Pots and pans could be heard well past the usual 8pm chorus last night as Yangon neighbours protected each other from midnight arrests that have accelerated over recent days.
Since the February 1 coup, doctors, activists, student leaders, government officials and anti-coup activists have been arrested – at least 326 people, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners Burma on February 12.
Most of the detainees are being held without charge. Their crime? Standing against the Myanmar military’s seizure of power and detention of Aung San Suu Kyi, along with other National League for Democracy members.
Thousands of residents across Yangon from 10pm disregarded the 8pm curfew to chase down police who were allegedly arresting anti-coup residents (i.e. most people) while others clashed utensils from their balconies.
Frontier’s live blog of the protests reported incidents on Theinbyu Road, in the Yay Kyaw area of Pazundaung township, and the Hledan area of Kamaryut township.
In North Okkalapa township, residents surrounded a police station to demand the release of an astrologer who was reportedly arrested for a Facebook post showing knives circled around a candle. It was a ritual, he wrote, to eliminate “forces supporting the dictator”.
In Kyeemyindaing, hundreds surrounded a police station after hearing a teacher had been detained, though the crowd quickly dispersed when the teacher said through a loudspeaker that she was safe.
Meanwhile in Sanchaung, rumours that a local medical official who had joined the civil disobedience movement against military rule had been arrested caused hundreds of residents to run through the streets looking for police behind the alleged detention.
Yangon. When police arrived to arrest doctors and politicians local people rushed into the street to stop them. This has been happening in several places tonight. Residents are setting up ward night watches and preventing police from making arrests. pic.twitter.com/d9pGCa3R7m
— Burma Campaign UK (@burmacampaignuk) February 12, 2021
The arrests have put many Yangonites on edge; some streets and wards have now organized night watches to vet people who enter the areas.
The military has arrested at least 23 chairmen and members of the Union Election Commission from across the country on the night of February 10, according to Human Rights Watch. The military had sought to justify its takeover by making baseless allegations of voting irregularities in the November 2020 election.
“The Myanmar junta’s dragnet is rapidly expanding, so international pressure is urgently needed to gain the detainees’ immediate release,” said Manny Maung, Myanmar researcher. “The military is back to its old game of targeted arrests and arbitrary detentions in an attempt to instill widespread fear.”
Nighttime arrests continued on February 11, and included the prominent lawyer Myo Aung in Myawaddy township, Karen state. Medical workers also reported the arrest and detention of doctors during the day and at night. CCTV footage shared on social media shows armed police forcibly taking away Dr Pyae Phyo Naing from a clinic in Ingapu township, Ayeyarwady region.
On February 12, several hundred thousand people joined the seventh day straight of anti-coup protests. Tensions have risen between protesters and the authorities after police used lethal force on February 9 in the capital, Naypyidaw, shooting Mya Thwe Thwe Khine, a protester, in the head with live ammunition.
Riot police arrested 14 student protesters in Mawlamyine, Mon State, the Irrawaddy news outlet reported. The arrests came after police fired on protesters at 8:30 a.m. near Mawlamyine University, and injuring three people, according to a Myanmar Red Cross officer.
