Hundreds of revelers arrested in a raid on one of Yangon’s most popular nightclubs were released this morning by the police.
About 250 people were arrested last night at Brave Bar on Kan Yeik Thar Road and taken to the Mayangone Police Station at 11:45pm in what was assumed to be enforcement of pandemic closure orders. Most were freed this morning.
“It was shocking.” said a 28-year-old man, who spoke to Coconuts on condition of anonymity. “We were released at 8am this morning with a granted bail. I am so tired, I am going to sleep now.”
He said a few others placed under arrest remained at the police station where they were negotiating their release.
Yangon’s nightlife has been quietly reopening despite public health measures and an overnight curfew imposed by the junta forbidding such places from operating.
Some speculated that politics were involved, and the cash-strapped security forces could be looking to squeeze some money out of the young and affluent demographic who frequent such clubs.
“That’s another level of making money,” Facebooker Yin Swe Oo wrote.
“Excellent. You now pay whatever they ask for your release because you want to be happy, despite the horrible economic situation and political instability,” a Thit Thit Tun wrote.
