Min Aung Hlaing is busy with a series of diplomatic meetings in Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw. Sun Guoxiang, China’s special envoy to Myanmar is scheduled to meet with the coup leader in the next hours. Yohei Sasakawa, Japan’s special envoy to Myanmar, recently met with the general and negotiated the release fo American journalist Danny Fenster. Sasakawa mediated a ceasefire between the Arakan Army and the Burmese Army at the end of 2020. Given the recent new clashes in Arakan State, it is possible that the regime wants to resume negotiations to avoid another conflict. Thai deputy prime minister Don Pramudwinai met with Min Aung Hlaing yesterday.
The release of Danny Fenster is being reported all over the world. American former diplomat Bill Richardson took credit for the release, while VOA Burmese and Myanmar Now report that Yohei Sasakawa lead the negotiations, which seems to be likely given that a few hours later US secretary Blinken and Japan’s new Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi announced the will to boost collaboration between the two countries. A common interest between the two countries is the Taiwan dossier. If this is the case, Min Aung Hlaing could have asked Yohei Sasakawa to broker a new ceasefire with the Arakan Army, to avoid stretching the Burmese army even more than it already is.
POLITICS, ECONOMY AND OTHER NEWS
• American journalist Danny Fenster, has been released by the regime after 6 months spent in Insein Prison. He was charged for sedition and illegal association, and sentenced to 11 years of imprisonment just a few days ago. His release comes after the diplomatic effort of Yohei Sasakawa, Japan’s special envoy to Myanmar and Bill Richardson, a former American diplomat.
• 3 pro-military political figures sent a letter to foreign embassies in Myanmar claiming that the 3 are included in an alleged hit list compiled by the National Unity Government (NUG, the democratic government that opposes the regime). The claim is not supported by any evidence
• A bomb exploded at pro-military actress Yin Latt Nayan’s house
• 67 regime soldiers killed today, according to Khit Thit media
• The National Unity Government announced its support for a People’s Soldiers Production Team (PSPT), a group led by CDM graduates from the military’s Defense Services Technology Academy to produce weaponry for Resistance groups.
SAGAING
• Mingin: Resistance fighters attack a group of off-duty regime soldiers
KACHIN STATE
• Hpakant: clashes between the Kachin Independence Army and the Burmese army
KAREN (KAYIN) STATE
• Kyaikto: clashes between KNLA and regime soldiers
MANDALAY
• Ye Aung (33) died under detention. He was arrested after regime soldiers could not find his nephew who is a protests leader.
• 19 teachers at the Teacher Training College tested positive for Covid-19.
MAGWAY
• Yasegyo: Resistance fighters attacked regime soldiers
ARAKAN (RAKHINE) STATE
• Sittwe: Yohei Sasakawa, Japan’s special envoy to Myanmar, visited the city and displacement camps. He will meet ethnic parties leaders on Wednesday.
• The Arakan Army released 15 regime soldiers it had previouly arreste
YANGON
• 8 regime soldiers reportedly killed by Resistance fighters under the command of the National Unity Government
• Gunshots in Mingalardon, Thaketa and Hlaing Thar Yar
COVID DAILY (real numbers are believed to be much higher than officially reported)
• 714 new cases and 16 deaths
AAPP Burma update (arrests and killings connected to the attempted military coup only, does not include events related to armed conflict). Since February 1st:
• 1265 killed (+5)
• 10184 total arrests (+41)
• 1954 evading warrant (+0)
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