Thursday, 08 Apr 2021 01:22 PM MYT
Shoes are seen during Marching Shoes Strike in honour of the people who have been killed since the start of the military coup, in Yangon April 8, 2021. Picture obtained by Reuters
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YANGON, April 8 Myanmar security forces today arrested Paing Takhon, a model and actor who had spoken out against the coup, his sister told Reuters, as activists placed shoes filled with flowers in parts of Yangon to commemorate dead protesters.
Troops opened fire on pro-democracy protesters yesterday , killing at least 15 people and wounding dozens, activists and media said.
Yangon: Myanmar security forces on Thursday arrested Paing Takhon, a model and actor who had spoken out against the coup, his sister told Reuters, as activists placed shoes filled with flowers in parts of Yangon to commemorate dead protesters.
Troops opened fire on pro-democracy protesters on Wednesday, killing at least 15 people and wounding dozens, activists and media said.
Nearly 600 civilians have been killed by security forces in the turmoil since the junta seized power from the elected government of Aung San Su Kyi in February, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) said on Wednesday.
The advocacy group said 2,847 were currently being held in detention.
Actor and model Paing Takhon protests in Yangon in February
Paing Takhon, a Myanmar actor with millions of fans in Southeast Asia, has been arrested by the military, as part of a widening crackdown on media figures in the country.
The 24-year-old actor, who has openly backed Myanmar s anti-coup protests, was arrested on Thursday morning in his home in North Dagon district of Yangon. Watch video 03:42
Myanmar journalist recounts escape to Thailand
Paing Takhon, a popular celebrity in both Myanmar and neighboring Thailand, has been active both at in-person rallies and on his social media pages. Both his Facebook page and Instagram account, which has more than a million followers, have also been taken down.
BBC News
Published
image captionPaing Takhon with the iconic three finger salute of the protesters
One of Myanmar s most popular celebrities has been arrested by the military as part of a growing crackdown on artists and actors.
Paing Takhon, a model and actor with millions of fans in Myanmar and Thailand, had been active in both online protests and in-person rallies.
Takhon s Instagram - with more than a million followers - has been taken down along with his Facebook account.
The military seized power in a coup on 1 February, sparking weeks of protests.
Around 600 civilians have been killed as forces respond to the demonstrations with increasing levels of violence.
Police officers patrol outside the Myanmar Embassy in London on April 7. (AP Photo)
Anti-coup demonstrators in Myanmar fought back with hunting rifles and firebombs against a crackdown by security forces in a town in the northwest but at least 11 of the protesters were killed, domestic media reported on Thursday.
Initially, six truckloads of troops were deployed to quell the protesters in the town of Taze, the Myanmar Now and Irrawaddy news outlets said. When the protesters fought back with guns, knives and firebombs, five more truckloads of troop reinforcements were brought in.
Fighting continued into Thursday morning and at least 11 protesters were killed and about 20 wounded, the media said. There was no word of any casualties among the soldiers.