The movie industry in Myanmar is very rich. “Midwives” a documentary about a Buddhist midwife and her Rohingya apprentice just won a major award at the Sundance Film Festival. “Myanmar Diaries”, a documentary about the 2021 military coup, debuts at the Berlin Film Festival today. Meanwhile “Three Strangers”, a documentary about a queer family in Arakan State, is circling around independent film festivals.
Shooting movies and documentaries on social and political issues in Myanmar has always been dangerous, even under the semi-civilian government. Topics like democracy, social justice, racism, minority and gender rights, are being discussed more openly than in the past.
Hopefully these films will be able to do what the news are currently unable to do: speak about Myanmar and its complexity.
Speaking about complexity…As some major ethnic armed organizations keep fighting against each other, ignoring the military coup and the Tatmadaw, many civilians in Shan State felt the need to form a new Resistance armed group. The newly formed Norther Shan State Defense Force (NSSDF) shared its first pictures online and announced that it will join the fight against the military regime soon. It is likely that some ethnic armies will not welcome the presence of another armed group in Shan territory.
POLITICS, ECONOMY AND OTHER NEWS
• Myanmar military is planning to purchase 60 & 81 mm mortars, M-79 grenade launchers and Heavy Machine Guns from Pakistan https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/…/art…/89491351.cms
SAGAING
• Yinmarpin: several houses were raided and burned down by military soldiers in Aung Moe Village
SHAN STATE
• Pictures of a new Resistance armed group appeared online. The newly formed Norther Shan State Defense Force (NSSDF) announced that it will join the fight against the military regime.
KARENNI (KAYAH) STATE
• Demoso: the military regime used drones to bomb civilian houses.
MAGWAY
• Pauk: Maung Chan Htet was shot and killed by Pyu Saw Htee members (a pro-military militia) in Kya Oo village
COVID DAILY (as reported by the military-controlled Ministry of Health. Real figures are believed to be higher than officially reported)
• 1473 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:
• 1,547 killed (Feb 11th)
• 12,098 total arrests ()
• 1,974 evading warrant ()
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