A candle lighting ceremony held to pay tribute to people murdered during anti-regime protests on Friday night in Paung Te, Bago Region, was met with violence by security forces.
At around 7:30 p.m. on March 12, armed personnel entered locals’ homes on 16th Street to make arrests, beating seven people and taking two of them into state custody, where they were abused further.
“An army truck was parked near the residential area and the officers entered homes to beat the residents,” a member of the Paung Te anti-coup protest committee said.
The two who were detained were released after one hour of interrogation but were severely beaten during that time.
One of the victims suffered head and facial injuries and is receiving treatment at a local hospital.
Protests against the military dictatorship have been held in Paung Te every day since February 7, with Friday’s arrests marking the first time that locals have been detained.
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