorised to speak with media.
The men were taken to a cell in Lanmadaw township court the following morning and released around 5pm after police were paid the 50-kyat fine plus another 30,000 kyats, says Kyaw Kyaw.
“We don’t want a police mafia,” he said. “Our case is over now, but we are worried about the next time it happens to people like us, when the police can do whatever they want.”
“Nobody wants to be discriminated against, even people who discriminate against us do not want to face discrimination.”
In Myanmar, people endure discrimination because of their religion, ethnicity or their general appearance—such as punks, explains Kyaw Kyaw.
“But if you don’t like discrimination, why do you discriminate against others? Discrimination is bullshit for the human being.”
His Facebook post said authorities coerce and extort young people who have little knowledge of the law and no one should be arrested because they look different.
“To avoid further problems like this, police must respect the law,” he wrote. “Punk, our way of life, is not a crime. We hope that through dialogue and solidarity we can build more positive perspectives about alternative people in the future.”
The punks are well known for their altruistic work, which includes donating food and water to homeless people, teaching children outside Yangon and distributing free clothes.
In March, 2017 Kyaw Kyaw was forced to apologise to uber-nationalist group Ma Ba Tha for an interfaith photo shoot in which he wore a Buddhist robe.
