Medics MIA: The Myanmar Army’s Latest “Medical Bad Guys” Round‑Up
The pushpin of a routine raid: On Monday, Myanmar’s army swooped into a church in Loikaw, eastern Kayah state, and unexpectedly made a high‑profile arrest binge out of 18 medical professionals. The Global New Light of Myanmar, the junta’s official news mouthpiece, claimed these doctors were helping veterans of “terrorist organisations” – a veil that hides the true anti‑junta militias.
What’s the Real Story?
- During the raid, troops discovered 48 patients receiving medical care, seven of them dealing with COVID‑19. That’s more than enough to turn a church into a modern infirmary.
- The army alleged that these patients were “unofficial medical treatment” recipients from groups classified as enemies of the state.
- Interestingly, no specific organisations were named – leaving us to wonder if it’s a clever PR move or just a case of “we’re too busy to name them.”
Why Are Doctors Being Targeted?
The military’s crackdown isn’t a new footnote in Myanmar’s medical drama. After the February 1 coup, the healthcare system teetered toward collapse. A wave of civil disobedience saw medical staff refuse to work in army‑controlled hospitals, stirring a broader movement of resistance. Human rights groups report that hospitals and medical staff have become popular targets for security forces.
Doctor’s Dilemma
- Out of those arrested, four are doctors, four are nurses, and ten are nursing aides.
- Some of these health workers had already faced charges of incitement for their refusal to comply with the junta’s demands.
- The army’s call for doctors to “return to work” feels like a polite reminder to a guest who refuses to leave the party.
The Human Cost
Since the coup, close to 1,300 civilians have lost their lives and over 10,000 have been arrested, as tracked by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). The military dismisses this data, labeling the group as biased and boasting that 200 soldiers have been killed instead.
In short, the medical workforce is now not just healing the body but also trying to kick the junta to the curb. With each raid, the line between “caretaker” and “counter‑revolutionary” blurs further, turning hospitals into battlegrounds and doctors into unintended activists.
