At a Yangon pagoda, four suspected former criminals are tied to the ground.
They were captured overnight by residents in the Sanchaung area, who fear Myanmar’s army will release them to cause trouble.
Concerns over criminal activity have increased since Friday (February 12), when the junta announced it would release 23,000 prisoners.
They said the move was in line with “establishing a new, democratic state with peace, development and discipline”
Unverified photos on social media have sparked rumors that criminals are trying to stir up unrest by burning fires or poisoning water supplies.
Tin Myint, who was among the crowd detained by the men in Sanchaung, cited pro-democracy protests in 1988 – when the military was widely accused of releasing criminals to carry out attacks.
“We think the military intends to inflict violence on these criminals by infiltrating them after the peaceful protests. Then the military will have a reason to expand its power to combat violence.”
The men were handed over to police. The government and the military could not be reached for comment.
This is just one episode of a night in which residents patrolled together, for fear of attacks and arrests.
But despite their concerns, people were back in power on Sunday (February 14) – from thousands marching in Yangon and convoys of motorcycles in the capital Naypidaw, to drumming in the south-eastern city of Dawei and flag-waving and revolutionary songs in Waimaw, in the mountainous, far northern Kachin.
One common thread about the protests – the face of Aung San Suu Kyi.
Her detention, on charges of importing walkie-talkies, will expire on Monday (February 15). Her lawyer could not be reached for comment on what was going to happen.
Video transcription
– At a Yangon pagoda, four suspected former criminals are tied to the ground. They were captured overnight by residents in the Sanchanung area, who fear Myanmar’s army will release them to cause trouble.
– [SPEAKING BURMESE]
Concerns about criminal activity have increased since Friday, when the junta announced it would release 23,000 prisoners. They said the move coincided with the establishment of a new democratic state with peace, development and discipline. Unverified photos on social media have sparked rumors that criminals are trying to stir up unrest by burning fires or poisoning water supplies.
– [SPEAKING BURMESE]
Tin Myint, who was among the crowd detained by a man in Sanchaung, cited pro-democracy protests in 1988 – when the military was widely accused of releasing criminals for attacks.
– [SPEAKING BURMESE]
INTERPRETER: We think the military intends to cause violence with these criminals by infiltrating them in the peaceful protests.
– [SPEAKING BURMESE]
INTERPRETER: Then the army will have a reason to expand their power –
– [SPEAKING BURMESE]
INTERPRETER: – to tackle violence.
– [SPEAKING BURMESE]
INTERPRETER: The four men were handed over to police. The government and the military could not be reached for comment. This is just one episode from a night in which residents patrolled together, for fear of attacks and arrests by the police.
But despite their concerns, people were in power again on Sunday – from thousands in Yangon and convoys of motorcycles in the capital Naypidaw, to drumming in the south-eastern city of Dawei and flag-waving and revolutionary songs in Waimaw, more in the mountainous, far-northern Kachin. One common thread about the protests – the face of Aung San Suu Kyi.
[CROWD CHANTING]
Her detention on a charge of importing walkie-talkies is due to expire on Monday. Her lawyer could not be reached for comment on what was going to happen.
[APPLAUSE]