15th October 2021

MYANMAR NEWS: 15th October (eng+ita)

ASEAN is unable to do something completely right. It did the right thing by not inviting coup leader Min Aung Hlaing to the next summit at the end of the month, but then why deciding to invite a “non-political” representative in his place? What does “non-political” mean? What is the point of inviting a non-political figure at a political meeting? Yes, this is a slap in the face for the general, but it is not clear what is ASEAN’s concrete plan besides this. Inviting NUG at the summit, or not inviting anyone would be the right move. Anyway, let’s take it as a small win.

POLITICS, ECONOMY AND OTHER NEWS

• According to NHK World News and Reuters, coup leader Min Aung Hlaing will not be invited at the next ASEAN summit later this month. ASEAN will invite a “non-political” representative instead. The Junta has clearly disregarded the 5 points consensus for 6 months. On the other side, ASEAN did not officially engage with NUG, while many democracies, including the US, EU, South Korea and Japan did.
• According to Burmese reporter Mratt Kyaw Thu, representatives of Russia, China, India, Singapore, Cambodia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand met the military regime in Naypyitaw on October 12th. 
• The United Nations General Secretary Antonio Guterres has postponed a planned meeting between the UN and ASEAN, to avoid recognizing indirectly the Burmese military regime, in case it was present at the meeting.
• On the 6th anniversary of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), the military regime released 114 prisoners who were arrested for their ties with ethnic armed groups (including non-signatories like the Arakan Army and the Kachin Independence Army). The Karen National Union (KNU) released a statement calling the coup a breach of the NCA, and asking the Tatmadaw to quit politics.
• The military regime moved around 300 soldiers from Putao (Kachin State), to Sagaing, where the conflict is intensifying. The fact that the Tatmadaw keeps moving its troops is a clear sign of weakness, and that the current number of fighting soldiers is not enough to control the whole country. As the conflict continues, civilians are particularly at risk. The Tatmadaw keeps raiding and burning villages, terrorizing the population.
• Defections are increasing, although the number of soldiers leaving the regime is not clear. People’s Embrace, an organization that helps soldiers switch sides, sets the number at 2,000 between February and August. Captain Khun Aung Ko Ko told RFA that the total number could be 6,000. According to Captain Nyi Thuta, leader of the People’s Soldier group, many are ready to defect.
• The Irrawady reports that around 50 junta soldiers have been killed between Wednesday and Friday in clashes with civilian resistance fighters in Mandalay, Sagaing, Yangon Regions and Kayah State
• The military regime is reportedly planning to reopen schools in November (Source: Myanmar Now)
• Facebook objects to turning over data regarding the 2017 Rohingya genocidal campaign. A United States judge ordered FB to release the data to be used in the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Facebook played a huge role in spreading anti-muslim hate in Myanmar. Thousands of Rohingya were killed and raped, entire villages were burnt. Over 700,000 had to flee to Bangladesh. Recently a former FB manager, Frances Haugen, testified that the company “prioritizes profit over people”, despite knowing the consequences of its actions. She explicitly mentioned the cases of Myanmar and Capitol Hill.

YANGON

• The military regime is asking residents in various townships to pay the electricity bills, and are cutting the electricity off to those who refuse. The majority of the population stopped paying the bills after the coup, to stop financing the Tatmadaw.

SAGAING

• Tamu: clashes between Pyu Saw Htee (pro-regime armed group) and Resistance fighters. 3 regime forces killed.

KAREN (KAYIN) STATE

• Kawkareik Township: 7 regime soldiers killed during clashes with the KNLA

KACHIN STATE

• Shwe Nyein Chan, Shwegu: clashes between Resistance fighers and regime soldiers.

CHIN STATE

• Falam: clashes between Resistance fighters of the CNDF/CNA and regime soldiers
• A coalition of resistance fighters from the Chin National Army (CNA) and the Chin National Defence Force (CNDF) launched an attack on Thursday against a military unit that had been burning down homes in the north of the state. (Source: Myanmar Now)

MAGWAY

• Htilin: on the 30 Pyu Saw Htee members (a pro-regime armed group) who surrendered to the Yaw Defence Force (YDF), Myanmar Now reports that the decision came after PDF attacked the group, killing one member, and the military regime did not offer any help. YDF and local citizens still can’t trust them.

TANINTHARYI

• Myeik: regime Captain Min Swe Oo was hit by a car bomb while he was driving

COVID DAILY (real numbers are believed to be much higher than officially reported)

• 1,329 new cases and 42 new deaths 

AAPP Burma update 

• 1178 (+7)civilians killed since February 1st
• 7341 (+33) still under detention