Fourteen people who participated in the general strike are still being detained in Kengtung, located in Burma’s eastern Shan State.
A male resident, who requested anonymity, told SHAN they’re concerned about the detainees, which include Ma Misor (aka Nang Sheng Lar), a school teacher, and several students. Seven of those arrested are female.
“We want the authorities to release everyone who’s being detained. Actually, they’re not guilty of any crimes but they are being kept in the Kengtung prison. I can’t imagine the kind of hardships they’re facing in there,” the male resident said.
Because no one has been able to communicate with them since the arrests happened, it’s unclear what they’ve been charged with or if they have been charged at all.
Hundreds of thousands joined the general strike in Burma on Monday, which is being called the “22222 Revolution” because it happened on February 22. It’s the largest protest since the military took over the country on February 1. It’s been compared to 8888 Uprising that took place on August 8, 1988.
Over 150 arrested for participating in the general strike in Burma’s capital city, Naypyidaw, were released the next day. But like in Kengtung, protesters who were arrested in Kunhing, Kali and Taunggyi, located in southern Shan State, haven’t been freed.
Protests against the military regime in Burma, officially called the Civil Disobedience Movement by participants, was spearheaded by health workers who refused to work until the military steps down and returns power to the National League for Democracy, which won the 2020 election.
