MYANMAR NEWS: 10th FEBRUARY 2022 (eng+ita)
According to the Democracy Index, Myanmar ranked only 135th out of 167 countries in 2020. It ranked 113th in 2016. Following the 2021 military coup, Myanmar fell to second-to-last, ranking 166th only preceding Afghanistan and following North Korea. It is incredible to see such a fall in few months.
An Index (especially from The Economist…), can’t capture how the 2021 military coup destroyed people’s lives and hopes. Those who have been in Myanmar after 2010, probably remember a fast developing country in which many people had high hopes for the future. The truth is that even under the semi-civilian rule, Myanmar was far from being a democracy. The situation in many regions, especially where ethnic “minorities” live, was very different from what we were used to see in Yangon or Mandalay. What the military coup did, is to extend that situation to the whole country.
This is why the idea of “power sharing” with the military regime (that some diplomats still support) is ludicrous. The very nature of the Tatmadaw is to destroy everything it can, and there was never the will to let the country develop in a full democracy.
POLITICS, ECONOMY AND OTHER NEWS
• According to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), Myanmar ranks second-to-last in the latest Democracy Index, ranking 166th out of 167 countries, preceding only Afghanistan and following North Korea.
• The Irrawaddy reports that the military regime is spending around 5 million USD to hold a parade in Naypyidaw on Myanmar’s 75th Union Day. The country is currently in the middle of one of the worst economic and political crisis and Covid cases have been increasing in the past week.
• Wai Phyo Aung, a student from Myingyan University, has been sentenced to 6 years of prison for organizing anti-coup protest
• RFA reports that according to locals, nearly 40 civilians including women and children have been killed by the military regime in the past ten days in Sagaing alone
SAGAING
• Minkin: Resistance fighters killed 3 regime soldiers.
• Minkin: regime soldiers burned nearly 300 houses in Mauk Tek and Muta according to Burmese BBC.
• Ye-U: an elderly man and a woman have been found dead after a military raid in in Taung Pyin Nge.
• Khin U: 4 regime soldiers and one Resistance fighter died during a clash in Kala Lu
• Kalay: 15 people have been killed during clashes between Resistance fighters and Pyu Saw Htee members (a pro-military militia) in Kyan Thar
• Tangse: regime soldiers raided and burned houses in Pe Chaung and Kyauktaw
KACHIN STATE
• Myanmar Now reports that the military is sending large numbers of reinforcement troops to the state, according to the KIA
SHAN STATE
• Lawksawk: fighting broke out between the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP) and the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS). The Burmese military regime has reportedly bombed the area, although it is not clear for what reason, as it usually does not get involved in clashes between two ethnic armed groups.
• The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) paid a 600 USD compensation to the family of a 15-year-old girl who has been raped by one of its soldiers and who tried to kill herself by drinking pesticides. The soldier has been sentenced to only 3 years of prison. (Source: Shan news)
KARENNI (KAYAH) STATE
• Demoso: regime troops shelled an area occupied by internally displaced people.
• Demoso: Resistance fighters killed 3 regime soldiers who were raiding Aung Chan Thar village
• Loikaw: clashes between Resistance fighters and regime soldiers have been reported,
KAREN (KAYIN) STATE
• Lay Kay Kaw: fighting between the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and regime troops are still ongoing and displaced people have not been able to return to their homes yet.
MANDALAY
• 2 freelance reporters Hla Myo Aung and Soe Lin Aung and 2 pro-democracy activists, Thu Ya Aung and Ko Pho Lone have been abducted by regime soldiers yesterday. 15 people have been detained following a raid in Maha Aung Myay
ARAKAN (RAKHINE) STATE
• Maungdaw: the military regime is tightening security in the area, following clashes with the Arakan Army. 7 regime soldiers have been killed by the AA in Hpa Wut Chaung, including a major and 4 sergeants
YANGON
• Kyauktan Township: 48 Rohingya refugees from Arakan State have been arrested while allegedly travelling on a motorboat towards Malaysia
• Thanlyin: the house of retired Lieutenant Colonel Kyaw Moe Kyi, has been attacked by Resistance fighters. He is a member of the Yangon Division Election Commission (Source: DVB)
TANINTHARYI
• Dawei: Win Thiha, who has been abducted by the military regime, has been beaten and tortured according to his friends and family
COVID DAILY (as reported by the military-controlled Ministry of Health. Real figures are believed to be higher than officially reported)
• 1307 new cases
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:
• 1,546 killed (+6)
• 12,073 total arrests (+14)
• 1,974 evading warrant (+0)
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