After the military coup on February 1, 2021, nationwide protests erupted, with the entire city of Bago joining in demonstrations against the military dictatorship. Daily protests led by youth and joined by all citizens were conducted peacefully throughout Bago’s streets. However, on April 9, 2021, before dawn, the 77th Division led a violent crackdown on protest camps across Bago city, resulting in the deaths of more than 80 young people and civilians.
Starting at 4 AM on April 9, the forces led by the 77th Division attacked protest camps near Shwemawdaw Pagoda area, Leikpyakan, Santaw Kwin, Magadit Inwaing, Ponnasu, Myaukkan, and Leikpyakan wards using RPGs, hand grenades, and other military weapons as if waging war against the peaceful protesters. The brutal crackdown left bodies of young protest camp guards piled up, turning the entire city of Bago into what resembled an apocalyptic scene. The 77th Division forces didn’t stop at protest camps but continued their rampage by raiding homes of civilians accused of supporting the protests, National League for Democracy party members, and political activists, subjecting them to beatings and killings.
Brigadier General Aung Soe Oo (DSA 42), commander of the 77th Division, evacuated from the military council’s last stronghold at the Japanese Cave military camp in Indaw town on April 7. Along with over 150 military council troops, he fell into the hands of People’s Defense Forces on the evening of April 8. This capture came exactly four years after the brutal crackdown in Bago, where the same division had once threatened protesters with the phrase ‘come out if you dare to die’ while indiscriminately killing unarmed protesters and civilians on Bago and Yangon’s streets. The capture of the 77th Division commander and his troops by the revolutionary youth they once threatened marks a significant turning point in Myanmar’s Spring Revolution, according to resistance fighters.
