Myanmar military frees hundreds of detained protesters, child victim buried

Reuters | Yangon

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Myanmar’s junta on Wednesday freed hundreds of people arrested in its crackdown on protests against the overthrow of the elected government, while businesses in Yangon were shut and streets deserted in a strike called by anti-coup activists.

Several buses full of prisoners drove out of Yangon’s Insein Prison in the morning, lawyers and other witnesses said. There was no word from authorities on how many prisoners were freed. A spokesman for the military did not answer calls.

“All the released are the ones arrested due to the protests, as well as night arrests or those who were out to buy something,” said a member of a legal advisory group who said he saw about 15 buses leaving.

Among those freed was Thein Zaw, a journalist for The Associated Press who was arrested last month, AP reported, quoting him as saying the judge had dropped the charges.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) activist group says at least 2,000 people have been arrested in the military crackdown on protests that broke out following the coupon on Feb. 1.

It was not clear what prompted the junta to release the detainees, although it has faced repeated calls from foreign governments and organisations to do so.

In New York, the United Nations’ spokesman noted the reports of the releases but said it was still concerned about continuing arbitrary arrests.

Farhan Haq also called for the release of all detainees, including the deposed President U Win Myint and Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the civilian government and Myanmar’s most popular political figure.

At least 275 people have been killed as the security forces employed lethal force to quell the unrest, according to the AAPP. Five more people were wounded in Mandalay, Myanmar’s second city, after nightfall on Wednesday, Myanmar Now media outlet reported.

It quoted residents saying security forces started shooting after people banged pots and pans in an act of opposition to the military.

Earlier in Mandalay, the funeral took place of a seven-year-old girl killed on Tuesday - the youngest known victim of the crackdown. Soldiers shot at her father in their home but hit the girl, Khin Myo Chit, who was sitting on his lap, Myanmar Now reported.

On Tuesday night, soldiers raided the family home in Chanmyathazi township, apparently to take away the child’s body, but the family had already gone into hiding with the corpse, Myanmar Now said.

“They broke down the doors and ransacked the house,” her sister May Thu was quoted as saying. “We were on the run because we were afraid they would come and take her body.”

Khin Myo Chit was buried at a Muslim cemetery with just a few close relatives present. The military has not commented on the incident.

The United Nations children’s agency UNICEF said the security forces’ tactics were taking a devastating toll on children, with at least 23 killed and 11 others seriously injured since the crisis began.

“Terror is not democracy,” the U.S. Embassy said in a Twitter post condemning the deaths of children.