The Resistance hits near the heart of the regime, in Naypyidaw. Zaw Than Soe Thu, Deputy Chief of Police and 4 other regime forces, have been seriously injured in a parcel bomb explosion in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) office. Naypyidaw is by many considered as a regime’s stronghold, but Resistance fighters vowed to intensify their attacks in the capital of Myanmar. It’s not clear how the parcel made it to the Deputy Chief of Police. Some suspect “watermelon” soldiers to have helped (soldiers dressed in green, but who are red, the color of NLD, inside).
Rumors of regime forces running thin increase by the day. According to Karen media, the Tatmadaw is trying to force civilians to join the Burmese army. According to Resistance sources, EAOs and PDF could have killed over 1000 soldiers, and injured more, since the start of the conflict. The Junta sent traffic police in Arakan as reinforcement and is having difficulties in sending more troops to areas where the conflict is intense. Some say regime soldiers may be much less than the 300,000-400.000 that many reported in February. Defections are increasing, despite the obstacles, and
Meanwhile something is moving in the diplomatic sphere. Yesterday ASEAN appeared to put some pressure on the generals, by threatening to not invite Myanmar representatives at the next ASEAN Summit, if the Junta would not engage with the ASEAN special envoy in a productive way.
Today the Burma Act was submitted in Washington, and the French Senate unanimously approved a resolution asking the French Government to recognize the NUG (democratic government). Small and slow steps, but still steps forward I guess.
POLITICS, ECONOMY AND OTHER NEWS
• Washington D.C., US: House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), House Foreign Affairs Asia-Pacific Subcommittee Ranking Member Steve Chabot (R-OH) and Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) introduced the “Burma Unified through Rigorous Military Accountability Act of 2021” or BURMA Act. Key points: 1) Authorization to impose sanctions on individuals and entities who helped stage the February 1 coup d’état 2) Authorization to prohibit the import of precious and semi-precious gemstones from Burma into the United States. 3) Authorization for a new position at the State Department, a Special Coordinator for Burmese Democracy 4) Authorization for support to civil society and for humanitarian assistance in Burma, Bangladesh, Thailand, and the surrounding region. 5) Call for the Department of State to make a genocide determination with regards to the persecution of the Rohingya. 6) Call for the United States to pressure the United Nations to take more decisive action with regards to Burma. Link to the full act https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/_cache/files/e/6/e6cb609a-d8bb-4388-906d-8ceafb3e320a/34C51BC9447CC0DF5FF25683D94BA31A.meeks-burma-act.pdf
• France: the French Senate unanimously approved a resolution asking the French Government to recognize Myanmar National Unity Government (the democratic and legitimate government that opposes the regime)
• Khit Thit media released a video of Karenni People’s police interrogating Thein Zaw, a regime Sergeant who has been captured during the conflict. Thein Zaw says soldiers are kept in the dark regarding what is happening in Myanmar, and families are taken as hostages.
• According to The Irrawady, Lieutenant General Than Hlaing, who has been appointed chief of the Myanmar Police right after the coup, and is acting as the regime’s Deputy Home Affairs Minister, is set to take charge of operations against People’s Defense Forces (PDF) in Sagaing and Magwe regions and Chin State. He is currently blacklisted by the US, UK, Canada and EU for his role in the violent crackdown on peaceful protesters.
• His younger brother Soe Moe Hlaing, a veteran pro-democracy activist, was tortured and killed in May in Bago Region. Than Hlaing threatened So Moe Hlaing multiple times for his political views, and the two even exchanged shot against each other in Karen State, when so Moe was part of the revolutionary armed group All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF).
• The Irrawady published an article on businessman Aung Moe Myint, founder of the Dynasty Group of Companies (DGC), who has been acting as an arms dealer between Belarus and the Burmese military. Belarus was the only UN country that voted against a non binding resolution calling for an arms embargo against Myanmar. The two countries have been dealing with each other since the Than Shwe regime. A Belarus cargo plane landed in Yangon airport on February 10th 2021, few days after the coup.
• Press briefing by Andrew Kirkwood, UN Resident Coordinator a.i and Humanitarian Coordinator a.i for the United Nations in Myanmar. “We have requested a total of 385 million dollars to reach those 3 million people this year. Today, we have received about a third of that” https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=215859990473919&ref=sharing (in English with Burmese subs)
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s defence team will not call any witness. Anyone testifying for DASSK could become a target for the military regime
Patrick Pouyanné, CEO of France’s TotalEnergies (Total oil and gas) is under investigation of conflict of interest. • Pouyanné may have used his position on the Ecole Polytechnique to allow TotalEnergies to build a research and innovation centre on the university’s campus in Saclay, south of Paris (Source: Reuters). Total, which operates in Myanmar together with Chevron, is one of the largest sources of revenue for the military regime, that is now controlling the Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE). Burmese activists have been calling for sanctions against MOGE. Chevron has been lobbying the US Government to avoid sanctions.
• The KIC (Karen Information Center), reports forced recruitments by the Tatmadaw and Border Guard Force (a pro-military armed group) in Karen State.
YANGON
• Mingaladon: the body of the 50 year old motorcycle driver who was killed by regime forces last week, has not been returned to the family yet. The man was arrested 2 days earlier and died under custody. His body has been cremated without permission.
• Thaketa Township: a 50 year old school guard has been shot dead. He was accused of being a military informant
• Thanlyin Special Economic Zone: checkpoint bombed by Resistance fighters. 1 soldier killed.
• Hlegu: Resistance fighters arrested a military appointed administrator and an informant, sentencing them to life in prison.
MANDALAY
• Myittha: Bomb explosion at the Military Security Affairs office. Myittha Resistance fighters claimed the attack, as a warning to regime forces who keep terrorizing the town. 3 bystanders have been arrested. According to the local PDF, they are not involved in the attack
• Kyeik: KNLA attacked BGF (Border Guard Force, a pro-military armed group) soldiers, killing 2 of them.
SAGAING
• Internet shutdown in Kale. 11 Townships in the region are now without internet. The military regime cuts internet in areas where conflict intensifies.
• Nat Hteik Taung (Pone Taung) Yenan Hmaw village, Pale: regime soldiers set fire to the village
• Kalay: 9 regime soldiers killed by Resistance fighters
• Htee Chaing and Katha: over 50 administrators resign
KAREN (KAYIN) STATE
• Papun: 2 regime soldiers killed, 3 injured by a landmine
• Papun: clashes between KNLA and regime soldiers. 18 regime soldiers killed
KACHIN STATE
• Tanai: On Monday, a Burma Army column was providing security for a military convoy travelling from Shadu Zup in Hpakant Township to Tanai when KIA Battalion 14 attacked them at two points between Kawng Ra and Ting Kawk villages. (Source: Kachin news). Number of casualties unknown.
• Shadu Zup, Hpakant Township: the military regime is sending more troops in the area
CHIN STATE
• The regime is sending more troops to Hakha and Mindat. The 101 LID, usually based in Pakkoku (Magway), has been relocated in Matupi.
• RFA reported of civilians arrested an then released by regime forces, only after paying a “ransom”
KARENNI (KAYAH) STATE
• Demoso: clashes between Resistance fighters and regime soldiers. 8 regime soldiers killed.
SHAN STATE
• Mong Kung: 1 civilian killed and 3 injured by heavy artillery fired during clashes between Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) and the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS)
ARAKAN (RAKHINE) STATE
• U Khaing Thukha, a spokesperson of the Arakan Army, told DMG: “The Myanmar military’s summoning of village administrators has severely damaged trust between the two sides. The Myanmar military is doing something that should never be done,”. In recent weeks, Tatmadaw authorities approached village administrators to warn them not to support the AA. The Arakan Army and the Tatmadaw are currently respecting a tacit ceasefire.
• Deposed Rakhine State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu and two other ousted Rakhine ministers appeared in court in the Rakhine capital Sittwe on Monday to face corruption charges under the Anti-Corruption Law. (The Irrawady)
MAGWAY
• Htei Hlaw, Gangaw: residents who fled the village, returned home to find burned houses and. Regime soldiers occupied the village during the weekend and civilians were forced to flee. A burnt unidentified body was found.
• Yesagyo: regime soldiers raided a charity clinic and destroyed medical equipment
NAYPYITAW
• Zaw Than Soe Thu, Deputy Chief of Police, and four other security forces, including Lt-Col Zaw Than, have been seriously injured in an explosion in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) office. A parcel exploded when the officials opened it.
• Naypyitaw Resistance fighters attacked a Ministry of Immigration and Population mini-van. No casualties. PDF says it’s a warning to non-CDM workers
BANGLADESH
• More details on the murder of Rohingya leader Mohib Ullah. According to witnesses he has been shot multiple times by a group of 7-8 people. The witness recount would confirm that the motive could be Mohib Ullah’s efforts to repatriate Rohingya people in Myanmar.
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/account-10042021171951.html
COVID DAILY (real numbers are believed to be much higher than officially reported)
1,526 new cases and 36 new deaths
AAPP Burma update
1158 (+4) civilians killed since February 1st
7091 (+12) still under detention
0 Comments