The Military Junta continues to arrest and take legal action against people who comment on the Facebook page of the Ye Bilu group, a resistance group based in Ye Township, Mon State.
On August 8, the military junta arrested 29-year-old Ma Phyu Pwint Wai, also known as Thamee Pu, a resident of Setse Village in Thanbyuzayat Township, for commenting on the Facebook page of the Ye Bilu group.
Ma Phyu Pwint Wai, was arrested for commenting under a post shared on the Ye Bilu group’s Facebook page, writing, “May everyone stay safe, may everyone live long and remain healthy, and may you be successful in every battle.”
Following her arrest, a case was opened against Ma Phyu Pwint Wai, at the Thanbyuzayat Myoma Police Station under Section 52(a) of the Counter-Terrorism Law.
Similarly, on August 8, the military arrested 50-year-old U Zin Min Khine, a resident of Balauk Nyaung Waing Village in Mudon Township, on the Thanbyuzayat-Kyaikkhami road near Taunghpalu Village in Thanbyuzayat Township.
During questioning, U Zin Min Khine was found to have made several comments on the Ye Bilu account, writing, “Brother, please stay alert.” and “Fighting, brother. Be especially careful about everything…I am glad to see you like this,” and “Brother, please take care of everything.”
According to sources close to the military junta’s police force, U Zin Min Khine was arrested after security forces waited for him based on information they received that he would be near the Thanbyuzayat-Kyaikkhami road, close to Taunghpalu Village.
U Zin Min Khine has also been charged under Section 52(a) of the Counter-Terrorism Law at the Mudon Myoma Police Station.
In Mon State, since the military coup, the junta has arrested people who criticize and write about the military council on social media, as well as those who write and share posts supporting the National Unity Government (NUG), PDF forces and resistance groups.
Some of those arrested have been charged by the military under Section 505 of the Penal Code, while others have been charged under provisions of the Counter-Terrorism Law and are often sentenced to lengthy prison terms.
