YANGON, MYANMAR (AP) – Myanmar’s ruling junta has intensified its campaign against celebrities who support nationwide protests against the seizure of power, published search lists in the state press and warned against using their work.
The move follows weeks of escalating violence by security forces to break street protests against the February 1 coup that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. At least 570 protesters and bystanders, including 47 children, have been killed since the takeover, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, which monitors the victims and arrests, saying the actual toll is likely to be higher. The coup turned the country’s gradual return to democracy after five decades of military rule.
The lists, published Sunday and Monday in the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper, include actors, musicians and influencers on social media charged with violating section 505 (A) of the Penal Code for ‘spreading news around the state’s. affect stability ‘. The penalty for the offense is up to three years in prison.
A graph that contains the bulk of a page contains 20 people, as well as photos, hometowns, and Facebook pages.
Several actors and directors were also charged in February, but the campaign against protest supporters of celebrities intensified last week when Myawaddy TV aired a wanted list by the military. There are now at least 60 people on such lists.
May Toe Khine, who describes herself in her Twitter profile as a ‘full-time Burmese actress / part-time fashion design student’, tweeted after the TV announcement that her arrest warrant was’ because I did my job as a citizen: use my platform to speak out the truth. ”
“Please always pay attention to news in Myanmar until we win,” she wrote.
What appears to be a leaked document from the Ministry of Information, broadcasters and production agencies are advising on the allegations against people in the fields of literature, film, theater, music and journalism. It warns them not to publish or broadcast or prosecute any of their work.
The April 4 document, which could not be confirmed by The Associated Press, was reported by Khit Thit Media and widely circulated on social media.
Demonstrations continued in the country on Monday, but generally on a smaller scale than recently and often in ways intended to avoid confrontations. On Sunday, an “Easter Egg Strike” was held with eggs painted in support of the protests displayed in public places and online.
In Dawei, a city in southeastern Myanmar, which is a stronghold of the protest movement, a short march is accompanied by a motorcycle march.
In Yangon, the country’s largest city, a memorial procession for the dead was held by mourners dressed in black. Separately, about 20 people briefly gathered in a city street and burned Chinese flags. Many protesters believe that Beijing supports the military regime with economic and political support, including the threat of a veto at the UN Security Council against international sanctions.