Two young people today have been killed by regime soldiers for absolutely nothing.
In Yangon, a 17-year-old peaceful protester was shot dead near Inya Lake while hanging an anti-military banner on an overpass in Myakanthar Road in Kamayut.
In Bago Phyo Kyaw Han, a 21-year old boy, was stopped by soldiers while distributing wedding invitations and his phone was checked. When soldiers saw his Facebook profile picture with an NUG logo (the democratic government) he was let go but then shot in the back.
For those, including the UN Special Envoy, suggesting that Myanmar people should “accept” a “power-share” with the Burmese military, what happened today is another proof (if needed), that the military has no intention to share any power with the people. To only suggest to the victims to accept the status quo and let the army get away with it with no accountability whatsoever, is unacceptable. To believe that the Tatmadaw would ever allow a transition to democracy is ludicrous.
Meanwhile the situation in Kachin State and in Arakan State is deteriorating. The Arakan Army and the Burmese military have been observing an informal ceasefire for more than one year. On one side, the Tatmadaw wanted to avoid resuming the war against one of its most powerful enemies, while on the other side the Arakan Army used the ceasefire to consolidate its administrative control. The ultimate goal of the AA is self-determination, which is clearly something the Burmese generals do not want. The Tatmadaw’s presence in Arakan State will always cause tensions and any small clash or human error could lead to a conflict. The situation in Arakan State is further complicated by the presence of other armed groups, including the pro-regime Border Guard Forces, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO), which has recently reappeared after years of silence.
The recent clashes between the Arakan Army and the Tatmadaw could be isolated cases, but if they were to continue, they could have serious effects on the rest of the country. Back in November 2021, Yohei Sasakawa, Japan’s special envoy to Myanmar was invited by the junta to mediate peace talks with the Arakan Army, after some small clashes.
According to the Myanmar Humanitarian Response Plan 2022 published by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), over 1.5 million people in Arakan State are in need of humanitarian assistance. And nearly 900,000 Rohingya refugees from Arakan are currently living in camps in Bangladesh.
POLITICS, ECONOMY AND OTHER NEWS
• The Karen National Union (KNU) celebrated its 75th Anniversary of Karen National Union day in Kawthulay yesterday.
CHIN STATE
• Mindat: The regime’s Light Infantry Battalion 274 launched heavy artillery in Lilong village damaging several houses
SAGAING
• Myinmu: locals reported that at least 20 civilians in Badataing have been killed, in what appears to be another massacre perpetrated by the military regime. Among the victims, there is a 13-year-old girl who was reportedly raped before being murdered. Some of the bodies have been cut to pieces and burned.
• Monywa: 2 regime soldiers riding a motorcycle in plainclothes have been killed
• Kalay: a coalition of Resistance groups launched an attack and killed around 30 regime soldiers
• Mawlaik: over 350 illegal are illegally operating on the Chindwin River. It has been reported that they are paying bribes to the military.
KACHIN STATE
• Shwegu: a local police station was attacked with heavy artillery
Hpakant: the intense battle between the Kachin Independence Army (together with PDF forces) and the military regime in Manawhmaw and Katmaw, already caused 200 deaths on the military regime’s side in only 3 days. Losses have been reported among Resistance fighters as well
ARAKAN (RAKHINE) STATE
• Maungdaw: the fighting between the Arakan Army and the Tatmadaw continues. Several casualties have been reported.
BAGO
• Phyo Kyaw Han, a 21-year old boy, was stopped by soldiers while distributing wedding invitations and his phone was checked. When soldiers saw his Facebook profile picture with an NUG logo (the democratic government) he was let go but then shot in the back.
YANGON
• Kamayut: a 17-year-old peaceful protester was shot and killed by regime soldiers near Inya Lake in Yangon while hanging an anti-military banner on an overpass in Myakanthar Road in Kamayut. 3 other protesters were able to escape
TANINTHARYI
• Launglon, Dawei: the bodies of 3 civilians who have been reportedly killed by the pro-military militia Pyu Saw Htee, have been found in Nyin Maw Village
COVID DAILY (as reported by the military-controlled Ministry of Health. Real figures are believed to be higher than officially reported)
• 332 new cases and 0 new deaths
AAPP Burma daily update (arrests and killings connected to the attempted military coup only, does not include events related to armed conflict). Since February 1st:
• 1,519 killed (Feb 4th)
• 11,980 total arrests ()
• 1,974 evading warrant ()
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