Urban guerrilla fighters and abbot arrested in Mandalay following ‘bombing plot’

04 January 2023
Urban guerrilla fighters and abbot arrested in Mandalay following ‘bombing plot’

A total of 16 members of Mandalay Young Force (MYF) and Wetlet PDF who allegedly attempted to place bombs in public places in Mandalay on the occasion of the New Year were arrested, according to a report 2 January by the junta mouthpiece, Myanmar News Agency (MNA).

Mandalay Young Force (MYF) members Kyaw Min Khant and Hein Htet Aung (aka) Ko Hein were arrested by regime forces, along with five remote mines, in Aungthaya quarter between 48th and 49th streets and 106th and 107th streets in Chanmyathazi Township, on the evening of 31 December.

The other 12 members of the Mandalay Young Force (MYF) and Wetlet PDF were arrested based on Kyaw Min Khant's confession on 31 December, and another two were arrested on 1 January. In the incident, a total of 16 suspects, 14 male and two females, were arrested with 11 remote mines made of PVC pipes, four homemade mines made of soft drink bottles, and two China-made grenades, MNA reported.

Seven of those detained by the Military Council are under the age of 18, and one is an abbot.

The security forces searched Malun monastery in Chanayethazan Township and arrested abbot U Indacakka (aka) Aye Ko, together with six homemade mines made of PVC pipes and four other mines made of soft drink bottles, according to MNA.

The military council also stated that the arrests were made after receiving information that the detonation would take place on 31 December during New Year festivities, and that those arrested would face legal consequences.

"There is absolutely no way to detonate anything that will affect the public; we want to fight the regime, not the public; this arrest is junta propaganda," a person close to the resistance groups said.

A person close to the resistance said that two members of the Mandalay Young Force (MYF) were caught while riding a motorcycle, and others were arrested at their homes and places of work.

According to the information collected by Mizzima, a total of around 1,000 young people, including strike leaders, were arrested in Mandalay last year in 2022, and at least 30 were killed by the Military Council after being arrested.