Myanmar

IDPs call for removal of Myanmar military stations

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YANGON, Myanmar – Internally displaced people in Rakhine state have called for the removal of Myanmar military stations near their villages in order that they could get back to their villages after the clashes between Arakan Army and the military have stopped.

“We do not dare go back to my village even though there is no fighting because of Myanmar military stations near my Saukkhat village,” said a woman from the IDP camp.

According to Rakhine ethnic committee, there are 148 IDP camps with a total population of 190,000 in five townships in Rakhine state.

There had been fierce fighting between the Arakan Army and Myanmar military in Rakhine state since 2018, and people fled their villages to the IDP camps while seeing more deaths of non-combatants. A year earlier, in 2017, others from the area fled similar troubles to neighboring Bangladesh as well. The Arakan Army was formed for a purpose of political self-determination 10 years ago in Kachin state.

By Htay Win

Kachin people protest military coup – Myanmar

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YANGON, Myanmar – Kachin ethnic people in Myikyina city staged a protest against the military coup on March 10, with a purpose of attempting to restore democracy in Myanmar.

The dead woman

In the confrontation with security forces, in which live rounds were used, two people died, including a 20-year-old woman and four others were wounded.

Myikyina is the capital of Kachin state and is famous for the Chinese government’s dam project which was temporary suspended due to the public protests. In Kachin state, Kachin Independent Army, an ethnic insurgent group, controls some areas.

By Htay Win
Photo credit Aye Yar waddy

Reporters from Myanmar Now news agency escape military arrest

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YANGON, Myanmar – Their office was raided Feb. 8, but staff had already fled the scene. Instead, authorities took their computers and office equipment.

Last week, security forces arrested reporter Kay Zan Nway of Myanmar Now while she was reporting news during a protest.

Myanmar’s state-run media announced Feb. 8 at night that the military had revoked the licenses of five media outlets working in Myanmar. They are Myanmar Now, Kit Thit, Mizzima, DVB and 7 days media.

By Htay Win
Photo credit- Shine

Security forces raid Mandalay Technology University

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YANGON, Myanmar – The raid took place Feb. 7 as a response to university teachers who had joined the civil disobedient movement.

Female teachers congregated in the main building of the university, while locals gathered near the building to lend support.

Recently, the military announced it would take legal action against those who participate in the civil disobedience movement, and security forces are being deployed to universities and hospitals, where much of the leadership of the movement works. The officials open warning fire at night in most areas where there is open civil disobedience, and have arrested some NLD members.

By Htay Win
Photo credit Moe Naing

Chinese government and Myanmar military to begin sharing information

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YANGON, Myanmar – The Chinese government has agreed to share with Myanmar’s military information about the Northern Alliance, a military coalition composed of ethnic insurgent groups which has been in conflict with Myanmar’s military since 2016.

The two parties held a meeting about government project safety on Feb. 23. Myanmar military, for its part, agreed to share security information with the Chinese government, according to Mr. Bai Tian, the director general of the external security department of the Chinese government.

In the meeting, they discussed the safety of the gas pipeline project that runs from the western part of Myanmar to the Yunnan province of China through central Myanmar.

The Northern Alliance Organization is an armed organization of ethnic groups fighting for their rights according to the international law. Myanmar’s government signed the 1960 declaration of the UN General Assembly, and accordingly, ethnic groups have a right to autonomy, self-determination or independence.

By Htay Win
Photo credit- Khit Thit

Myanmar military cracks down in Mandalay

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YANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar security forces cracked down on the protesters in Mandalay on Feb. 4, resulting in three deaths, including that of a 19-year-old woman. Eight others were wounded.

The woman wrote on her helmet that she had already given up body for the cause of democracy before she took to the streets.

The security forces used sound bombs, tear gas and live ammunition when they dispersed the anti-coup protesters.

Mandalay is the second largest city in Myanmar and was the capital city before the British occupation of the entire country was completed in 1885.

By Htay Win
Photo credit Wutyi Ma

Myanmar Update: Security forces crack down on protesters in Yangon, deaths

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YANGON – Myanmar security forces cracked down on protesters again this week, causing four dead and five wounded.

The protesters have been calling on the military to release detainees including the state counselor, Aung San Suu Kyi, and the president, Win Myint. Security forces arrested many peaceful protesters and reporters during the crackdown.

This week, the Canadian embassy condemned the use of force by the military and called for full restoration of internet access and the lifting social media restrictions.

By Htay Win
Photo credit Amwe Sein

Myanmar university students rally near Chinese embassy, protest SEAFOOD

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Myanmar military protest
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YANGON, Myanmar – University students in Yangon rallied near the Chinese embassy Feb. 27 and called for the Chinese government not to cooperate with the Myanmar military.

Protesters in Myanmar suspect that China is transporting hardware devices to build a firewall for controlling the internet in Myanmar. When the protesters asked the question, the embassy told them that China was sending SEAFOOD to Myanmar. “SEAFOOD” is defines as Software Engineering Approaches for Offshore and Outsourced Development.

There are three main telecommunication companies in Myanmar: MPT, Ooredo and Telenor have provided faster internet connections since 2014.

At present, there is an internet blackout between 1am to 9am daily throughout Myanmar, and when it is available, internet connections are slower than before the military grabbed power from the democratically-elected government.

By Htay Win
Featured image credit: Sit Htet Aung

Myanmar: Union Election Commission revokes 2020 election results

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YANGON, Myanmar – The UEC revoked election results when it met with political parties in Naypyiday Feb. 26. The current election commission was established by the military after it took power in early February, replacing the previous election commission which had validated the presidency of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Among 91 political parties in Myanmar, 53 political parties attended the meeting. “We have to abolish the 2020 election result because of election fraud,” the chairman of the UEC explained.

In the 2020 election, the National League for Democracy party (NLD) won by a landslide, but the military complained that the NLD had committed fraud.

Under the leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi, the NLD was the most popular and famous political party in mainland Myanmar.

By Htay Win
Featured image photo credit: Wutyi Ma

Pro-military mob attacks locals and media in Yangon

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YANGON, Myanmar – Downtown Yangon, the pro-military mob attacked local people and media, with 20 people being wounded this morning, according to a local source.

The mob destroyed some cars stuck in traffic as well.

Photo credit Ko Sein Gyi

Some protesters have claimed they received money from the military to vandalize in particular areas.

Recently, A group of people including some monks rallied to stand with the military after the coup. They are members of the Union Solidarity and Development Party.

Under international pressure, law enforcement forces constricted the violence as much as they could, especially in big cities such as Yangon and Mandalay. The military has also lobbied ASEAN countries to legitimatize its administration.

By Htay Win
Feature image credit Het Arkar

Myanmar military urges government employees to come back work

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YANGON, Myanmar – Myanmar protestsMyanmar’s military called for government employees who are participating in the civil disobedience movement (CDM) to get back to their respective departments. If they do not come back to their jobs by Feb. 25, they will face legal actions, the state administration council warned.

Since the military staged the coup, people in big cities have protested, calling on both government and private employees to join the CDM. Even though some ministries are participating, some are have hesitated.

The CDM campaign is being led by Min Ko Naing and J-Me, the student leaders in the 1988 uprising.

“The CDM campaign is to stop the mechanism of the military administration and reduce the blood shed of innocent people,” stated Min Ko Naing.

By Htay Win

Malaysia defies court order and deports 1086 Myanmar nationals

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Despite a Kuala Lumpur high court’s temporary stay barring the removal of some 1,200 refugees, the country’s director-general of immigration said in a statement that those sent back on Myanmar Navy ships left voluntarily, adding that no persecuted Rohingya or asylum-seekers were included in the group. The court’s stay was issued at the request of Amnesty International who argued the lives of people would be at risk in deteriorating conditions under a regime with a track record of cruelty.

By Milan Sime Martinić