Model Who Went Viral Arrested By Myanmar Military For Participating In Coup Protests
Paing Takhon has openly opposed the military coup on social media since February.
By May Vin Ang — 08 Apr 2021, 04:49 PM
One of Myanmar's most popular celebrities has been arrested by the military for his active participation in protests against the coup
Model and actor Paing Takhon, well-known in Myanmar and Thailand, had been actively protesting online as well as taking to the streets to demonstrate.
According to BBC, his sister Thi Thi Lwin took to Facebook today, 8 April, to announce that around 50 soldiers in eight military trucks came to arrest him at their family home in North Dagon, Yangon at 5am.
"As he's seriously ill, they arrested him calmly without violence. We do not know where he's taken," she said.
CNA reported that the actor had last written about his poor health on social media on Wednesday, 7 April, and called for prayers for peace in the country.
According to National Post, Paing Takhon's sister said he has been suffering from malaria and a heart condition.
The 24-year-old model's Facebook and Instagram accounts - with over a million followers each - have since been deactivated
Paing Takhon has openly opposed the Myanmar military coup on his Instagram account @paing_takhon since February.
He had also posted images of the deposed leader and pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, who was detained by the coup.
"We strongly condemn the military coup. We want to respect the results of the 2020 elections and form a new civilian government as soon as possible by the leadership of the National League for Democracy (NLD)", he is said to have written on his Instagram account before it was taken down.
It is reported that arrest warrants for 100 more celebrities, filmmakers, actors, and journalists have been issued for speaking out against the coup
The military seized power on 1 February and declared a year-long state of emergency after Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD party won a general election by a landslide.
According to Reuters, mass protests have since been taking place across Myanmar, which has seen increasing levels of violence - with over 2,000 civilians held in detention and nearly 600 killed.
