A number of shop owners have reportedly been arrested in Myanmar after notifying customers on social media that their businesses would be closed for various reasons on February 1, a day proclaimed by the anti-junta resistance as the occasion for a “silent strike”.

Myanmar looks set to mark the one-year anniversary of the military coup on February 1 with a protest that will see businesses closed and people off the streets.

As the anniversary approaches, a military lobbyist is monitoring the people and reporting to the military junta. As a result, there have reportedly been some arrests.

Organizations such as the General Strike Coordination Body (GSCB), a coalition of anti-junta protesters, have urged people to join the silent strike since January 22. The people are being urged not to go out from 10 am to 4 pm on February 1, to show their opposition to the illegal dictatorship.

As soon as the call was made, some business people announced on social media that their businesses would be temporarily closed on February 1 for a variety of reasons.

On Telegram channel, Han Nyein Oo, a lobbyist for the junta, posted about shop owners who have notified on social media that the store would be closed on the day on which the silent strike would be conducted. This led to the arrest of some shop owners.

After people have been aware of the arrests, they are warning each other on social media not to post in advance that their shops will close on February 1.

Gucci Aung, a beautician from Sanchaung Township, Yangon, and another ten people from various townships were arrested by the junta’s troops on January 26 due to the Telegram channel of Han Nyein Oo.

The junta announced on January 25 that it would take punitive actions against the people if they violated the law on February 1.

A statement from the military junta said: those who clap their hands, beat pots and pans, and honk car horns are subject to Section 52 (a) of the Anti-Terrorism Law, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years imprisonment, Section 124- (a) of the Penal Code which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, Section 505 (a) which carries a sentence of up to two years imprisonment, Section 33 (a) of the Electronic Communications Act which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and other existing laws.

The junta’s statement said that movable property and immovable property related to the case can also be confiscated and, if convicted, this property can be confiscated by the state.

Action is being taken by the junta to attempt to prevent the protest. For example, residents of three districts in Tanintharyi region are being pressured by the military junta to refrain from participating in the silent strike.

The local residents said the junta’s administration groups are pressurizing vendors and shopkeepers not to close their stalls at the markets by collecting signatures and making announcements with loudspeakers in Myeik and Palaw townships in Myeik district, Dawei, Yaebyue and other townships in Dawei district, Kawthaung and Bokpyin townships in Kawthaung district in the Tanintharyi region.

According to the Chinese community in Myeik, February 1 is also Chinese New Year, a holiday for Chinese people, which coincides with the silent strike.

On March 24 last year, a silent strike was held across the country for those who had died as a result of the junta’s brutal crackdown. On December 10, International Human Rights Day, another silent strike was successfully held.

Virtually all the shops and offices were closed on the day of the previous silent strikes in Myanmar. Photos of the desolation was seen around the world. Prior to the silent strike, military supporters called for regular movement in the wards and villagers, but in vain.

Less than a year after the military coup in Myanmar, 8,788 innocent civilians have been arrested and 1,493 killed, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).