Myanmar Protester Faces Rough Detention After the Recent Coup
Who was caught? The story uncovers a lone voice among dozens.
On March 8th, a protester in the southern coastal town of Myeik was seized by police while hiding in a house after the local demonstration was quashed. He says he was dragged away for a tense three‑hour session with the army.
What the soldiers did (what happened inside)
- He was whipped with belts, chains, bamboo sticks, and batons as his fellow detainees walked toward a so‑called “hell room.”
- Soldiers kicked him on the back, shoulders and sides, then told 5 men to face each other while they were kneeled on the floor.
- He mentioned that the troops shouted, “This is the hell room, why don’t you guys have a taste?” while the gathering moved on a truck straight to Myeik air base.
- Inside the air base, posters on the wall and a photo‑capture of the men were taken, and he was separated from the women in the group.
- After the ordeal, some were released without an explanation; others were formally jailed.
Proof and Witness Accounts
Photos shot by the protester’s own family show bruises across the back, neck, and shoulders. Reuters verified the authenticity of the images but cannot confirm the full narrative. 32 people were recorded as jailed in a list prepared by a former student union member who has kept in touch with those released.
Broader Picture – Myanmar’s Ongoing Turmoil
The country is still reeling from the army’s 1st‑of‑February coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi and her elected government. Over 60 demonstrators have been killed and nearly 1,900 arrested since the takeover, according to aid groups. Meanwhile, the army ups its rhetoric, claiming fraud in the November 2023 election that Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy won.
Tragic Consequences
Two top NLD officials have reportedly died in custody since Saturday, though medical and official sources hasn’t confirmed the cause. The military remains silent on the matter.
