Providing Free Oxygen Concentrators For People In Need, This Woman Was Arrested By The Myanmar Military Regime

Illustration of a patient using an oxygen cylinder to breathe. (UNICEF/UNI41215/Rae)

JAKARTA - A resident of Hlaing Yangon Township known locally as providing free oxygen concentrators, was arrested last week on suspicion of being a member of the anti-military regime resistance movement.

Khine Lwin, 40, was at his home on Butaryone Street, Yangon, Maynmar when he was suddenly raided by junta troops at around 2 pm on Thursday last week according to his daughter.

"Twenty plainclothes troops stormed our house and checked our belongings. They took all the phones and laptops in our house," the 15-year-old princess said on Facebook, as quoted by Myanmar Now Sunday, August 22.

A source close to the family said those carrying out the raid at the time shouted Khine Lwin had been arrested for murder and terrorism. It is not clear what charges will be made against the mother of two, whose whereabouts since her arrest remain unknown.

Myanmar's military regime has stepped up its efforts to contain opponents of its rule, since imposing new restrictions in June under the pretext of containing the spread of COVID-19.

The third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has claimed thousands of lives in the country so far, mainly due to a shortage of medical oxygen supplies.

On Sunday, well-known political commentator Sithu Aung Myint was arrested in an apartment in Yangon during an evening check of the registered guest list.

His lawyer and family members said they had no contact with him since he was taken to an interrogation center immediately after his arrest.

For information, data from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) shows that at least 5,759 people have been arrested, charged, or convicted by the regime since seizing power on February 1. As of August 19, the junta had also killed at least 1,007 people, according to AAPP figures.

Myanmar Coup. The VOI editorial team continues to monitor the political situation in one of the ASEAN member countries. Casualties from civilians continue to fall. Readers can follow the news covering the Myanmar military coup by clicking this link.