Weekly Update in HURFOM Targeted Areas (Third Week of August 2021)

August 23, 2021

HURFOM, Mawlamyine: Privacy laws continue to be breached in HURFOM target areas. The assault by the Burmese junta on the rights and freedoms of innocent civilians have made everyday tasks one filled with worry. Traveling by bus has been met with soldiers coming through highway bus terminals and train stations to check everything on the mobile phones of civilians, including photo galleries and recent contacts, in addition to Facebook and various social media applications. If they find something released to the Spring Revolution, they can be arrested immediately or asked to pay a random anywhere from 5000 to 500 000 Myanmar Kyat or more.

Plain clothes police officers are arresting people in broad daylight. On 21 August, a witness reported the arrest of a woman at 3:30 PM in Mawlamyine for reasons suspected to be linked to her organising efforts of a student protest in March with her University. On 19 August, a group of young villagers were also adducted by junta security forces late at night based on accusations from a military informer.

Despite the distressing situation, bike strikes are ongoing in HURFOM target areas. A resident from Long Lone Township, Dawei commanded the bravery of those continue to protest the junta saying: “We can’t praise them enough—they did a brilliant job. We need these young people to continue breaking our silence.”

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under Analysis, News