Myanmar

One dead and one wounded in deadly Insein protest

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YANGON, Myanmar – Security forces stuck out against a morning protest in Insein township, leaving one dead and one wounded.

“At first, the security forces were hiding because of fear of the crowd, but then we marched forward to confront them and they shot at us,” a protester said.

While the military was celebrating the 76th anniversary of armed forces day in the capital, there were huge casualties throughout the country due to the violent crackdown of the Myanmar security forces.

Also, the American Embassy has confirmed that an unidentified person a the car shot at the U.S. Information Center, but there were no injuries. They are investigating to the incident.

By Htay Win

Myanmar citizens call for release of two detainees

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YANGON, Myanmar – Citizens in Dala town called for to release of two women in custody in the police station, with thousands assembling and surrounding the police outpost until evening Saturday.

The police eventually dispersed the crowd, firing live rounds that night, resulting in eight death and eighteen injuries.

Kawmu area in Dala township, located across Yangon river, was Aung San Suu Kyi’s constituency for the parliamentary election where she won the parliamentary election twice.

By Htay Win
Photo credit Myanmar Now

Unidentified people set fire to NLD headquarters

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YANGON, Myanmar – Unidentified people threw a burning torch into National League for Democracy headquarters in Bahan township at 4am Friday.

Neighbors put out the flames using buckets of water and fire extinguishers after finding there was no water available for nearby hydrants. After they had put out the fire, the local fire service arrived, which also did not bring water with them.

“The strange thing was that the water was cut off,” one bystander told Myanmar Now. “There was no water supply at all around the office. There was no water from the hydrants when we tried to put out the fire. We had to use buckets of water. It’s lucky that there were fire extinguishers ready.”

There was some structural damage as well as damage to office furniture.

NLD representatives said they would report the arson to the police.

The NLD Party was formed after the 1988 democratic revolution. Standing as an opposition party, the NLD party entered the parliamentary by-election in 2012.

By Htay Win
Photo credit Myanmar now

Protesters in Bagan curse military coup leader

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YANGON, Myanmar – Protesters cursed the military coup leader, Min Aung Hlaing, in temples and pagodas, specifically that the military wouldn’t be successful in the coup against the will of the people.

They also prayed for their fallen heroes in what they consider to be the democratic struggle for control of Myanmar.

So far, a total death toll has reached 270 throughout Myanmar, including casualties in Bagan when security forces dispersed the crowd with live rounds.

In ancient times, the people in Bagan cursed those who destroyed the pagodas and temples they built. With thousands of temples and pagodas in the same place, Bagan is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Myanmar.

By Htay Win
Photo credit Aye Yarwaddy

Court hearing for Aung San Suu Kyi postponed

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YANGON, Myanmar – The remote court hearing of Aung San Suu Kyi case was postponed until April 1 due to the inconvenience posed by the current condition of internet service in the country.

She was arrested after the Feb. 1 coup for illegal export and import.

Since early February, anti-coup protesters have taken streets and of several cities in Myanmar and there have been casualties when the protesters were met by security forces. At present, the total death toll across the country has reached 270, according to a local source.

In 2012, the Myanmar military convinced Suu Kyi to participate in the parliamentary by-election even though she initially refused to enter the election under the 2008 constitution drawn up by the military.

By Htay Win
Photo credit Tazar San

Myanmar military releases detainees from Insein prison

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YANGON, Myanmar – The Myanmar military released 628 detainees from Insein prison Feb. 14, while people were conducting a nationwide silent strike, closing shops and businesses and staying at home.

The detainees were taken to police stations on public buses, and released to go to their homes.

Since early February, the military has arrested politicians, journalists and protesters. According to a local source, the military arrested 2682 people and 2302 people were prosecuted after the military coup.

Even though the military has released some detainees, it still holds some key players of the NLD party.

By Htay Win
Photo credit VOM

Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh catch fire

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YANGON, Myanmar – Three Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh caught fire beginning from camp No.8(W) at 4:30 PM, causing 1000 dwellings to burn down.

The people from the camps were evacuated to a safer place. The fire brigade department from Cox’s Bazar, Ramu, Tekkanat and Okiya areas worked to extinguish the huge fire.

Currently, the number of the wounded and dead is not known.

In recent years, thousands of Rohingya people from Rakhine state fled to neighboring Bangladesh because successive Myanmar governments failed to fulfill the rights of the ethnic people according to international law after Myanmar was liberated from British colonial rule.

As Myanmar’s government signed the 1960 declaration of the United Nation General Assembly, ethnic people have a right to autonomy or self-determination or independence.

By Htay Win
Photo credit Narinzara

KNU blocks logistics of the Myanmar military

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YANGON, Myanmar – Regiment 5 of the Karen National Union has blocked the logistics of the Myanmar military in one of the military’s controlled areas.

The Myanmar military transported 500 bags of rice and edible oil from the Thailand side of the border due to how difficult it was for them to carry the rations from the Myanmar side where the KNU blockade is.

“At this time, the Myanmar military usually carries their military rations, but this year we don’t allow them to carry them because of the military coup,” said an official from the KNU.

Recently, the Karen National Union has declared autonomy in their controlled area, where it has fought for self-determination for more than six decades.

The Karen National Union is a signatory of Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).

By Htay Win

IDPs in Kachin state flee to Myitkyina

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YANGON, Myanmar – Two hundred internally displaced people from Ingyan Yan area of Kachin state fled to Myikyina, the capital of Kachin state, on March 20 due to military reinforcement of both opposing armed forces after recent clashes.

The Kachin Independent Army conducted an attack on the Myanmar military near Gway Htaung village of Ingyan Yan area, which is not far from the dam project of the Chinese government, on March 16. Both forces exchanged artillery fire until midnight.

In recent years, there has existed a ceasefire between the two groups, but they restarted active operations after the military coup. The Kachin Independent Army is a non-signatory of Nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA).

By Htay Win
Photo credit Kachinwaves

IDP camp catches fire in Mrauk U

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YANGON, Myanmar – The Tin Nyo IDP camp in Mrauk U, Rakhine state caught fire due to negligence and 700 houses were burnt.

People from 13 villages had been displaced to the camp, with a population of 3000, in consequence of the clashes between Arakan Army and the Myanmar military in recent years.

Recently the Myanmar military declared a unilateral ceasefire with the Arakan Army, but the military had made fierce a offensive attack on the Arakan Army, causing the deaths of non-combatants.

Mrauk U was the capital of the Arakan kingdom, noted for peace and prosperity in terms of diversity, from the 15th century to the 18th century.

By Htay Win
Photo credit Narisara

Myanmar: Textile factories catch fire during the protest

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YANGON, Myanmar – Two textile factories of owned by Chinese companies in the Hlaing Tharyar industrial zone caught fire during the violent confrontation between protesters and security forces on March 14. No one has claimed responsible for that incident.

The Chinese embassy has called for the Myanmar military to undertake further measures for the security of Chinese investments and Chinese workers in Myanmar.

Due to the violent crackdown of security forces, 50 people have died and 129 others have been wounded in Yangon. Myanmar’s military declared the martial law in five townships of the Yangon area.

After declaring martial law, there internet services in Myanmar has been cut off.

Many people who work for the factories are going back to their localities. Hlaing Tharyar is a populous area due largely to migrant workers.

By Htay Win
Photo credit- Khit Thit

Yangon student union boycotts military-owned products

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YANGON, Myanmar – The Yangon University Student Union has begun a boycott of military-owned products in response to the military’s violent crackdown, which has over the past two months of clashes led to a death toll of 86.

The University Student Union has urged people not to buy or sell brands of beer and cigarettes manufactured by military-owned companies. The student union alleges that revenue from those products has contributed to human rights violation throughout the country, especially in ethnic areas.

The Yangon University Student Union has a reputation for taking an active part in political activities throughout the ages. In British colonial days, student union led the movement to liberate Myanmar from British rule.

By Htay Win
Photo credit Khit Thit