Burma: Lawyer Naing Lin Zaw beaten and arrested

21/03/21

@DrSasa22222 @RapporteurUn@UN_HRC @FortifyRights@USEmbassyBurma
Arrested one of the lawyer peace protestor from Sanchaung in his home, about 9pm #21March.
Need help pls. #HumanRightsViolations #savemyanmarfrommilitarycoup #WhatsHappeninglnMyanmar pic.twitter.com/k4FnkCnDSd

— Michael Thiha (@MichaelThiha4) March 21, 2021

Yangon, March 21

Naing Lin Zaw, a lawyer living on Zalun Road in Sanchaung Township, Rangoon, was violently beaten and arrested by the military council at around 8:30 last night.
Crd.https://t.co/Mx4EOWqr5a

— Zaw Ye Lin (@ZawYeLin7) March 21, 2021

https://twitter.com/akkk_ayar/status/1373671545277538309?s=20

Night strike & candlelight vigil still in Sanchaung, Yangon. They are so brave and tough because terrorist junta are showing with forces around 8pm at Sanchaung. And one man (lawyer) was arrested at Zalun street.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH#Mar21Coup#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar pic.twitter.com/8L6PQp8g7g

— Twinkle (@twinkle94197999) March 21, 2021

Tonight in #Sanchaung, a lawyer was beaten and arrested by the terrorist group.
FREEDOM OF SPEECH#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #Mar21Coup https://t.co/NdTdSyiX6W

— Su Mar (@SuTheEarth) March 21, 2021

We at @JURISTnews share these concerns. As a service staffed by law students from around the world we are also concerned about #Myanmar law students arrested after peaceful protests who are now held in prisons in #Yangon and #Mandalay without access to family or lawyers. https://t.co/r59I1EQ2FR

— Bernard Hibbitts (@bernardhibbitts) March 18, 2021

https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2021/03/21/in-burma-they-have-come-for-the-poets/

The Philippines: Karapatan paralegal arrested in Cagayan de Oro

21/03/21

Police in Cagayan de Oro arrested Karapatan-Caraga paralegal Renalyn Tejero on Sunday, making her the latest activist and rights defender nabbed by security forces.

This was confirmed to Philstar.com by Police Maj. Evan Viñas, spokesperson for the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office, in a phone call after Karapatan first reported that Tejero was taken away early Sunday morning “by suspected elements of the Philippine National Police.”

According to Viñas, personnel of the Philippine National Police and the military served a warrant for Tejero’s arrest in connection with murder and attempted murder charges. 

The paralegal was apprehended at 5:30 a.m. in Barangay Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City. 

According to a spot report obtained by Philstar.com, Tejero was arrested “for murder with no bail recommended and multiple attempted murder … with bail recommended of P120,000.00.”

The same report refers to Tejero as a “member of KT/KH Regional United Front RWAC.”

“We have to respect the decision of the court…we won’t speak for them, we only served the warrant of arrest. She has a right to explain too,” Viñas said in a mix of Filipino and English when asked for the basis for labeling Tejero a communist rebel. 

“It was a legitimate police operation,” he also said, though no details on the supposed murder cases were provided.

Viñas added that Tejero is in the custody of the Regional Intelligence Division of Police Regional Office 13 in Caraga.

Tejero’s is the latest in a series of arrests of activists, labor organizers and rights workers whom the government has labeled communist rebels. The arrests—and, in some cases, deaths — of activists has raised concerns over the practice of red-tagging, or labeling them as enemies of the state.

“We are currently unaware as to where she was brought. Please help us find her. She had been red-tagged and was at the receiving end of threats,” Karapatan said in a statement sent to reporters earlier Sunday morning.

Later Sunday afternoon, Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, PNP officer-in-charge, urged police commanders “to strengthen their police-community work” in support of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict. 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2021/03/21/2085959/karapatan-paralegal-arrested-cagayan-de-oro

https://www.rappler.com/nation/police-arrest-activist-renalyn-tejero-cagayan-de-oro-march-21-2021

‘Red-tagged’ Karapatan paralegal arrested – rights group

‘Red-tagged’ Karapatan paralegal arrested – rights group

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/780573/rights-group-paralegal-officer-taken-by-cops-in-cagayan-de-oro-missing/story/

Karapatan says paralegal arrested in Cagayan de Oro

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UPDATE as of 7pm, March 21, 2021 on Karapatan-Caraga paralegal Renalyn Tejero: According to recent information that we received, Renalyn was brought to the PNP Provincial Regional Office 13 in Camp Col. Rafael Rodriguez in Butuan City, after her arrest in Cagayan de Oro City. pic.twitter.com/EaAnsv4v22

— Karapatan (@karapatan) March 21, 2021

DROP ALL FAKE CHARGES AND RELEASE RENALYN TEJERO NOW!

At 5 a.m. today, March 21, Karapatan-Caraga paralegal Renalyn Tejero was arrested based on a warrant for trumped-up charges of murder & attempted murders. Before this, she was a subject of intense redtagging and vilification. pic.twitter.com/dkMUYBSh5c

— Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand Gaite (@FerdinandGaite) March 21, 2021

Ala-5 ng umaga ay iligal na inaresto si Renalyn Tejero, Manobo human rights worker at paralegal staff ng Karapatan Caraga, ng mga hinihinalang pulis sa CDO City at kasalukuyang hindi tiyak ang lokasyon kung saan siya dinala matapos hulihin.#FreeRenalynTejero#DefendTheDefenders pic.twitter.com/usLd75XInS

— Anakbayan Mendiola (@ABMendio) March 21, 2021

URGENT ALERT: Karapatan – Caraga paralegal Renalyn Tejero was arrested in Brgy. Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City by suspected elements of the Philippine National Police.
She had been red-tagged and receiving threats. #FreeRenalynTejero#DefendTheDefenders#HumanRights pic.twitter.com/9KQxS7JJRw

— Gavrilah Wells (@JGavrilah) March 21, 2021

‼ALERT‼

Renalyn Tejero, a paralegal staff of human rights group Karapatan-Caraga, was arrested earlier today at Brgy. Lapasan, Cagayan De Oro City. Until now, her whereabouts are still unknown.

Tejero has long been a victim of the state's redtagging and her life is at risk pic.twitter.com/HmagZEPhrM

— Anakbayan UST (@AnakbayanUST) March 21, 2021