October 26, 2022
Dr. Kyaw Phone Myint, a military surgeon at the 300-bed hospital in Naypyidaw, was forcibly arrested this morning by the military for changing his Facebook profile to black in mourning for the victims of the Hpakant airstrike. Military sources confirmed the arrest, citing his social media actions.
On the evening of October 23, the military launched an airstrike during the Kachin Independence Organization’s (KIO) 62nd anniversary celebration in Hpakant, Kachin State, resulting in the deaths of over 80 civilians, including Kachin artists, entrepreneurs, and musicians. Dr. Kyaw Phone Myint expressed his grief by changing his profile picture to black and commented on the platform that it was in response to the tragic event.
The arrest took place this morning at Naypyidaw’s 300-bed hospital in Zeyathiri Township, where the surgeon was taken into custody by the junta’s forces.
