Junta seals off several homes owned by celebrities, political activists

By DMG 22 Feb 2022

DMG Newsroom
22 February 2022, Yangon

The Myanmar military this month has reportedly confiscated the properties of several celebrities and political activists who have supported anti-regime movements, according to local sources.

Junta forces sealed off an apartment owned by celebrity couple Lyn Lyn and Chit Thu Wai in Aung Hsu Pan ward, part of Yangon’s Thingangyun Township, on February 17, a resident of Thingangyun told DMG.

“The junta soldiers and police sealed off an apartment belonging to celebrity couple Lyn Lyn and Chit Thu Wai. The apartment was empty for a long time,” the resident added.

On February 19, police and soldiers also sealed off vocalist Chan Chan’s home in Thanlyin, on the outskirts of Yangon, and a home owned by presenter Maung Maung Aye.

Vocalist Chan Chan currently lives in Australia and presenter Maung Maun Aye went into hiding after he was charged under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code, an incitement provision used frequently by the junta to jail critics.

The regime also seized a home believed to be owned by Pencilo, a celebrity and supporter of the National League for Democracy (NLD) on Pyay Pan Nyo Street in Yangon’s Dagon Myothit Township.

The junta also sealed off the home of U Min Ko Naing, a leader of the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society, in Yangon’s Thingangyun Township at about 4 p.m. on February 21.

Politician Ko Ye said the seizure of private property was increasingly routine conduct on the part of the military regime.

“Things like this have become commonplace. The military seized property in the past. So there is nothing too strange,” he said.

Wyne, an award-winning Myanmar film director, was arrested and his home in Yangon was seized on February 9. Wyne, charged under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code, had spent most of the past year on the run.