Myanmar military council arrests the artist Zarganar

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YANGON, Myanmar – The artist Zarganar was arrested by the Myanmar military council from his home in Tarmwe township, Yangon this morning.

Zarganar is not only a director but also a comedian famous for political jokes since the 1988 democratic revolution.

Zarganar was arrested by the Myanmar military many times before 2010.

By Htay Win
Photo credit Zarganar page

Kayin IDPs struggle to get for food

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YANGON, Myanmar – Kayin internally displaced people are desperate for food, clothing and shelter, hiding in the forest from the air strikes of the Myanmar military.

The IDPs fled to neighboring Thailand, but Thai government turned them back. However, Wednesday morning the Thai government opened Maeseli jetty in Maehaungsaung district to sending rations and medicines over the border to Kayin state, according to a Thai media.

By Htay Win

Twenty Myanmar celebrities charged with incitement

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YANGON, Myanmar -They were charged under the country’s media law with inciting government employees to join the popular civil disobedience movement (CDM) through social media.

Celebrities took part in the NLD election campaigns and are thought to have played a large part in influencing the public, particularly Myanmar’s youth, to vote for Aung San Suu Kyi.

By Htay Win
Photo credit Myanmar celebrity

French solar co to leave Myanmar

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YANGON, Myanmar – French solar power company Voltalia announced it will pull out of the country due to the ongoing political and humanitarian crisis.

Voltalia has been in Myanmar since 2018 and has provided solar power to 156 telecom towers in Bago and Ayeyarwady where previously there was no electricity.

The move is part of a trend of European and other international companies responding to the military coup and subsequent violence. A similar development happened during the previous military regime as well.

By Htay Win
Photo credit Aye Yarwaddy

Myanmar military council to sign BIMSTEC charter

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YANGON, Myanmar – The council will sign the charter at the forthcoming 5th BIMSTEC summit, the union minister of international cooperation foe the military said in a statement.

The principles of BIMSTEC are non-interference in internal affairs, peaceful co-existence, mutual respect, mutual benefits and consensus in terms of 14 sectors of cooperation.

The member states of BIMSTEC are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Among those, Bangladesh, India and Thailand  attended the 76th anniversary of the Armed Forces Day of Myanmar, together with China, Russia, Pakistan, Laos and Vietnam.

By Htay Win

German company suspends export of raw materials used for printing Myanmar’s currency

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YANGON, Myanmar – Giesecke Devrient has suspended the export of the raw materials used in printing Myanmar’s notes, called Kyat, the company said in a statement.

They decision was based on the military’s violent crack down on anti-coup protesters throughout the country.

Giesecke Devrient exports paper and ink required for printing Myanmar notes.

“The German company has implemented a policy of CRPH, suspending export of the raw materials for printing money,” U Tin Tun Naing, the acting minister of finance and commerce of the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw of the NLD party.

So far, the people in Yangon and some other areas have used ATM machines for withdrawal of money due to the closure of private banks in early February.

By Htay Win

Myanmar military sends forces to Rakhine state

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YANGON, Myanmar – Myanmar’s military set a further 500 soldiers from the 11th regiment and the 55th regiment following a military council, and also announced they have extended a unilateral ceasefire for a month across the country.

According to Anadolu Agency, Rohingya Solidarity Organization raided a base of the Myanmar military in the early morning and killed 20 soldiers on March 30.

In recent years, thousands of Rohingya people fled to neighboring Bangladesh due to the crisis in Rakhine state and sought shelter in IDP camps.

Thousands of people are still in IDP camps in Rakhine state due to the recent clashes between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, which has been fighting for self-determination under the rights set out in international law.

By Htay Win

Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) revokes 2008 constitution

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YANGON, Myanmar – The NLD party committee has revoked the 2008 constitution on the grounds that it is not relevant for the federal democratic nation.

The CRPH was formed with elected representatives of the National League for Democracy as a parallel government in February following the military coup.

The objectives of the CRPH are to abolish dictatorship, revoke the 2008 constitution, reform the federal democratic nation and empower civilian government.

All military-opposition armed ethnic groups have expressed support for the CRPH, and thousands of protesters in Mandalay have called for revoking the 2008 constitution.

By Htay Win
Phto credit Aye Yarwaddy

60 houses in Mandalay burn

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YANGON, Myanmar – Sixty houses in the Pyigyitagon township of Mandalay caught fire during the night. As yet, the cause of the fire is unknown.

When the local fire department responded, security forces opened warning fire.

The day before, there had been a clash between protesters and military that resulted in casualties.

While locals mourned their losses, coup leader Min Aung Hlaing visited the attractions of Mandalay such as Mandalay Palace and the Maharmuni Buddha statue.

By Htay Win

India’s Manipur security forces expel IDPs from Myanmar

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YANGON, Myanmar – Myanmar citizens from Tamu who had fled across the border into India were expelled back to Myanmar, according to Imphal Free Press.

Manipur’s government also published a letter March 26 urging local Civil Society Organizations not to give shelter to Myanmar IDPs, although the people on both sides of the border often have existing relationships.

India’s federal government is putting more pressure on the northeastern states to not accept IDPs, too. Mizoran state, however, has refused and is trying to persuade the federal government to accept Myanmar IDPs.

By Htay Win
Photo credit CN

Myanmar military fighter jets shell KNU headquarters

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YANGON, Myanmar – The fighter jets shelled the headquarters of Kayin National Union, located in Mutayaw district, and one house was burnt down, resulting in civilian casualties, according to the Kayin Information Center.

After the air strike, 2000 local people fled to neighboring Thailand to take the shelter, but Thailand’s government deported them back to Myanmar.

Earlier this week, the fifth regiment of the insurgents captured the Themuhtar base of the Myanmar military.

Kayin National Union, one of the armed ethnic groups in Myanmar, has been fighting for self-determination under rights set out in international law.

By Htay Win
Photo credit KNC