Although many point out that ASEAN is under pressure and may exclude Min Aung Hlaing from the next summit at the end of the month, let’s not forget that it failed to intervene in numerous occasions in the recent past, especially on human rights issues, including the Rohingya crisis, the Thai coup. Hopefully this time it will be different.
The military regime barred the lawyers of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint from engaging with media and NGOs. 4 garment workers from Hlaing Thar Yar (Yangon) have been given a life sentence. This is how life under the military regime looks like.
The situation in Chin State is getting worse. Yes, Resistance fighters are holding their own against the Tatmadaw, but regime soldiers keep attacking civilians, raiding and burning villages and forcing people to flee in the jungles. We have to keep the attention on these regions.
POLITICS, ECONOMY AND OTHER NEWS
• According to Reuters, ASEAN foreign ministers are set to meet on Friday to decide whether to exclude Burmese general Min Aung Hlaing from the next ASEAN summit. The Burmese regime did not cooperate with neighbouring countries to solve the Myanmar crisis, and did not implement the 5 point consensus agreed in April. ASEAN special envoy to Myanmar has been barred from meeting Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other democratic leaders. According to the Burmese ministry of foreign affairs, the envoy should prioritize meeting with relevant political parties to build trust. The Tatmadaw has declared the democratic movement a “terrorist organization”. Philippine and Malay foreign ministers let the press know they think Min Aung Hlaing should be excluded. Burmese military spokesperson Zaw Min Tun reiterated that the ASEAN special envoy will not be permitted to meet Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The envoy canceled his trip to Myanmar this week.
• The regime has barred lawyer Khin Maung Zaw & others representing Daw Aung Suu Kyi and the ousted president U Win Myint from engaging directly or indirectly with media, outside orgs, INGOs & foreign government officials under Article 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Source: Voa burmese via Cape Diamond on Twitter). This comes hours after lawyers of U Win Myint released the testimony that he was asked to resign by the Junta on February 1st, and that he was threatened by regime forces before being arrested.
• According to DVB, an Insein Prison tribunal gave life sentence to 4 garment workers from Hlaing Thar Yar. The 4 were charged with treason and unlawful association. One of them was a labor activist.
• Myanmar Now reported that military families are forced to post fake news on Facebook, like the one concerning gold bars found in Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s properties.
• The Union Elections Commission (UEC) will work on developing a new proportional representation system for the next (alleged) elections. In the past 2 elections Myanmar adopted a first-past-the-post system (FPTP, often regarded as a winner takes all system), which rewarded NLD. However only 75% of the parliament seats are selected through vote, as the 2008 Constitution, drafted by the military regime, reserves a fixed quota of 25% of seats to be assigned by the Commander in Chief of the Tatmadaw.
• The National Unity Government (NUG, the democratic government that opposes the regime), released a statement on foreign armed groups crossing the border to fight alongside the military regime against Resistance fighters.
The Chindwin News Agency has sealed a collaboration contract with Reuters News Agency
The five-star Kempinski Hotel Naypyidaw has announced it is to cease operations “for the foreseeable future.” The hotel is considered to be one of the most exclusive in all of Burma, and regularly hosts foreign dignitaries. (Source: DVB)
YANGON
• Mayangone: Resistance fighters of the Free Tiger Ranger group, claimed a bomb attack in front of the Township court
• Kayan: all 65 local administrators resigned after being threatened by Resistance fighters. The military regime tried to replace them to no avail so far.
• North Okkalapa: attack on regime soldiers by Resistance fighters
MANDALAY
• Paelik: another explosive attack on a train carrying food supplies to regime troops.
• Natogyi: CDM rail workers have been forced to leave their housing by regime forces.
SAGAING
• Myaung and Ayattaw: Resistance fighters carried out attacks on regime soldiers.
• Wetlet: 6 alleged military informants killed
• Monywa: explosion at a Denko petrol station, one dead
• Shwebo: Resistance fighters attack 2 military vehicles killing 8 soldiers
KAREN (KAYIN) STATE
• Ywa Thit village, Kawkareik: clashes between KNLA and regime soldiers
KACHIN STATE
• Jahtuzup Village: the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) warned gold miners in the area to leave for possible attacks by the Tatmadaw
• Bhamo: a bomb exploded at a police checkpoint
CHIN STATE
• Falam: Clashes between Resistance fighters of the Chin National Army (CNA) and the Chinland Defence Force (CDF) and regime soldiers.
• Regime soldiers burnt numerous civilian houses in different villages. A Christian Church in Rialti was torched as well. Local Resistance fighters warned civilians not to travel the road from Falam to Hakha and Rih. “I heard that this time, they are planning to eliminate us, so I think there are going to be some casualties. It’s very likely that a very serious battle is going to happen,” the CNF (Chin National Front) spokesperson said to Myanmar Now.
• Hniarlawn village, Hakha township: 10 regime soldiers killed by CNA/CDF-Hakha fighters
• Four youths from Paletwa were yesterday rearrested one day after being released from custody. The group had been acquitted after spending five months detained in Paletwa Prison after being arrested in May whilst collecting donations to help refugees in Mindat. (Source: DVB)
KARENNI (KAYAH) STATE
• 5 Christian churces have been damaged during clashes between
SHAN STATE
• Buhakone and Phaung Saing: clashes between MNDAA and regime soldiers
MAGWAY
• 30 members of Pyu Saw Htee (a pro-regime militia) surrendered to Resistance fighters giving up their weapons. One of the reasons for the decision, is that the Burmese military is not protecting them.
Zee Pyar, Pauk: after Resistance fighters attacked and killed 7 regime forces on Tuesday, regime soldiers arrived in plainclothes forcing many civilians to flee. Zee Pyar is close to the mysterious military factory no. 24. The factory was built in 2009 on land confiscated to farmers (who got very little compensation in return). In 2014 journalists accused the regime to use the factory to produce chemical weapons. 4 reporters of the Unity journal and the chief executive officer were arrested and sentenced to 10 years of prison with hard labour under the State Secret Act.
• Salin: explosions at the electricity distribution office and municipal office (Source: Khit Thit Media)
TANINTHARYI
• Thayetchaung: accidental clashes between regime soldiers and their allies Border Guard Forces. 2 BGF killed.
MON STATE
• Chaungzon: two male Resistance fighters dressed up as women, shot a local administrator dead
COVID DAILY (real numbers are believed to be much higher than officially reported)
1,514 new cases and 33 new deaths
AAPP Burma update
1171 (+1)civilians killed since February 1st
7308 (+89) still under detention
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