Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

Myanmar arrests 39 over blasts, seeking training with rebels - media

Published 2021-05-12, 02:20 a/m
Updated 2021-05-12, 02:24 a/m
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: An anti-coup protester walks past burning tires, in Yangon

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: An anti-coup protester walks past burning tires, in Yangon

(Reuters) - Myanmar security forces have arrested 39 people suspected of being behind explosions and arson attacks as well as trying to get military training with an ethnic minority rebel group, media controlled by the junta said on Wednesday.

Since the military seized power on Feb. 1, Myanmar has seen a growing wave of small blasts in cities and towns, some targeting government offices and military facilities.

No group has claimed responsibility but the military has blamed people bent on destabilising the country.

The Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper said security forces had seized 48 "handmade mines", 20 sticks of TNT, detonators, fuses and other material in a raid.

Other explosive material including gun powder had also been found, the newspaper said.

Some suspects had also been arrested for trying to join military training with a rebel group in Kayah State in the east, it said.

A relative of Khant Sithu, who was among the suspects identified by the paper, said on the day of the arrest security forces had searched the house for weapons but not found any.

The family member, who declined to be identified, said Khant Sithu had joined protests initially but stopped after the crackdown by authorities.

Myanmar's army has struggled to impose order since seizing power and detaining elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior figures in her party, with protests, strikes and a civil disobedience campaign crippling businesses and the bureaucracy.

After facing a brutal crackdown on protests, some pro-democracy supporters have sought military training with some of the ethnic minority forces that have been fighting for greater autonomy for decades from remote border regions.

Rallies and candle lit vigils were held overnight to mark 100 days since the coup including in the commercial hub of Yangon, the central town of Bago, the Irrawaddy river delta, the central region of Sagaing and Mon State in the south, according to media reports and social media posts.

Many demonstrators back a National Unity Government (NUG), an anti-junta coalition that has declared itself Myanmar's legitimate authority. Last week, the NUG announced the formation of a "People's Defence Force".

Security forces have killed 783 people since the coup and 3,859 people are in detention, according to the Association for Political Prisoners monitoring group.

The U.N. human rights office said on Tuesday the military was showing no let-up in its efforts to consolidate power and its human rights violations went far beyond killings.

"It is clear that there needs to be greater international involvement to prevent the human rights situation in Myanmar from deteriorating further," said Rupert Colville, spokesman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights.

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: An anti-coup protester walks past burning tires, in Yangon

The military said it had to seize power because its complaints of fraud in a November election won by Suu Kyi's party were not addressed by an election commission that deemed the vote fair.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.