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These are the ‘rioters’, whom the junta framed as those responsible for an explosion in Yankin Township.

Names and ages (clockwise from top left)

Min Khant Naung - 20

Wunna Htun - 21

Hsu Linn Htet - 20

Yan Naing - 31

Swan Pyaw Linn - 20

Khin Nyein Thu - 31

Obviously, it goes without saying that they did nothing of the sort, and even if they did, this blatant brutality is not acceptable.

For reference, here are pictures of most of them from before they were abducted.

In Khin Nyein Thu’s case, they ripped out her piercings, broke two of her teeth and her nose, and beat her up so badly that she could no longer walk. They covered up some of her bruises with Thaneka, a cosmetic in Burma.

The Burmese security forces abducted these 6 civilians last night (some say it was this morning). Whichever time is correct, it means that it took less than 24 hours for them to be tortured to this state. Here are three other civilians who were tortured in custody.

These three (L-R: Paing Soe Kyaw, Thet Htoo Aung, Yu Yu May) are falsely charged with being in possession of handmade bombs.

A: Most people can now relax in their homes [after seeing him].

B: Ah, I appreciate your generosity, but I won’t do it. Just as they have a right to arrest me, I have a right to flee. I’m not afraid. I’ll keep fighting even when I’m running. Even if I lose, I won’t give up as long as I’m alive. I mean, we’re all going to die one day. But while I’m alive, I want to be proud of myself for standing up for what I believe in.

B: ‘It’s just one night, nobody will know’, ‘it’s more important to survive’... I’m very worried that these thoughts would be on my mind. I don’t even want to think about the circumstances that would lead someone to beg the official like ‘you’ll be satisfied, just let me sleep with you’. If they capture me and rape me to my heart’s content, I would die shouting ‘down with military dictatorship’.

B: ‘It’s just one night, nobody will know’, ‘it’s more important to survive’... I’m very worried that these thoughts would be on my mind. I don’t even want to think about the circumstances that would lead someone to beg the official like ‘you’ll be satisfied, just let me sleep with you’. If they capture me and rape me to my heart’s content, I would die shouting ‘down with military dictatorship’.

B: ‘It’s just one night, nobody will know’, ‘it’s more important to survive’... I’m very worried that these thoughts would be on my mind. I don’t even want to think about the circumstances that would lead someone to beg the official like ‘you’ll be satisfied, just let me sleep with you’. If they capture me and rape me to my heart’s content, I would die shouting ‘down with military dictatorship’.

B: I’m a human. I’m afraid of dying. It’s not that hard, being in bed with the official for one night. But we have to think further than that. I know your usual tricks — first, the general, then the major, until it’s not one bed, but ten. I find myself thinking that this is just a few nights of sleep deprivation compared to being gang-raped and tortured in prison.

B: But begging for him to sleep with me, not being able to say no to anything he wants to do, just gritting my teeth and bearing with it while secretly wiping my tears away... that will stick with me for a lifetime. If I get married, my conscience wouldn’t be clear. I would feel like they’re all mocking me whenever I think of their oily, lustful faces. Actually, leeches like them have enough money to buy sex. Sex is not the main thing for them. They want to traumatise you. They want to make you feel weak for the rest of your life. That’s why I’m going to run even though I’m afraid of dying. If I get caught, I’ve decided to face death with dignity. Being afraid of their blood-stained hands is enough, I won’t allow them to traumatise me by using my body to fulfil their desires.

B: There may be some women who’ll make different choices. It’s fine, I don’t want to criticise them. But please don’t make this suggestion to underage girls. Don’t tell them that this is the easy way out. I am not trying to lecture you, I’m just requesting you not to do that. Tell them to cut off contact with their social circle and run instead. Even though they’re also taking part in the revolution, they might not be able to grasp the ramifications of choosing to sleep with him. In this day and age where sex is relatively out in the open, they may agree thinking that this would be no different from them sleeping with their partners. Sorry this text is so long, I had a lot to say.

A: I understand. I only make this suggestion to married women on their list because it’s more difficult for them to run. To tell you the truth, I am also a married woman who made this sacrifice. I only slept with one official.

A: I suggest the virgins [underage girls] to make a run for it instead.

A: Nobody really knows about this, I’m just telling you this from a place of good intentions.

A: If you know any married women who are on the wanted list, I can help them.

A: Now’s the time to be clever, to recharge in order to fight them.

B: Yes. It is important to be okay in these times. I understand what you mean. I understand that desperate times call for desperate measures. It’s okay. As long as you’re fine with it, it is the right choice. I think you’ll understand what I mean. I’m just worried that people would view this as an easy choice instead of a last resort. I know that you’re mature and that you thought things through before making that choice, but I am worried that the kids will carry that trauma for the rest of their lives. I won’t talk about this anymore, but I’ll pass it on to someone who desperately needs it. Thanks for telling me.

A: I don’t make this suggestion to kids. This is just an option married and of-age women who don’t have a way out. I’m trying to help in any way I can.

B: Okay. If there’s anyone I know for whom this is the best option, I’ll tell them.

A: The truth is, if you get caught, you’ll have to pay bail to be released. If you get sent to prison, you won’t know how many people will rape you. Here, you’ll just have to fuck one person before it’s all over. Am I wrong in saying that?

A: I’m just trying to help in any way I can. Do you know how much trouble people on the run are in? The truth is, they want both money and sex. They just make excuses to issue warrants. So, you can end all this by coming to an understanding with an official. That’s why I did it.

A: I told you this because I thought you had spirit, so I assumed you had foresight.

A: I feel bad that you misunderstood me.

A: Think about what would happen to you if those fatherfucker underlings get you — you’ll lose your money and you’ll be gang-raped by God knows how many people. Think about it. You’re a smart girl.

A: He can get rid of arrest warrants from both Rangoon and Mandalay. That bastard is very powerful. That’s why I’m trying to help. Let us be the only ones to know about this.

A: Only tell people who’ll understand where I’m coming from and tell them to contact me via sms. There may be a few people with different perspectives from you and I.

B: I don’t understand. Who should I refer them to? Should I send them to you when they come to ask for help?

A: Oh no no. I’m just asking you if I should introduce you two so that there won’t be a middleman.

B: Introduce me to whom?

A: That official. I’m asking you if I should introduce you to him.

B: Aww. No, I’ll just direct them to you.

A: Very well. If that’s the case, it would be better if you do it before the end of the month. I don’t think it would be a viable option after April. He said he’d be like a referee in future battles. That’s why I’m trying to help.

The screenshots end there, but you get the idea. Now, I don’t know if this is true, but I won’t put it past them. The Tatmadaw (Burmese military) is notorious for using sexual and gender-based violence to terrorise civilians throughout the years of military rule and even during the so-called democratic transition in the last decade. Some soldiers/police officers actually post about wanting to rape female protesters, even if they’re underage, on Facebook, and sometimes they actually send dms to female protesters. Case in point, here’s a dm from a cop to a female activist.

English translation: I have been masturbating to pictures I saved of you from your Facebook. Now that we can legally arrest you, I can fuck you to my heart’s content. 😘