Performance artist Sue Myint Thein was briefly detained after walking around Mandalay wrapped in blue duct tape ahead of International Peace Day, which falls on Friday.
Sue Myint Thein, who runs Ahlin Dagar (“Door of Light”) painting and sculpture school in Mandalay, walked around town this morning for about two hours covered in duct tape before he was apprehended by the police. He was released around 1pm in the afternoon.
“I want peace – I would like to remind everyone whose hearts have been filled with anger about peace,” Sue Myint Thein told the police officers.
Police officials reportedly told the artist that he had failed to secure the prior approval that was necessary to stage the performance.
“It’s not that the law doesn’t allow you to do this, but you need to get approval first so that we can provide you security,” said the police officer who arrested the artist.
“Doing it like this could get everyone into trouble. As you see, you have caused a traffic jam – this is the central part of the town, on the main road and you’ve just brought inconveniences.”
Sue Myint Thein was also detained in May for staging a performance in downtown Mandalay with several foreign artists and is still facing charges related to the incident.
