Shine Htet Aung, a member of the Hindu community in Myanmar, has been detained by the military junta following his criticism of a Myanmar film he claimed mocked Hindu tradition and culture. His social media post on October 24, which condemned the film "Have You Ever Ridden a Jeep: Jar Kit Sar Bu Three" for distorting Hindu traditions, sparked backlash from pro-junta Telegram channels that accused him of “instigating racial and religious hatred.”
The junta stated that Shine Htet Aung, under his Facebook alias “Her Sal Yon (Ko King),” was being investigated at the Hlaing Township police station, where a case against him was formally opened on October 29.
The junta has framed Shine Htet Aung’s criticisms as an attempt to incite ethnic and religious conflict. Following his disappearance, his family and friends were deeply worried and initiated a search, ultimately confirming his detention. His family reported him missing at local police stations in Hlaing and Mayangone after losing contact with him on October 26, shortly after he left the School for the Blind in Mayangone Township, where he had been volunteering.
In his October 24 post, Shine Htet Aung criticized the film for using the phrase “Jar Kit Sar Bu Three,” which he describes as a derogatory term used to address people of Indian descent. He expressed concern that the film’s title and its depiction of Indian attire were disrespectful to Hindu culture, especially with Diwali approaching. He wrote, “During this time of suffering for the people, it is unacceptable for such a distasteful film to be released, particularly as it misrepresents Indian attire and mocks individual ethnicities while presenting this film as humorous.”
Shine Htet Aung’s comments garnered significant attention, with over 6,000 shares on social media. However, after pro-junta propaganda channels called for his arrest for allegedly instigating “racial and religious” hatred, he vanished. Family members reported him missing at local police stations in Hlaing and Mayangone before the junta announced his detention on October 30, accusing him of “instigating and spreading propaganda to disrupt peace and stability in the country.”
The film in question, titled “Have You Ever Ridden a Jeep: Jar Kit Sar Bu Three” and directed by Ko Zaw (Arr Yon Oo), is set to premiere on November 1. Myanmar’s Hindu communities, including the Myanmar Hindu Association and other organizations, also voiced their concerns about the film’s comedic portrayal of Hindu traditions.
Shine Htet Aung is also known for his efforts to support the visually impaired, often reading books as part of his charitable work.
Image credit: Her Sal Yon’s Facebook account
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