Daily Briefing in Relation to the Military Coup

Updated 16 February 2021

The coup government passed further Acts yesterday. Under the “Amending the Electronic Transaction Law, amendments were made to 7 subsections of Section(2), 1 subsection of Section(3), and 4 subsections of Section 27(a). Section 27(b) and 4 subsections of Section 27(c) from Chapter 10 were added. 5 subsections of Section(38) were also added, and covered a maximum 7 year prison sentence and fine not exceeding fifty million kyats. This law was first enacted in 2004 during the previous junta, and used to punish and harrasses the political dissidents and independent media. The law has been restored during this military coup in an intention to crackdown and suppress the free use of technology and threaten dissidents into silence. This law is certainly not in line with human rights standards. 

A second consecutive day of internet communication blackout was enforced over Burma in the early hours of 16 February between 1am and 9am. According to Net Blocks, which monitors internet services, connectivity had dropped to “15% of ordinary levels”. These blackouts disrupt communication and coordination among communities at a time of night-time raids and criminal mobs targeting residents. One of the fundamental rights of the Universal Declaration Of  Human Rights described, in Article 19, is the right to freedom of speech, “without interference and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers”. This must be adhered to in Burma.

On February 15, the general strike continued undeterred. As the strike movement grows, arrests and violent crackdown have increased. Residences of civil servants are being raided everyday due to their participation in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM).

On February 16, Htet Wai Yan Kyaw, a primary school headmaster in Htaung Ka Loe Village, Myaungmya Town, Ayeyarwady Region, who participated in the CDM, was arrested by the police when on his way back from staging a protest. Approximately 30,000 people demonstrated in front of the Myaungmya Prison calling for his release. But the police brutally crackdown on demonstrators with water cannons, tear gas canisters and shooting rubber bullets. 10 civilians were injured and 2 civilians arrested as a result.

Moreover, 5 Cooperative Department staff and 3 Director General Office staff in Lal Way Township, Nay Pyi Taw were arrested yesterday and detained at Nay Pyi Taw Prison. Yesterday afternoon, police raided Sat San Htun Hospital, Taunggyi Township, Shan State and attempted to open the door to the ward and detain the doctor for involvement in CDM.

On 16 February, State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint had their first court hearing by video conference. During the hearing, State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was charged under Section 8 of the Export and Import Law and Section 25 of the Natural Disaster Management Law. President U Win Myint was charged under Section 25 of the Natural Disaster Management Law. The next court hearing was adjourned until 1 March 2021.

On 16 February, 4 youths who took part in a protest against the military coup were arrested by policemen in Thandwe Township, Rakhine State. 

On the evening of 15 February, the police brutally beat an unarmed civilian in a crackdown on peaceful protesters demonstrating at a roundabout on the Yangon – Mandalay Highway in Mandalay City. A witness caught the attack of peaceful demonstrators by the coup authorities in public on video. 

On 15 February, 18 people who contravened curfew were sentenced to one-month imprisonment in Davoy Township, Tanithary Region, said residents. This is the first sentence handed down after the military junta issued curfew order 144 For detentions in relation to the coup. As of February 16, a total of (452) people have been arrested and detained in relation to the military coup on February 1. Of them, (3) have been sentenced, 2 to two years imprisonment, 1 to three months, (35) were released. A total of (417) are still under detention, including the (3) sentenced AAPP will continue to keep you informed of verified daily arrests, charges and sentences in relation to coup, and update our lists to the details of these alleged offences. 

If you receive any information about arrests/detentions of CSO leaders, teachers, activists, journalists, civilians, in relation to the military and police crackdown on dissent. Please submit to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) main office in Yangon:

Email :   [email protected]

Facebook : https://web.facebook.com/burmapoliticalprisoners/

Twitter : https://twitter.com/aapp_burma

In Solidarity, 

AAPP

Download link for Recent Arrests List (Last Updated on 16 Feb 21) (1F)