Mizzima

The administrator of a pro-junta Telegram channel that published photos of people opposed to the junta so that they could be arrested has been arrested himself.

The Telegram account called Ahnt Bhone Thwin shared photos of anti-military protesters, supporters of the revolution and people taking part in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) and called for their arrest.

It was run by Ashin Suradaza, a monk from the Shwe Maung Tone Monastery in Ywar Bae Village-Tract in Bago’s Pyay Township. He was detained by the junta in the last week of July and is currently being held in Pyay Prison and six lawyers are assisting him with his case.

Ashin Suradaza had used his Telegram channel to reprimand Minkyaung Sayardaw, the abbot of Minkyaung monastery, in the last week of July, over his alleged involvement in a land dispute. He was arrested after Minkyaung Sayardaw made a complaint to high-ranking junta officials, according to a person working for Pyay Underground News (PUGN).

They said to Mizzima: “The reason for his arrest is obvious. it is because he insulted Minkyaung Sayardaw, the abbot of the Minkyaung monastery in Yangon Region, which is worshiped by the military regime. He is also incompatible with non-CDM people. Currently, monk Ashin Suradaza is helpless because his defender, Major So Pyae Lin [The commander of Pyay Regional Command Headquarters], has been prosecuted for the immoral pursuit of women.” 

The Ahnt Bhone Thwin Telegram channel has more than 27,000 subscribers but it has not shared any content since Ashin Suradaza’s arrest.

“There were many people, protestors and CDM People arrested because of monk Ashin Suradaza. Although he was working for the Military Council, I just learned that he was arrested by Military Council soldiers”, said a Tharyarwaddy District People’s Defense Force press officer.