The news of the 2 children dying (and a very young one getting injured) in Monywa, and 2 children getting injured in Shan State are devastating. This is nothing new, especially in a country that has seen armed conflict for over 7 decades. We’ve seen horrifying images for years, and they always hurt. The truth is that the innocents often pay the highest price.
May they rest in peace, may their families find some comfort, and may Myanmar become a safe place.
POLITICS, ECONOMY AND OTHER NEWS
• In 2021, so far Myanmar has become the deadliest country for peaceful demonstrations. 60% of demonstrators killed by state forces worldwide have been in Myanmar (Source: ACLED, The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project)
• Myanmar Now reports that the Burmese Army is recalling several retired soldiers, promising them to be restored to their previous rank and salary if they rejoin the army. Since the coup the army is having difficulties finding new recruits and is over-stretched by the many active fronts.
• The military regime said it “can not accept dialogue and negotiation with terrorist armed groups”. The statement comes after Nandar Hla Myint, a spokesman for the pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), suggested that the regime should negotiate with the pro-democracy movement.
• New York: anti-coup protest led by the Burmese diaspora and pro-democracy activists
• Resistance fighters of Yangon, Bago, Phyu and Tharsi request civilians to travel the Yangon-Mandalay highway only for necessity flying a white flag, as the intense traffic is making their operations against regime troops more difficult
• The military regime, through its ministry of foreign affairs, released a statement refusing the allegations by the outgoing UN special envoy to Myanmar Schraner Burgener who accused the regime of conducting clearance operations in Chin State, leading the country to a widespread civil war and possibly to a failed country. She called the regime to step down and restore democracy for the good of the people. The regime responded by claiming that the report of the Special Envoy is based on”sweeping allegations”, that she omitted the NLD electoral fraud that “led to the current political situation” and that she exaggerated the mismanagement of the Covid Pandemic by the regime and to be, overall biased. https://www.facebook.com/mofamyanmar/posts/1883793758487577
• A must read post by Khaing Zar, president of the IWFM Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar, on her bad experience with a foreign journalist. Listen to the voice of the workers. Yes there are debates on whether boycotting the garment industry can be effective, but criticism should be informed, and analysts/journalists should not be so biased. Those who oppose the garment industry boycott claiming to be concerned about the poor workers who would lose their jobs, should also be vocal when those same workers see their rights being stripped away by their employers, when their minimum wages decline instead of rising, when unionists get fired with the Covid excuse, or when they are targeted by the military regime that declared many trade unions illegal. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=6359077707467757&id=100000967725919
YANGON
• North Dagon: famous 1988 activist Kyaw Min Yu (aka Ko Jimmy) arrested by the military regime. He has been hospitalized in Mingalardon for severe injuries
• North Dagon: regime soldiers opened fire on Pinlong private hospital, killing an innocent civilian in a taxi
• Hlaing: near the university campus, regime soldiers on two regular cars opened fire on another car, injuring at least one passenger. The passengers were abducted for unknown reasons
• Thaketa: alleged military informant killed
SAGAING
• Monywa: a bomb blast at the City Hall has killed 2 children, 10 and 12 year-old, and injured one
• Nantaw, Homalin: a member of a Pyu Saw Htee (pro-regime armed group) was killed
• Paline, Shwebo: 3 civilians killed by regime forces
• Hin Lin village, Wetlet: a 20 year-old man with learning disabilities was shot dead by soldiers for refusing an order to stop running from troops, a resident said. The man’s body was buried by the military before being returned to his family. (Source: DVB)
• Myaung: 15 soldiers killed in a landmine attack
CHIN STATE
• Falam: Ko Naing Lwin Htoo, a university student who joined the Resistance, was found dead. He was shot by regime soldiers
• Ramthlo village, Falam: Resistance fighters killed 5 regime soldiers
KARENNI (KAYAH) STATE
• Loikaw: Deputy police officer Myo Thein Htun killed at the central market
SHAN STATE
• Moe Bye: 1 civilian killed and 6 injured, including 2 children by regime artillery (Source: The Irrawady). According to Chindwin, regime troops use children to clear landmines. Hundreds of people fled the area
MAGWAY
• Pakkoku: regime soldiers opened fire on civilians killing a bystander, after being attacked by Resistance fighters with a landmine
• Taungdwingyi: regime soldiers have been accused of forcing pensioners to pay the equivalent of 1-1.50 USD bribes to be able to collect their pensions at a Myanma Economic Bank
BAGO
• Paungde: 10 of 44 local administrators have resigned after recent threats by Resistance groups
MON STATE
• Thanpyuzayet: U Kyaw Win, a volunteer working for a charity, was arrested and tortured by regime soldiers for taking a picture of 7 black bags containing the corpses of soldiers that were abandoned at a cemetery
• Thahtone and Kyeikhto, Mon State: NLD offices bombed by pro-regime armed group Pyu Saw Htee
• Resistance fighters attacked ten soldiers who were repairing telecom lines
AYEYARWADY
• Maubin: 2 bombs exploded in Maubin district police force deputy police chief house (Source: DVB)
COVID DAILY (real numbers are believed to be much higher than officially reported)
• 687 new cases and 27 new deaths
AAPP Burma update (does not include victims of armed conflicts)
NO UPDATE TODAY, data from Oct 23rd
• 1196 civilians killed since February 1st
• 7016 still under detention
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