The junta’s armed forces detained at least five youths in Taunggyi last week after receiving tips from informants about their suspected political activities.

Police knew exactly which hotel Kywel Gyi was staying at in the Shan State capital, one youth told SHAN on condition of anonymity, saying he was allegedly arrested with explosives in his possession. ”As far as I understand, the informants showed them the way to the youths in Taunggyi.” The other youths were picked up at another location.

When the police arrested Kywel Gyi on 3 March, they also arrested some staff of the BG hotel where he was staying, said another man who asked not to be named and didn’t know how many staff were taken to the interrogation centre. However, the man learned that six youth activists, including a young woman, were arrested. As informants work closely with the armed forces, he warned that youth activists must proceed with extreme caution.

After the regime violently cracked down on peaceful protests by shooting and beating demonstrators and taking others to dismal interrogation centres, large-scale street protests in Taunggyi have ground to a halt. At the same time, attacks against the military and the government have increased in the capital.

On 1 March, the armed forces arrested Ma Soe Su Myat Lwin (aka Bok Bok) at her home after the 22-year-old fashion designer from Indaw, Lawksawk Township, allegedly criticised the junta on Facebook.

According to the advocacy group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, since the coup a year ago, 9,523 have been arrested, charged, or sentenced in Burma while the regime armed force’s have killed 1,620 people.