Two Elected Chin MPs Arrested; Protest In Burma Continue Amid Brutal Crackdown
Two Chin prominent politicians and elected MPs Honorable Pu, Cin Sian Thang of Zomi National Congress (ZNC) and Honorable Pu Thawng Kho Thang of United Nationalities League for Democracy (UNLD) were arrested in a raid before dawn at their houses by the Burmese authorities in Rangoon.
They were said to have been taken away for what the authorities described as “questioning for a while” together with other NLD members over their roles in the ongoing anti-regime protest. As of today, it is not yet known what had happened to them.
According to report from Peter and John two Chin students who have been actively participating in the demonstration along with Hon. Pu Cin Sian Thang and other Chin activist told the Chinland Guardian that “Pu Cin Sian Thang was not there when we went to meet with him at a teashop”. And we learned later on that he was arrested at an early morning raid at his residence.
“Pu Cin Sian Thang was the one who’s always cheering us up with his smiling face even in a very dangerous situation, and it was disheartening for us to learn that he is arrested again” said Peter.
An elected MP during general elections in 1990, Cin Sian Thang is chairman of Zomi National Congress and a member of Committee Representing People’s Parliament (CRPP). Thawng Kho Thang is a member of the United Nationalities League for Democracy (UNLD).
The police confiscated documents in Cin Sian Thang’s room and took him to the Aungtarpay interrogation centre in Kyaikkasan, Rangoon according to the Khonumthung News today.
Despite the Junta using force to crackdown on the pro-democracy demonstration in Rangoon , the protest continues in Burma according to Chinland Guardian source.
“I went to Sule Pagoda but there was nothing happening, no demonstration there as there were many riot police and Burmese soldiers stationing around the pagoda. At around one thirty in the afternoon, I went to Anawratha street , and there some Buddhist monks and the civilians marching and I joined with them. Then, suddenly the riot police and the soldiers come out and I heard gunshots, the riot police started beating us with their batons. The demonstrators disperse and we run for our lives”. Many people were arrested and loaded to nearby trucks by the riot polices” Peter recounted about his experience today in Rangoon.
Peter himself was beaten up by the riot police with their batons. His pal John was the one who got a swollen face that the riot police had badly beaten him up in his face.
In spite of their injures from the riot police and a life and death situation demonstrating against the SPDC, Peter and John thanks Chin community that they survive bullets and batons because of the prayers from the international Chin community.
In Magwe College , Chin Students were forced to return home by the college authorities. But till yesterday the students refuse to obey the order.
According to reports from Chin student leaders in Rangoon , final year students from Chin State ’s Mindat, Kanpetlet and Matupi area who are in Magwe college were forced to go home by the college authority. And when the students refuse the order saying that they do not have money to buy ticket home, the college authority arrange two buses to transport the students home for free. As of yesterday, the students refuse the order.
At a nearby Kalay University where more than 90% of the students are Chin, the anti junta protest has been going on for the past few days.
