Entertainment
Myanmar: Celebrity model arrested amid coup crackdown
A leading Myanmar actor, singer and model Paing Takhon has been arrested on Thursday for participating in several demonstrations and marches, backing up the country’s anti-coup protests.
The 24-year old star is well admired in both Myanmar and Thailand. He has been active in the protest movement both in person at rallies and through his massive social media following.
Paing Takhon had also posted images of ousted civilian leader and pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.
So far, the military coup has hunted more than 100 celebrities for supporting the movement.
Moreover, the authorities have published a list of some 120 celebrities wanted for arrest, including singers Lin Lin and Chit Thu Wai, actors Phway Phway, Eaindra Kyaw Zin and Pyay Ti Oo and model May Myat Noe and many more.
According to a Facebook post by singer’s sister, around 50 soldiers with eight military trucks came to arrest him at around 5 am.
"Some 50 soldiers with eight military trucks, came to arrest him from his mother’s home in the North Dagon area of Yangon early Thursday,” his sister Thi Thi Lwin posted on Facebook.
She further added, "As he’s seriously ill, they arrested him calmly without violence. We do not know where he’s taken".
The 2021 Myanmar coup d'état began on the early morning of February 1 2021 when democratically elected members of Myanmar's ruling party, the National League for Democracy, were deposed by the Tatmadaw—Myanmar's military—which vested power in a stratocracy.
The military announced on television station that it would remain in power for one year, with ultimate authority resting with Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing.
It’s unclear what will happen after 12 months, though some suspect the military will stay in charge beyond that.