Bangkok: Myanmar security forces are arbitrarily arresting and detaining family and friends of activists, protesters, and opposition members, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said.
According to documentation by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), at least 48 of family and friends of activists, protesters, and opposition members are still in detention, with some now held for more than three months.
Since the February 1 military coup in Myanmar, security forces have detained at least 76 people, including an infant, during raids when they were unable to find the person they sought to arrest
"Seizing family members and friends as hostages is a thuggish tactic by Myanmar's security forces to terrorize the population and coerce activists to turn themselves in," said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director, in a press release on Monday.
"The authorities should end the practice of collective punishment immediately and release everyone held on this illegal basis," he stated.
On March 8, security forces searching for lawyer Robert San Aung seized his daughter and brother-in-law and held them for 18 days before releasing them.
On April 22, security forces searching for Pu Do Sian Pau, a member of the opposition Civil Disobedience Movement, seized his mother and his 70-year-old father, a retired pastor of the Cope Memorial Baptist Church.
On April 29, security forces searching for Salai Bawi Uk Thang, the editor-in-chief of the Chinland Post newspaper, detained his father. He is still in detention.
On May 23, security forces arrested the parents and younger brother of a striking worker from the fire department.
In some cases, witnesses allege that the security forces beat the relatives before detaining them.
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