During the 2-year military coup in Myanmar, the military council arrested a total of 2,778 women, including 21 women from Arakan State, according to a report released by the Burma Women’s Union on 7 February.
Among them are 758 from Yangon Region, 393 from Mandalay Region, 337 from Sagaing Region, 214 from Bago Region, 213 from Tanintharyi Region, 193 from Magway Region, 136 from Ayeyarwady Region, 111 from Shan State, 103 from Kachin State, 92 from Karen State, 85 from Mon State, 39 from Nay Pyi Taw, 32 from Chin State, 21 from Arakan State, nine from Karenni (Kayah) State, and 42 unidentified others.
Among them are 365 people from the education sector, 51 from the health sector, 92 from the political sector and others, including news media workers, people related to politics, activists, non-governmental organisation workers, actors and only over 200 of them are ordinary citizens.
Among the women arrested by the military council are young and middle-aged women and their families feeling aggrieved by the arrests, the victims’ families said.
“Because of the arrest, she has lost many opportunities. As a young woman, she has lost the opportunity to continue her education and other opportunities she is supposed to pursue when she is young,” said Ma Kyi Kyi Oo, the elder sister of Ma Moe San Suu Kyi, the daughter of former Arakan State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu.
The 21 women arrested since the military coup two years ago include political activist Ma Moe San Suu Kyi, Daw Cherry Thet Shay from Taungoke Township and others from various fields.
According to the Burma Women’s Union, most of the arrested women are from Yangon, Mandalay, Sagaing, Bago and Tanintharyi.
In addition, a total of 414 women died during the military coup as a result of artillery explosions, gunfire, airstrikes, arson attacks, and the crackdowns on protests, according to the BWU statement.
Saw San Nyein Thu, chairwoman of the Rakhine Women’s Initiative Organisation, believes that women are facing all kinds of difficulties due to the military coup, and their security situation is worsening due to economic hardship and the resulting possibility of being trafficked.
“When there is unrest in a country, the citizens are the first to suffer. When the concerned stakeholders find a solution to the political problems, they should make sure that the public is not harmed,” said Saw San Nyein Thu.
After the military coup in Myanmar more than two years ago, the country’s political and economic situation is deteriorating from all sides.
Sent by DMG.