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ARUNA is honored to highlight the project "Heroes vs. Villains of Myanmar" comics series commemorating the heroes and condemning the villains of Myanmar's ongoing Spring Revolution. On February 1, 2021, Myanmar military has staged a coup and committed violence against activists, politicians, journalists, and civilians. Since then, Myanmar people have been fighting against the unfair justice and for the democratic future of their country. Some of them have paid with their lives for the revolution. As of April 18, 2021, in two months since the coup, the junta has killed 737 people, detained and arrested 3229 people, and issued warrants for 930 people. (The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners in Burma)

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My heart breaks for them. No one should be tortured in custody and no one should be detained except that MAL and his minions.

The Military Junta Tortures People They Arbitrarily Detained

CW // police brutality, army brutality, graphic images, wounds, injuries, death, blood, kidnapping, torture

Now, this is one of the junta’s usual tricks (see here: https://yerjigsawpuzzleblues.tumblr.com/post/645281920221052928/some-info-graphics-i-found-on-twitter-about-the), but tonight (18/4/21), during the 8 o’ clock news, they released images of people they tortured in custody via state media, calling them ‘rioters’.

Pictures under ‘keep reading’, but they are extremely graphic.

These are the ‘rioters’, whom the junta framed as those responsible for an explosion in Yankin Township.

Names and ages (clockwise from top left)

Min Khant Naung - 20

Wunna Htun - 21

Hsu Linn Htet - 20

Yan Naing - 31

Swan Pyaw Linn - 20

Khin Nyein Thu - 31

Obviously, it goes without saying that they did nothing of the sort, and even if they did, this blatant brutality is not acceptable.

For reference, here are pictures of most of them from before they were abducted.

In Khin Nyein Thu’s case, they ripped out her piercings, broke two of her teeth and her nose, and beat her up so badly that she could no longer walk. They covered up some of her bruises with Thaneka, a cosmetic in Burma.

The Burmese security forces abducted these 6 civilians last night (some say it was this morning). Whichever time is correct, it means that it took less than 24 hours for them to be tortured to this state. Here are three other civilians who were tortured in custody.

These three (L-R: Paing Soe Kyaw, Thet Htoo Aung, Yu Yu May) are falsely charged with being in possession of handmade bombs.

Credit goes to rightful owners.

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This Japanese journalist, Yuki Kitazumi, was abducted from his home by the Burmese security forces tonight (18/4/21). They forced him at gun point to follow them. They also took a few documents from his house. The Burmese security forces have previously detained him for a brief amount of time near the end of February, so this is his second time.

Photo credit goes to rightful owners

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Rest in peace, Salai Dawt Cung Lian. You will never be forgotten.

This is Salai Dawt Cung Lian, a lawyer who had been offering legal advice for detained protesters in Burma. He led the legal network In Mandalay and assisted in the release of hundred of people. Yesterday, he was found dead due to a ‘gas cylinder blast’, but most suspect foul play because he helped the protesters.

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🚨Pray for Myingyan🚨

(18/4/21)

CW // police brutality, army brutality, death, gunshots, injuries, blood, loud voices, war, terrorism, fire

Myingyan is a city in the Mandalay division of Burma.

Today, at around MMT 1:50 pm, the Burmese security forces opened fire, killing at least 2 people. Here are photos of them waiting to shoot people.

At around MMT 4:00 pm, there was an explosion at a mini branch of KBZ Bank.

At around MMT 6:00 pm, they opened fire again using machine guns. 200 soldiers/police officers were involved in the attack.

At around MMT 11:30 pm, a boy who came outside to close the door was shot in the head. He is now in critical condition.

We still cannot confirm the number of casualties/injuries, but witnesses say that the situation ‘is like a war zone’.

As of 11:30 pm, they are still shooting.

Credit goes to rightful owners

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Read more about the history of military violence against Myanmar women.

Junta Officials Apparently Ask For S****l Favours From Women On the Wanted List

CW // sexual assault, sexual abuse, sexual extortion, sexual harassment, sex, gang-rape, trauma, child sexual abuse, violence against children, sex with minors, threats of rape, police brutality, army brutality

These are screenshots of an alleged exchange between a woman who is wanted by the military junta and a woman who wants to ‘help her’ by hooking her up with an official who’ll sleep with her in exchange for him recalling the warrant. English translation under ‘keep reading’, but it’s very uncomfortable.

A: Most people can now relax in their homes [after seeing him].

B: Ah, I appreciate your generosity, but I won’t do it. Just as they have a right to arrest me, I have a right to flee. I’m not afraid. I’ll keep fighting even when I’m running. Even if I lose, I won’t give up as long as I’m alive. I mean, we’re all going to die one day. But while I’m alive, I want to be proud of myself for standing up for what I believe in.

B: ‘It’s just one night, nobody will know’, ‘it’s more important to survive’... I’m very worried that these thoughts would be on my mind. I don’t even want to think about the circumstances that would lead someone to beg the official like ‘you’ll be satisfied, just let me sleep with you’. If they capture me and rape me to my heart’s content, I would die shouting ‘down with military dictatorship’.

B: ‘It’s just one night, nobody will know’, ‘it’s more important to survive’... I’m very worried that these thoughts would be on my mind. I don’t even want to think about the circumstances that would lead someone to beg the official like ‘you’ll be satisfied, just let me sleep with you’. If they capture me and rape me to my heart’s content, I would die shouting ‘down with military dictatorship’.

B: ‘It’s just one night, nobody will know’, ‘it’s more important to survive’... I’m very worried that these thoughts would be on my mind. I don’t even want to think about the circumstances that would lead someone to beg the official like ‘you’ll be satisfied, just let me sleep with you’. If they capture me and rape me to my heart’s content, I would die shouting ‘down with military dictatorship’.

B: I’m a human. I’m afraid of dying. It’s not that hard, being in bed with the official for one night. But we have to think further than that. I know your usual tricks — first, the general, then the major, until it’s not one bed, but ten. I find myself thinking that this is just a few nights of sleep deprivation compared to being gang-raped and tortured in prison.

B: But begging for him to sleep with me, not being able to say no to anything he wants to do, just gritting my teeth and bearing with it while secretly wiping my tears away... that will stick with me for a lifetime. If I get married, my conscience wouldn’t be clear. I would feel like they’re all mocking me whenever I think of their oily, lustful faces. Actually, leeches like them have enough money to buy sex. Sex is not the main thing for them. They want to traumatise you. They want to make you feel weak for the rest of your life. That’s why I’m going to run even though I’m afraid of dying. If I get caught, I’ve decided to face death with dignity. Being afraid of their blood-stained hands is enough, I won’t allow them to traumatise me by using my body to fulfil their desires.

B: There may be some women who’ll make different choices. It’s fine, I don’t want to criticise them. But please don’t make this suggestion to underage girls. Don’t tell them that this is the easy way out. I am not trying to lecture you, I’m just requesting you not to do that. Tell them to cut off contact with their social circle and run instead. Even though they’re also taking part in the revolution, they might not be able to grasp the ramifications of choosing to sleep with him. In this day and age where sex is relatively out in the open, they may agree thinking that this would be no different from them sleeping with their partners. Sorry this text is so long, I had a lot to say.

A: I understand. I only make this suggestion to married women on their list because it’s more difficult for them to run. To tell you the truth, I am also a married woman who made this sacrifice. I only slept with one official.

A: I suggest the virgins [underage girls] to make a run for it instead.

A: Nobody really knows about this, I’m just telling you this from a place of good intentions.

A: If you know any married women who are on the wanted list, I can help them.

A: Now’s the time to be clever, to recharge in order to fight them.

B: Yes. It is important to be okay in these times. I understand what you mean. I understand that desperate times call for desperate measures. It’s okay. As long as you’re fine with it, it is the right choice. I think you’ll understand what I mean. I’m just worried that people would view this as an easy choice instead of a last resort. I know that you’re mature and that you thought things through before making that choice, but I am worried that the kids will carry that trauma for the rest of their lives. I won’t talk about this anymore, but I’ll pass it on to someone who desperately needs it. Thanks for telling me.

A: I don’t make this suggestion to kids. This is just an option married and of-age women who don’t have a way out. I’m trying to help in any way I can.

B: Okay. If there’s anyone I know for whom this is the best option, I’ll tell them.

A: The truth is, if you get caught, you’ll have to pay bail to be released. If you get sent to prison, you won’t know how many people will rape you. Here, you’ll just have to fuck one person before it’s all over. Am I wrong in saying that?

A: I’m just trying to help in any way I can. Do you know how much trouble people on the run are in? The truth is, they want both money and sex. They just make excuses to issue warrants. So, you can end all this by coming to an understanding with an official. That’s why I did it.

A: I told you this because I thought you had spirit, so I assumed you had foresight.

A: I feel bad that you misunderstood me.

A: Think about what would happen to you if those fatherfucker underlings get you — you’ll lose your money and you’ll be gang-raped by God knows how many people. Think about it. You’re a smart girl.

A: He can get rid of arrest warrants from both Rangoon and Mandalay. That bastard is very powerful. That’s why I’m trying to help. Let us be the only ones to know about this.

A: Only tell people who’ll understand where I’m coming from and tell them to contact me via sms. There may be a few people with different perspectives from you and I.

B: I don’t understand. Who should I refer them to? Should I send them to you when they come to ask for help?

A: Oh no no. I’m just asking you if I should introduce you two so that there won’t be a middleman.

B: Introduce me to whom?

A: That official. I’m asking you if I should introduce you to him.

B: Aww. No, I’ll just direct them to you.

A: Very well. If that’s the case, it would be better if you do it before the end of the month. I don’t think it would be a viable option after April. He said he’d be like a referee in future battles. That’s why I’m trying to help.

The screenshots end there, but you get the idea. Now, I don’t know if this is true, but I won’t put it past them. The Tatmadaw (Burmese military) is notorious for using sexual and gender-based violence to terrorise civilians throughout the years of military rule and even during the so-called democratic transition in the last decade. Some soldiers/police officers actually post about wanting to rape female protesters, even if they’re underage, on Facebook, and sometimes they actually send dms to female protesters. Case in point, here’s a dm from a cop to a female activist.

English translation: I have been masturbating to pictures I saved of you from your Facebook. Now that we can legally arrest you, I can fuck you to my heart’s content. 😘

Note: The Burmese equivalent of ‘Fuck’ is in the Burmese text as well; I’m not being crude for effect.

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Repeated attacks by the Burmese security forces against the Taungdwingyi area in Burma has displaced a lot of civilians who have now fled into the forests.

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6 people who were arbitrarily detained from Hlaing Thar Yar, a township in Rangoon, Burma which has seen a lot of violence from the Burmese security forces since the coup, have now been sentenced to death by the military junta.

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The Burmese security forces abducted a heavily pregnant woman and her husband today (13/4/21).

There was also another incident where a man had to turn himself in in exchange for the military junta sparing his wife and child.

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https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-regime-forces-kill-gurkha-couple-border-town-tamu.html/amp

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It is reported that he was shot aroun 9 pm when he was on his way to deliver oxygen tank to a sick person. People on Twitter said that the sick person was his mother but there is no sufficient evidence on that case.

A man has been shot in the abdomen with live ammunition in Kale, Sagaing, Burma.

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Repeated airstrikes by the Burmese military has led to widespread calls for the United Nations to implement a no-fly zone over Burma.

Credit goes to rightful owners

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After continuous bomb explosions in Yankin, Bahan, South Okkalapa, Myaynigone townships in Rangoon, Burma, soldiers are investigating any car passing on roads. A man in Bahan township was shot while he was waiting for the bus. The Burmese security forces took him with them. It is not known if he is dead or alive. There were also at least 2 explosions in Monywa, Sagaing today.

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We all did protesting instead of celebrating Thingyan. There is no happiness in this country. Over 700 were brutally murdered by the hands of Tatmadaw(Myanmar military) and thousands were abducted,too.

Thingyan: Now and Then

TW // death, police brutality, army brutality, appearance of blood

Today (13/4/21) is actually the first day of Thingyan, the Burmese New Year. Under normal circumstances, it would be a time of joy, festivities, and crowded streets. The Water Festival would be held. Younger people would dye their hair and go to ‘mandats’, stages with hoses, music, and dancing to party. The spirit can be described as a mix between spring break and Mardi Gras. Case in point;

Yeah, it’s fun.

The festivities were cancelled last year due to COVID-19, so a lot of people were gearing up to have two times as much fun this year. Well... these are the streets from the two largest cities in Burma today.

Mandalay

Rangoon

That’s right; we chose not to celebrate this year to pay respects to our comrades who have either been killed, injured, or detained by the Burmese security forces. Instead, there were protests with a Thingyan theme — we call it Revolutionary Thingyan.

The leaves and the clay pots are generally used as offerings to ‘nats’, deities from Burmese folk religion, but revolutionary messages are included as well.

In Kalaw, Shan State, we used red paint instead of water to symbolise the blood the Burmese security forces have spilt.

However, this is not for lack of trying by the military junta, as this video will attest. Warning: extreme cringe.

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This is a school for the blind/visually impaired in Mayangone Township, Rangoon, Burma. There is a church within its premises, but it accepts students from all different religions and ethnicities. People donate food and water to the school to support it. Most staff, including the headmaster, are also visually impaired.

On the 12th of April 2021, about 100 people from the Burmese security forces were deployed within the school’s premises. Note that this school is private property. On the 13th, U Thein Lwin, a blind septuagenarian and the aforementioned headmaster, requested them to leave because their presence bothered (bothers) the students. They responded by saying that they would stay for a week or two. They also took the supplies from the school.

‘These kids are blind, but not blind enough to be unaware of military dictatorship,’ U Thein Lwin said.