I guess the Tatamadaw’s tactics of distraction works. International media reported the news of the 5,000+ prisoners to be released this week, but nobody can actually verify those numbers.
For sure the news helped minimizing talks about ASEAN’s decision to exclude general Min Aung Hlaing from the next summit.
The Junta wants to project an image of normality, especially to its own supporters. Pictures of Shwedagon Pagoda overcrowded with maskless people in the middle of a Covid pandemic are circulating online. Reports (fake, according to some locals), of fully booked tourist destinations like Chaungtha beach, the intention to reopen the borders to ASEAN tourists in January, plans to reopen schools in November… are all designed to convince a portion of Myanmar society that the generals have everything under control. 9 months after the coup, it could not be further form the truth.
POLITICS, ECONOMY AND OTHER NEWS
• Mizzima media co-founder Daw Thin Thin Aung is among the prisoners released yesterday from Insein Prison, Yangon.
• A DVB article highlights the dramatic situation for women during the economic crisis. The military coup and Covid forced many women who lost their jobs, to turn to sex work to provide for their families. http://burmese.dvb.no/archives/495205…
• Justice for Myanmar once again exposes Singapore’s crucial role in supporting the Tatmadaw:
“A legal memorandum has found that international law and guidance places due diligence obligations on the Singapore Exchange (SGX), and possible liability on the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Singapore Government, in relation to companies doing business with the Myanmar military.” SGX could be guilty of not respecting the due diligence obligations.
Singapore is the most important foreign investor in Myanmar, and many generals and cronies own bank accounts in the island. https://www.justiceformyanmar.org/…/international-legal…
• Ito, son of famous rockstar Zaw Win Htut, has been released during the recent amnesty, but rearrested few hours later under different charges. Dozens of released prisoners have been rearrested few hours after being released.
• Coconuts Yangon published an article about Myanmar people being prevented from leaving the country. In the past few weeks there have been reports of Myanmar citizens going to Yangon’s airport only to be sent back home despite having the proper documentation. https://coconuts.co/…/myanmar-stopping-people-from…/
• DVB reports that Dr. Tun Min Latt of the Star Sapphire Group of Companies allegedly works for the military regime as an arms supplier.
• Foreign investment in Myanmar falls to an 8-year low, dropping 22%: https://asia.nikkei.com/…/Myanmar-FDI-drops-to-8-year…
YANGON
• Hlegu: residents announce to have formed and Interim People Administration that opposes the regime. Hlegu is the second township to do so, after Kayan did the same following the resigning of all regime-appointed local administrators
MANDALAY
• Explosions outside of the Mandalay District Court and Chanmyathazi Township Court
• Bagan: according to the Department of Archaeology, 14 temples have been damaged by heavy rains in the past 2 days. A total of 50 temples have been damaged during the rainy season this year. Bagan has been named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2019
SAGAING
• Indaw: Chindwin news reports that 80 regime soldiers have been killed by Resistance fighters with the help of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA)
• Myaung: regime forces raided and burnt down the Myaung Resistance fighers base and three nearby houses.
• Kanbalu: Resistance fighters destroyed a power line serving a sugar mill owned by MEC, a military controlled conglomerate.
• Sartaung: Resistance fighters Zaw Htet Aung (23), and Myo Ko Ko (30) killed by regime soldiers during a raid. According to the Sartaung PDF leader, the soldiers used an ambulance to attack the Resistance group. The two victims were shot dead while trying to provide cover for their comrades
• Taze: 3 military vehicles hit by landmines placed by Resistance fighters
• Htigyaing: 2 military vehicles hit by landmines, several regime soldiers killed.
KAREN (KAYIN) STATE
• Clash between the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and LID 283 of the Tatmadaw. 5 regime soldiers killed
KACHIN STATE
• Chipwi Town: Warrant Officer Win Naing from LID (Light Infantry Division) No. 105 shot his senior officer dead. (Source: Chindwin News)
CHIN STATE
• Hakha: regime forces entered the city with 50 trucks and 2 tanks. Houses were ransacked along the way and animals have been killed
KARENNI STATE (KAYAH)
• 7 Caritas workers arrested in Loikaw. Caritas is a Catholic organization that provides humanitarian aid to people in need, including displaced people in Karenni State.
SHAN STATE
• Ko Htaik, a sniper from regime’s battalion no. 545, has defected and surrendered to the MNDAA. He decided to defect when his own brother was killed by regime soldiers during an anti-regime protest. According to the former soldier, many in the Tatmadaw wish to defect but are unable to do so.
• MNDAA found 18 dead bodies of regime soldiers and seized their weapons
MAGWAY
• Gangaw: fighting between Resistance fighters and regime forces. 13 regime soldiers killed.
• Magway Region Chief Minister Dr Aung Moe Nyo (NLD) is facing a second corruption charge together with Magway’s social welfare minister Dr Khin Maung Aye, and Magway’s minister for transportation Tin Nwe Oo
BAGO
• Explosion at the Bago municipal office
• Taungoo: local Resistance fighters are offering 3 million kyat (1,600 USD) to regime soldiers who defect with weapons, along with shelter and security
TANINTHARYI
• Myeik: NLD office bombed by unidentified
• Khaung Chaung, Dawei: a military informant killed
MON STATE
• Thanbuzayat: explosion at a local administration office
AYEYARWADY
• Pathein: a military informant killed
COVID DAILY (real numbers are believed to be much higher than officially reported)
• 893 new cases and 28 new deaths
AAPP Burma update (does not include victims of armed conflicts)
• 1181 (+0) civilians killed since February 1st
• 7086 (-104) still under detention
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