Burma Army arrested a National League for Democracy (NLD) lawmaker in hiding since the coup when he went home to visit his ill wife recently released from the hospital in southern Shan State.
According to an eyewitness, Khun Kyaw Aye was detained in Hpton town at 10pm on Monday, May 3, three days after his wife was sent home. It is suspected an informer told the military the MP was visiting.
Before his arrest, Khun Kyaw Aye was issued a warrant for violating Article 505 (a) of Burma’s Penal Code. The law was amended by the military council to prosecute the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM).
Since staging a coup on February 1, the regime arrested many NLD members, including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint. Some lawmakers died in custody. Warrants were issued for politicians who went into hiding.
Meanwhile, some government servants employed in the educational department who joined the CDM have returned to their jobs after authorities threatened to prosecute them with Article 505 (a).
A male volunteer from a civil society organization told SHAN staff who have a family cannot go into hiding. Out of the 1,041 educational staff who joined the CDM in Hsipaw, he said 606 have returned to work.
A teacher in Muse said not receiving a salary or being fired is something some can accept, but no one wants to be arrested.
Since the coup, authorities have been arresting government servants suspected of leading the CDM. Some died during interrogation. At the same time, the military council blocked mobile internet services and public wifi, preventing information about the arrests from being shared in real-time.
“We thank all the government staff and teachers who remain committed to the CDM. We understand they may face difficulties,” said a man from Hsipaw, who hoped that government servants will continue resisting the military regime.
