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Official from Suu Kyi's party dies after arrest in Myanmar: Former MP
Ba Myo Thein, an MP of the dissolved upper house, told Reuters that the party official, Zaw Myat Linn, was arrested around 1:30 a.m.
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Pictures of Myanmar military chief General Min Aung Hlaing are pictured on graves placed by demonstrators in protest over the military coup at a cemetery in Naypyidaw on March 7, 2021. (Agence France Presse/Str)
A
n official from deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy died in custody after he was arrested early on Tuesday, a former member of parliament said.
Ba Myo Thein, an MP of the dissolved upper house, told Reuters that the party official, Zaw Myat Linn, was arrested around 1:30 a.m.
"Now, the relatives are trying to retrieve the body at the Military Hospital," he said.
Meanwhile, AFP reported that people barricaded in a Yangon neighbourhood overnight said security forces searched their homes room by room for anti-coup protesters, targeting apartments flying the flag of Suu Kyi's party.
Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military ousted and detained Suu Kyi last month, triggering daily protests around the country to demand the junta restore democracy.
The police and army have responded with an increasingly brutal crackdown and parts of Yangon have emerged as flashpoints for violence as protesters continue to defy authorities and take to the streets.
Crowds once again flocked to central San Chaung township in the commercial hub to call for Suu Kyi's release in a Monday protest coinciding with International Women's Day.
By nightfall, security forces had sealed off a block of streets with around 200 protesters still inside, according to the UN rights office, prompting alarm from diplomatic missions and calls for their safe release.
Sharp bangs were heard coming from the area, although it was not clear if the sounds were caused by gunfire or stun grenades.
Security forces started searching apartments after a nightly internet shutdown blanketed the country at 1:00 am local time (1830 GMT), residents told AFP, particularly those flying the red and gold flag of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party on their balconies.
One resident said her home -- which did not have any protesters hiding inside -- was searched.
"They searched every building on Kyun Taw road -- they destroyed the locks of apartment buildings if they were locked downstairs," said the resident, adding that she heard dozens were arrested.
By dawn, security forces appeared to have retreated, allowing some protesters to escape from the area.
