Myanmar junta arrests man over social media posts and digital transactions

In a move highlighting the intensified surveillance of digital spaces by Myanmar’s military junta, a 54-year-old meal delivery provider and former political prisoner was arrested earlier this week at his home in Yangon’s Hlaing Township. Kyi Myo Zaw (also known as U Kyi) was taken into custody on Monday by a group of approximately eight individuals, including ward administration officials and men in plainclothes, after pro-military propaganda channels accused him of defaming the regime and sharing photos of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi. “About 45 minutes [after his arrest], the family was called to deliver his phone to the ward administration office, which they did. When they returned in the evening to inquire about him, no one was there, and they have had no contact with him since,” a family friend told Myanmar Now. While the arrest was incited by his social media activity, the official justification provided to his family centred on his use of KPay, the popular mobile wallet. Authorities claimed his account showed suspiciously frequent transaction volumes. The family friend said that there was nothing suspicious about the high volume of transactions, given the nature of Kyi Myo Zaw’s business, but the military used the digital wallet as an excuse for the detention. Kyi Myo Zaw was arrested on January 5 following an online campaign by pro-regime propagandists (Photo: Supplied) The military has increasingly weaponised digital payment platforms to crack down on the population, freezing accounts and arresting users suspected of supporting the resistance. For small business owners like Kyi Myo Zaw, routine business transactions are now being treated as evidence of criminal activity. The arrest has sparked deep concern for Kyi Myo Zaw’s well-being. A former YBS (Yangon Bus Service) driver known for his kindness to passengers, he was previously arrested shortly after the 2021 coup for incitement and released in 2023. His health is currently in a fragile state, as he suffers from heart valve stenosis and fatty heart disease. Furthermore, his family reports that his kidneys were severely damaged during interrogations during his first imprisonment. A source close to the family noted that he was relying on daily medication because he could not afford hospital visits due to financial difficulties. On Wednesday, military-aligned social media pages posted a photo of Kyi Myo Zaw handcuffed and kneeling, a common tactic used to signal detention. According to the latest data compiled by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, of the 30,235 people arrested for opposing the return of military rule nearly five years ago, 22,692 remain in detention. Only around half of these have been formally sentenced. Kyi Myo Zaw’s case underscores the ongoing risks faced by ordinary citizens in Myanmar, where a single social media post or a mobile bank transfer can lead to indefinite detention.

Myanmar junta arrests man over social media posts and digital transactions

The former political prisoner’s detention comes after a concerted campaign by pro-regime propaganda channels

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