Exactly 60 years ago, on March 2nd 1962, General Ne Win launched a military coup to seize power, starting a decades long military dictatorship that lasts to this day. In reality he first took power in 1958 with a “caretaker” government, until 1960. Shortly after the coup, he started the so-called Burmese Way to Socialism, a series of political and economical measures that brought the country to its knees. He violently repressed several protests, including the 1988 Uprising in which thousands of young Burmese were killed by the military.
POLITICS, ECONOMY AND OTHER NEWS
• Justice for Myanmar reports that Dynasty International, a Myanmar arms trader, procured military equipment for the Burmese army after the coup. Thanks to Dr Aung Moe Myint, son of a former home affairs minister under the military regime, Myanmar has been able to purchase equipment from Belarus, Russia and even Germany. Dynasty International, in fact, has cose ties with Grob Aircraft SE.
• According to Khit Thit Media, the military is tracking Wave Money transactions to find and arrest pro-democracy activists. Wave Money is a popular mobile wallet app used by most Burmese people to donate and support humanitarian causes.
• Some celebrities have been released today from prison: Lu Min, Pyay Ti Oo, Eaindra Kyaw Zin, Paing Takon, Wyne. The military regime dropped a case against the beauty blogger Win Min Than, who is still in prison under other charges.
• The famous singer Paing Thet Kyaw has been arrested today in Hlaing Thar Yar, Yangon, for allegedly supporting the Civil Disobedience Movement
• The military regime sentenced ousted Yangon Region minister Daw Nilar Kyaw to 16 years in prison for corruption.
• Ko Htet Aung, former chairman of the Pyay University Students’ Union, was sentenced to four years in prison for joining anti-coup protests.
CHIN STATE
• Hakha: several houses have been burned by regime soldiers on the road to Falam. A civilian was found dead with signs of torture.
• Saw’s Swal Lwal Kyin: DVB reports that the military burned the bodies of 10 of its soldiers who had been killed by Resistance fighters
SAGAING
• Nationalist extremist monks of the Ma Ba Tha, including the infamous U Wirathu, appeared in some pictures holding weapons while preaching a sermon. The Ma Ba Tha played a big role in spreading anti-muslim and pro-military propaganda, especially during the Rohingya genocide in 2017, and despite representing only a small fraction of the Buddhist Sangha, it still has some political influence.
• Taze: 3 people killed during a terrorist attack on a pro-military militia. In Shwe Kyin village the military regime burned several houses
• Tabayin: Resistance fighters attacked a police station
KACHIN STATE
• Hpakant: U Soe Moe Zaw, a 39-year-old father of two, has been shot dead by the military while riding his motorbike with his wife.
KARENNI (KAYAH) STATE
• Demoso: around 20 regime soldiers have been killed during a battle against Resistance fighters
COVID DAILY (as reported by the military-controlled Ministry of Health. Real figures are believed to be higher than officially reported)
• 1902 new cases and 3 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:
• 1,585 killed (+3)
• 12,417 total arrests (+21)
• 1,973 evading warrant (+0)
0 Comments