Myanmar coup: Celebrities oppose military junta added to arrest list

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One of Myamar’s highest paid actresses offered financial aid to striking staff who resigned to take part in the growing civil disobedience movement known as the CDM.

But on Thursday, Myanmar Academy Award winner and her director husband, Na Gyi, went into hiding after her name appeared on the arrest list, along with a number of other celebrities who were accused of using their platform to opposes the coup.

A police statement on Wednesday said Na Gyi, two other prominent directors, two actors and a singer, were wanted for “using their popularity and encouraging responsible civil servants to participate in the CDM, encouraging civil servants to participate in protests.” ”.

The communication from the Governing State Board mentioned information about the location of actor Payeti Oo, director Ko Pauk, actor Lu Min, director Wine, director Na Gyi and singer Anatga, being needed by the Myanmar police forces.

They are wanted under a section of the country’s penal code that was amended this week by the leader of the coup, General Min Aung Hlaing, in an apparent effort to target protesters, journalists and critics of the takeover.

Section 505a commits an offense of “impeding, disturbing, impairing the motivation, discipline, health, conduct” of government employees and military personnel and “causing their hatred, disobedience or disloyalty” to the government or military.

Paing Phyo Thu said that although “we know it is very dangerous to talk like this”, she will not stop – despite the arrest warrant and was forced into hiding.

Paing Phyo Thu hid with her husband Na Gyi after an arrest warrant was issued for her.

“We can talk about our opinions, we don’t mind because, from the first day of the military coup, we talked about it on our social platforms, because we want the public to know that we are with them and no one likes it. This is such an unfair thing, “she said.

“There is no turning back. We have decided that we will do this, we will fight to the end.”

For more than 50 years, Myanmar has been ruled by a series of isolationist dictators who have plunged the country into poverty and brutally crushed any form of dissent. In 2011, the military began opening up the country and implemented reforms that allowed for democratic elections in 2015, in which ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi won a landslide and formed the first civilian government since 1962.

“Everyone can see evolution. For example, all roads and education – everything is moving towards a brighter destination. We have been ruled by dictators for so long,” Paing Phyo Thu said. “Then there was a military coup and we felt we had lost our freedom and we lost our democracy and we just don’t want to go back to the dark age.”

Protesters salute with three fingers and chant slogans during an anti-coup protest in Sule Square on February 17, 2021 in Yangon, Myanmar.
The news of Na Gyi’s arrest warrant came after hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of Yangon and other cities on Wednesday in the largest demonstration since the February 1 coup.

In Mandalay, security forces opened fire while confronting railway workers who had stopped trains as part of the civil disobedience movement, Reuters reported. Residents said one person was injured, but it is unclear what type of ammunition was used, the report said.

In the center of Yangon, Thousands chanting and holding placards with the image of Suu Kyi and banners reading “Justice for Myanmar” and “Reject the military coup” marched on Sule Pagoda, demanding its release and for the army to hand over the power of civilian control.

The mass march was called in response to a second indictment filed Tuesday against Suu Kyi. Her lawyer, Khin Maung Zaw, said she was charged in connection with a national disaster law, in addition to a previous number of import and export documents from the country.

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