Issued on: 24/10/2021
Kyaw Min Yu pictured on his release from prison in 2012
Soe Than WIN AFP
Bangkok (AFP)
Myanmar has been in turmoil since the generals ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a February coup, triggering nationwide protests that have seen more than 1,100 people killed by security forces.
Junta opponents -- including allies of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party and activists -- have gone into hiding across the country, while some villagers have taken up arms, forming local militias to defend themselves.
On Saturday evening, 52-year-old Kyaw Min Yu, better known as Ko Jimmy, was arrested when soldiers raided a housing complex in the North Dagon township of Yangon.
"He was staying in a safe house together with two other activists who escaped from the back door," his wife Nilar Thein told AFP, adding that police had not informed her of his whereabouts.
Nilar Thein and Ko Jimmy are part of the so-called 88 Generation movement that challenged Myanmar's previous military government.
They also played a major role in anti-government protests in 2007 -- nicknamed the "Saffron Revolution" for the participation of orange-robed monks.
The couple have been in and out of prison for their activism.
Ko Jimmy's last stint behind bars was from 2007 to 2012. He was released as the generals loosened their grip to start opening up Myanmar in preparation for 2015 elections.
After the February 1 putsch this year, the junta issued an arrest warrant for him alleging that he had incited unrest with his social media posts.
Another 88 Generation member, Ko Ko Gyi, confirmed Ko Jimmy's arrest, expressing worry for him and his family.
While the couple are intimately aware of the risks of activism in Myanmar, Nilar Thein said the situation is "riskier" under the current regime, which has dubbed itself the State Administration Council.
"I am afraid that I won't see him alive" again, she said, adding that she was afraid to go to the police for fear of her own arrest.
"I urge the international community to keep their eyes (on the situation) to save the lives of Myanmar people."
Groups including the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners -- which tracks arrests under the regime -- have alleged that torture has taken place during the interrogation of dissidents.
The United Nations special rapporteur on Myanmar on Saturday raised alarm about troops amassing in the country's north, warning the international community to be prepared for "more mass atrocity crimes".
Bangkok (AFP)
Myanmar has been in turmoil since the generals ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a February coup, triggering nationwide protests that have seen more than 1,100 people killed by security forces.
Junta opponents -- including allies of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party and activists -- have gone into hiding across the country, while some villagers have taken up arms, forming local militias to defend themselves.
On Saturday evening, 52-year-old Kyaw Min Yu, better known as Ko Jimmy, was arrested when soldiers raided a housing complex in the North Dagon township of Yangon.
"He was staying in a safe house together with two other activists who escaped from the back door," his wife Nilar Thein told AFP, adding that police had not informed her of his whereabouts.
Nilar Thein and Ko Jimmy are part of the so-called 88 Generation movement that challenged Myanmar's previous military government.
They also played a major role in anti-government protests in 2007 -- nicknamed the "Saffron Revolution" for the participation of orange-robed monks.
The couple have been in and out of prison for their activism.
Ko Jimmy's last stint behind bars was from 2007 to 2012. He was released as the generals loosened their grip to start opening up Myanmar in preparation for 2015 elections.
After the February 1 putsch this year, the junta issued an arrest warrant for him alleging that he had incited unrest with his social media posts.
Another 88 Generation member, Ko Ko Gyi, confirmed Ko Jimmy's arrest, expressing worry for him and his family.
While the couple are intimately aware of the risks of activism in Myanmar, Nilar Thein said the situation is "riskier" under the current regime, which has dubbed itself the State Administration Council.
"I am afraid that I won't see him alive" again, she said, adding that she was afraid to go to the police for fear of her own arrest.
"I urge the international community to keep their eyes (on the situation) to save the lives of Myanmar people."
Groups including the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners -- which tracks arrests under the regime -- have alleged that torture has taken place during the interrogation of dissidents.
The United Nations special rapporteur on Myanmar on Saturday raised alarm about troops amassing in the country's north, warning the international community to be prepared for "more mass atrocity crimes".
Myanmar junta rules out talks with dissidents, including Suu Kyi's ousted government
Issued on: 24/10/2021 -
Text by: NEWS WIRES|
Issued on: 24/10/2021 -
Text by: NEWS WIRES|
Video by :FRANCE 24
Myanmar's junta on Saturday said it would not engage in talks with coup dissidents, including members of Aung San Suu Kyi's ousted government, after a loyalist said dialogue was necessary to save the country.
The Southeast Asian nation has been in chaos since a February coup, with more than 1,100 killed in a crackdown on dissent, according to a local monitoring group.
On Friday a spokesman for the military-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party called on junta leader Min Aung Hlaing to open dialogue with coup opponents to find a way out of the crisis.
But late Saturday the junta said it "cannot accept ... dialogue and negotiation with terrorist armed groups", including a shadow government of lawmakers from Suu Kyi's ousted adminstration.
Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party trounced the USDP in elections last year, a result the military has alleged was due to fraud.
Almost nine months after seizing power, and unable to stamp out opposition to their rule, the generals are under increasing international pressure to engage with their opponents.
The United Nations said Friday it feared an even greater human rights catastrophe amid reports of thousands of troops massing in the north and west of the country, where soldiers have clashed regularly with local "self-defence forces".
Local fighters in the western Chin state were battling to stop 60 military vehicles from advancing further into the remote, mountainous region, a member of a local militia told AFP on Saturday.
Dissidents had also blown up a bridge to prevent the military from entering the town of Thantlang, he said, adding army "jet fighters" had flown several times over the group's base.
AFP was unable to verify reports from the remote region.
(AFP)
Myanmar's junta on Saturday said it would not engage in talks with coup dissidents, including members of Aung San Suu Kyi's ousted government, after a loyalist said dialogue was necessary to save the country.
The Southeast Asian nation has been in chaos since a February coup, with more than 1,100 killed in a crackdown on dissent, according to a local monitoring group.
On Friday a spokesman for the military-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party called on junta leader Min Aung Hlaing to open dialogue with coup opponents to find a way out of the crisis.
But late Saturday the junta said it "cannot accept ... dialogue and negotiation with terrorist armed groups", including a shadow government of lawmakers from Suu Kyi's ousted adminstration.
Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party trounced the USDP in elections last year, a result the military has alleged was due to fraud.
Almost nine months after seizing power, and unable to stamp out opposition to their rule, the generals are under increasing international pressure to engage with their opponents.
The United Nations said Friday it feared an even greater human rights catastrophe amid reports of thousands of troops massing in the north and west of the country, where soldiers have clashed regularly with local "self-defence forces".
Local fighters in the western Chin state were battling to stop 60 military vehicles from advancing further into the remote, mountainous region, a member of a local militia told AFP on Saturday.
Dissidents had also blown up a bridge to prevent the military from entering the town of Thantlang, he said, adding army "jet fighters" had flown several times over the group's base.
AFP was unable to verify reports from the remote region.
(AFP)
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