We posted earlier excerpts of today’s Min Aung Hlaing’s speech. Jokes aside, to have such a delusional man trying to lead a country is sad, angering and frustrating at the same time. The general is truly an idiot who happened to be leading a too powerful and criminal institution.
The American diplomat Bill Richardson is in Myanmar. It’s not clear in what capacity. In February, after the coup, he came out suggesting that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was partly responsible for what was happening. It will be interesting to see what this visit is all about. Is the release of journalist Danny Fester somehow involved? Can this visit somehow legitimize the Junta?
What is interesting to see, is the parallel with the attempted coup in Sudan. Right after the military took power, rumours of a return of lobbyist Ari Ben-Menashe started to spread. Ben-Menashe signed a 6 million dollars lobbying deal in 2019 with Hemeti, head of the infamous Rapid Support Forces (RSF), that killed hundreds of Sudanese during the 2019 Sudanese protests and led the genocide in Darfur. Ben-Menashe also signed a 2 million dollars lobbying deal with the Burmese generals after the coup. But the Israeli-Canadian lobbyist, is not the only connection between the two regimes.
Today on Al Jazeera, Janet McElligott, another American lobbyist, took the stage to defend Al-Burhan and his coup in Sudan. Guess who worked with her over 20 years ago? Bill Richardson!
The two worked together negotiating the release of 3 hostages in Sudan.
Military regimes and coups can become a business for ruthless western lobbyist.
POLITICS, ECONOMY AND OTHER NEWS
• After the bombardment of Thantlang, Chin State, by the Burmese military regime, The US State Department released a statement urging the international community to hold the military accountable and “and take action to prevent gross violations and abuses of human rights, including preventing the transfer of arms to the military,”
• The Irrawady reports that former UN ambassador and governor Bill Richardson, is landing in Myanmar on a “humanitarian mission”. “We are visiting the country to discuss pathways for the humanitarian delivery of COVID-19 vaccines, medical supplies, and other public health needs,” he said. Richardson will meet with regime’s health minister, a puzzling move given the international efforts to not legitimize the coup. Bill Richardson is a long time friend and former advisor for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The relationship between the two ended abruptly in 2018, over an argument at the Advisory Board for the Committee for Implementation of the Recommendations on Rakhine State.
• The Brotherhood Alliance, composed by the Arakan Army (AA), the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA, also known as Kokang), released a statement condemning the regime for bombardment of Thantlang, Chin State.
• The military regime amended the Bar Council Act, barring lawyers from electing the council, which will be appointed by the regime. “Lawyers have lost the right to elect members to represent them. The council has been put back under the total control of the regime like it was in the past,” said a legal expert who wished to stay anonymous. (Source: The Irrawady)
• Buddhist monk Ven. Thawbita, was sentenced to 2 years in prison back in February, has been given 2 additional years under section 505a. Ven. Thawbita is known for his role during the 2007 Saffron Revolution.
• According to a Chindwin article by Robert Bociaga, China is providing weapons to the military regime through Pakistan.
• While representatives from Myanmar have not been invited to deny the Junta of any legitimacy, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) invited 4 pro-military representatives from the English embassy, to the meeting.
• 27 Rohingya groups sent an open letter to the United Nations, urging them to not repeat the same mistakes committed in 2017 during the Rohingya genocide. The letter express solidarity towards the Chin community that is facing similar human rights violations to the ones that drove hundreds of thousands Rohingya out of Myanmar.
CHIN STATE
• Mindat: Resistance fighters killed 3 regime soldiers
• Hakha: two houses burned down. Regime troops were at the scene, but reasons for the fire are unknown
SAGAING
• Tigyiang: local Resistance fighters attacked and killed over 40 regime soldiers
• Two civilians killed by regime troops during the weekend. Win Naing (50), was notified by the military that his wife was injured and was shot and killed on the way to pick her up. Nyein Tun (30) was found dead following a raid by regime troops in Hlut Taik.
SHAN STATE
• Monekoe: the MNDAA army barred citizens of 5 villages from going to farm. The reason is unclear, although there have been frequent clashes with regime soldiers. This is harvesting season, and the ban could lead to food scarcity.
• Phapon: according to eyewitnesses, around 400 regime soldiers, inglucing Border Guard Forces (BGF), are heading towards Phapon.
• Tachileik: floods due to heavy rains
KACHIN STATE
• Tanai: clashes between Kachin Independence Army and regime troops
KARENNI (KAYAH) STATE
• Demoso: regime soldiers fired artillery at internal displaced civilians returning to their homes. Sent reinforcements to Moebye and Phruso
KAREN (KAYIN) STATE
• Lay Kay Kaw Myothit camp searched by around 40 soldiers of the 560 Light Infantry Battalion who are looking for PDF member (Resistance fighters)
MAGWAY
• Chauk: Phyo Wai Htun, one of 3 brothers recently abducted by the military regime, has been tortured to death.
ARAKAN (RAKHINE) STATE
• Maungdaw: clashes between a Muslim armed group and regime soldiers, according to The Irrawady
• The Arakan Front Party (AFP) will attend a meeting organised by the regime-controlled Union Election Commission (UEC) to discuss an electoral system reform, including a potential switch to proportional representation (PR), according to DMG. The Arakan National Party (ANP) has yet to decide whether to attend the meeting.
BAGO
• Thayarwaddy: partecipants of a pro-military manifestation, report being paid 15.000 kyats (8 USD), to attend the rally.
AYERYWAWADY
• Maubin: a pro-military rally was attacked with 3 explosions. Casualties unknown
YANGON
• Hlaing Thar Yar: the regime concluded the demolition of the squatter settlements lining the Yangon-Pathein Highway. The regime will arrest those who took pictures of the demolition (Source: DVB)
COVID DAILY (real numbers are believed to be much higher than officially reported)
• 877 new cases and 17 new deaths
AAPP Burma update (arrests and killings connected to the attempted military coup only, does not include events related to armed conflict)
• 1229 (+7) civilians killed since February 1st
• 9592 (+102) arrests since February 1st
• 1954 (+0) evading warrant
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