Will we ever learn from the past?
The regime army destroyed villages and churches on its way to Hakha, Chin State. As Edith Mirante noted on Twitter, regime soldiers did not even spare “mithuns”, a forest ox which is considered sacred by Chin people. E. Mirante highlights that this could be an act of cultural genocide and a war crime (art. 54 of the Geneva convention: Protection of objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population”).
This is obviously not new for the Tatmadaw. In Kachin State, regime soldiers set checkpoints on the road to Hpakant, not allowing rice and cooking oil to pass and reach the city. Domestic animals have been killed in Sagaing.
The goal of the Tatmadaw is to annihilate the opposition. As The Irrawady reported, Vice Senior General Soe Win, ordered his troops to wipe out the armed resistance and punish civilians supporting it. The same order has been given in other occasions and locations in the past, like in Karen State in the 60s, in Shan State in the 90s or very recently in Arakan (Rakhine) State. There is virtually no region in Myanmar where the Tatmadaw did not commit atrocities.
Over 600 soldiers on 120 trucks have been sent to Chin State this week. People reported attacks on civilians and their properties. Over 12,000 people have been displaced. Thousands have been forced to flee to Mizoram, India. It is clear that the Tatmadaw is launching a major operation in the region.
The Tatmadaw will not change, it’s a rotten institution based on violence, xenophobia and greed. It has no place in the future of Myanmar.
POLITICS, ECONOMY AND OTHER NEWS
• According to The Irrawady, Vice Senior General Soe Win instructed all commanders to wipe out armed civilian resistance groups and punish civilians supporting them
• According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP Burma), at least 110 prisoners have been rearrested after being released on Monday. Coup leader Min Aung Hlaing announced that over 5,000 detainees will be released this week, but it is impossible to verify those figures. The Tatmadaw has used detentions and pardons as tools to annihilate the opposition while easing political pressure on itself at the same time.
• UK announced that Myanmar will not be invited to attend the G7-ASEAN foreign ministers meeting. ASEAN itself excluded General Min Aung Hlaing from next week’s ASEAN summit. Antonio Guterres, general secretary of the UN, canceled a UN-ASEAN meeting to avoid legitimizing the military regime.
• The Thai foreign minister announced that Thailand and the U.S. are considering providing humanitarian aid to Burmese people through the Thai-Myanmar border. The Thai border has been historically important to deliver support to Myanmar people, and there are long and well established routes and networks. •
US Counselor of the Department of State Derek Chollet, says he had 3-4 online meetings with National Unity Government’s representatives (NUG, the democratic government that opposes the regime) in the past month.
• Interesting interview to a defected Tatmadaw sergeant released by Chinland Defence Forces and translated in English by Zwe Lwin. Brutal crackdowns have been ordered by commanders, who also lie and spread fake news among troops. Soldiers are bullied by their seniors, bust still there are good soldiers who are trapped in the army. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbb3sbcg85o
• At the FCCT panel, a defected soldier reported that many Tatmadaw soldiers don’t know what is happening in the country. A Resistance fighter also said that he spoke to a soldier that was not aware the a coup happened. https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=721940735411342
• Nanda Hla Myint, spokesman of the pro-military USDP party speaks to BBC Burmese and seem to criticize Min Aung Hlaing, calling for dialogue with the democratic forces, including the NUG.
YANGON
• Tamwe: bomb attack on regime vehicles
• North Dagon: 2 military informants killed
• Infamous 77th Light Infantry Division (LID), spotted outside of Yangon, where it was deployed for most of the post-coup period. Explosions inside of the 77th LID’s 106 batallion were heard (Source: DVB)
MANDALAY
• Kyaukse: 2.2 million USD worth of ecstasy seized by Myanmar police hidden in tomato boxes
SAGAING
• Kalay: Sayadaw U Payinda, a Buddhist monk at the Aung Yadanar School (Sanda School) Eight Faces Pagoda, was killed by unidentified assailants while chanting. The reason us unknown. (Source: Chindwin)
• Latpan village, Yinmarpin township: landmine attack against regime soldiers
• Kanbalu: Pyu Saw Htee member and military informant killed by Resistance fighters
• Monywa: explosions at 2 police station and a Myanma Economic Bank
• Thit Kyin Gyi village in Ayadaw: regime forces burnt down 5 houses
KAREN (KAYIN) STATE
• Kawkareik Township: 9 regime soldiers killed in clashes with the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA)
• Mutraw: KNU/KNLA report that regime soldiers have been shelling the city with artillery
• More than 600 people died of Covid since July according to Karen Information Center
KACHIN STATE
• Hpakant: rice and oil are not allowed to pass at multiple check points set by the military regime on the Mandalay-Hpakant road. The regime is trying to prevent much needed food from reaching Hpakant.
CHIN STATE
• The military regime is sending 200 troops on 83 trucks to Matupi, after 400 soldiers on 50 trucks and 2 tanks reached Hakha yesterday.
• 2 churches and around 30 houses have been destroyed by regime troops on their way to the capital Hakha. The Tatmadaw recently reinforcements in the area and there are fears of “clearance operations” starting soon.
• Hakha: DVB reports that 200 households fled the city following attacks by regime soldiers
• Mindat: clashes between Resistance fighters and regime soldiers. At least 2 regime soldiers killed.
KARENNI (KAYAH) STATE
• Demoso: locals report gunfires at around 8pm (Source: Kantarwaddy Times)
• Loikaw: bomb blast and gunfires in front of the university
SHAN STATE
• Kyaukme: clashes reported between RCSS, TNLA and SSPP.
• Hsipaw: local people report that The Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) and the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) are forcing civilians to do force labor.
ARAKAN (RAKHINE) STATE
• Nyaung Chaung village, Buthidaung Township: a border officer was killed during a fight among policemen who started shooting at each other
MAGWAY
• Gangaw: local resistance fighters are threatening to destroy telecom towers if internet is not restored within 3 days. Gangaw has been cut off from internet since September 23rd. The internet shutdown effects townships in Kachin State, Chin State and Sagaing as well.
• Yaw: according to Resistance group YDF, 250 local administrators have resigned leaving a power vacuum.
BAGO
• Thit Pout village: 5 regime soldiers killed by Resistance fighters during a raid
TANINTHARYI
• Dawei: a NLD office destroyed in an explosion. The attack happened one day after another NLD office was targeted in Myeik
MON STATE
• Theinzayat: 2 regime soldiers killed by KNLA forces
BANGLADESH
• Bhashan Char: the UN will oversee humanitarian operations in the island where almost 20,000 Rohingya refugees have been relocated from overcrowded Cox’s Bazar camps.
COVID DAILY (real numbers are believed to be much higher than officially reported)
• 683 new cases and 21 new deaths
AAPP Burma update (does not include victims of armed conflicts)
• 1183 (+2) civilians killed since February 1st
• 7031 (-55) still under detention
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