Cyber harassment pushes Paing Takhon leaving Facebook after back to normal life
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Tun MT (NP News) - Aug 14
Paing Takhon, a leading Myanmar celebrity actor with an international profile decided to stop using Facebook after getting mass personal attacks online by the anti-government netizens for returning back to normal life from revolution.
Since he declared moving back to doing his entertainment career basically for the reason of survival of the fittest after he was released with a State pardon in early March, the anti-government groups started attacking him in various ways of cyber bullying, even offending his personal life decisions and his lover.
Fetching Paing Takhon took part in the anti-coup protests following the military seized the country's power in February 2021. He also made vocal in condemning the military takeover online in the first half of 2021 showing a three-finger salute by taking advantage of his international influence, especially among his Southeast Asian fans.
Authorities charged him under Section 505 for actively participating in spreading dissent against the government in April 2021. The young hunk tried to escape and run off to the country’s border sides where he was infected with malaria a serious condition. He did not join the armed-resistance course though he took shelter at the border town.
Fatally infected with malaria at high risk made the handsome man with a well-developed physique couldn’t stand staying in rural territory anymore. So he came back silently to his home which locates in Yangon’s North Dagon to get medical treatment.
Authorities arrested him in mid-2021 while he was receiving medical care. He was sentenced to three years imprisonment in December 2021 in Insein Prison.
On March 2, Myanmar’s Peasant Day, Paing Takhon was released on State pardon together with other celebrities including famous Eaindra Kyaw Zin couple and Lu Min.
Paing Takhon, one of the few Myanmar citizens who is admired by international fans, did participate in the country’s political transition that happened in 2021 to the extent of what he believes indeed. Taking part in protests and marches, speaking out his voice against the conditions to the international community online, and even being jailed now become nothing worth; at worst humiliated by the hostile netizens when he decided to back to work.
That is what really happens in Myanmar. The netizens threaten many people’s personal lives online despite their claims of calling democracy; blaming, humiliating, social punishment, harassment, bullying, and personal assassination are the weapons today Myanmar’s pro-democracy netizens widely use. It’s entirely conflicting with norms and values of democracy.
Celebrities have been frequently targeted by pro-democracy netizens in Myanmar since 2021 for returning back to normal life – doing business, accepting ads, enjoying a happy life, or back to entertainment career.
The world needs to access true information about what is happening in Myanmar society.
Some prominent incidents were: ‘Yin Let’ a young actress got three-time life intimidation for supporting the Defense Services while ‘Zin Gyi’ a Myanmar Idol Season 2 singer was shot dead in Yangon in early June alleged as an informer. Many academy awards winner actor ‘Ye Aung’ received a bomb at his home for not supporting the revolution. There are many other incidents of threatening celebrities in this political transition period.