Mizzima-June 25
A Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) employee has been arrested by the military junta for participating in a “flower strike” to commemorate detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s 80th birthday, sparking fierce criticism on social media. Hnin Yin Phyu, also known as Hnaung Hnaung, was detained on June 21 at around 8 pm from MRTV staff housing in Naypyidaw’s Tatkon Township. The arrest came two days after she participated in the flower strike marking Suu Kyi’s birthday on June 19. According to MRTV staff sources and official announcements, Hnin Yin Phyu had posted birthday wishes for the detained Nobel laureate on social media, writing, “Happy Birthday Amay (Mother) Suu, may you live long and healthy.” She also shared photos of flowers as part of the flower strike. The arrest has triggered a wave of condemnation from Myanmar social media users, who criticized the junta’s heavy-handed response to what they viewed as a peaceful gesture. A Facebook user wrote, “To some of the so-called leaders of the military council (junta) – your mindset is extremely narrow. If they had pretended not to notice people making birthday wishes for Amay Suu, they would at least avoid being hated by the people. Now that you’re arresting people like this, have you solved the current problems?” Another user mocked the junta’s fears, posting, “The fascist dictators are even afraid of flowers. How funny. How much do you fear Mother Suu that you’re even scared of flowers, which are part of Mother Suu’s characteristics?” A third commenter highlighted the junta’s paranoia, “Extreme jealousy is very frightening and only exists among the most despicable people.” The flower strike has become a popular form of peaceful resistance in Myanmar, with citizens sharing images of flowers on social media to show solidarity with the detained leader and opposition to military rule. Aung San Suu Kyi has been in detention since the February 2021 coup and was sentenced to prison under multiple charges that rights groups consider politically motivated. Read more at:
