yangon myanmars ruling junta stepped up its campaign against celebrities who support nationwide protests against its seizure of power publishing wanted lists in the state press and warning against using their workthe move follows weeks of escalating violence by security forces in breaking up street protests against the february 1 coup that ousted the elected government of aung san suu kyiat least 570 protesters and bystanders including 47 children have been killed since the takeover according to the assistance association for political prisoners which monitors casualties and arrests and says the true toll is likely higher the coup reversed the countrys gradual return to democracy after five decades of military rulethe lists published on sunday and monday in the global new light of myanmar newspaper include actors musicians and social media influencers charged with violating section 505a of the penal code for spreading news to affect state stability the penalty for the offence is up to three years imprisonmenta chart filling most of a page lists 20 people along with photos hometowns and facebook pages of eachseveral actors and directors were also charged in february but the campaign against celebrity protest supporters was stepped up last week when armycontrolled myawaddy tv broadcast a wanted list there are now at least 60 people on such listsmay toe khine who describes herself in her twitter profile as full time burmese actresspart time fashion designer student tweeted after the tv announcement that her arrest warrant was for simply doing my job as a civilian using my platform to speak out the truthplease always pay attention to news in myanmar until we win she wrotewhat appears to be a leaked document from the information ministry advises broadcasters and production agencies of the accusations against people in the fields of literature film theatre arts music and journalism it warns them not to publish or broadcast any of their work or face prosecution themselvesthe april 4 document which could not be authenticated by the associated press was reported by khit thit media and widely circulated on social mediaprotests continued on monday around the country but generally on a smaller scale than recently and often in ways intended to avoid confrontations on sunday an easter egg strike was held with eggs painted in support of the protests displayed in public places and onlinein dawei a city in southeastern myanmar that is a stronghold of the protest movement a short march was accompanied by a motorcycle processionin yangon the countrys biggest city a memorial march for the dead was held by mourners clad in black separately about 20 people gathered briefly on a city street and burned chinese flags many protesters believe that beijing backs the military regime with economic and political support including the threat of a veto at the un security council against international sanctions