10th April, 2021 #day69

 

Northern Alliances (AA, TNLA, MNDAA) launched an attack on Naung Mon Police station on Lashio-Mandalay Union Road in Shan State around 5 am today. The attack killed 14 police officers, including the commander, left two missing, seven injured, according to Shwe Phee Myay News. Security is tight in Lashio and military helicopters landed in the town after the attack, locals said. The attack is the first joint offensive of the Northern Alliance since the November 2020 election. They released a statement on March 30 warning the junta to stop the violence. Today also marks the 12th anniversary of the founding of the Arakan Army. Fighting is expected to intensify in northern Shan State, where these groups operate, and there are fears of renewed fighting in Arakan Army-based Rakhine State. But in some parts of Rakhine State, people are preparing to celebrate the Thingyan New Year festival. Khumi Media reported that AA soldiers, including the military regime, are pressuring local Chin villagers to hold the festival in Paletwa, Chin State amidst the nationwide bloodshed.

More than 80 people may have been killed in yesterday's crackdown in Bago region, according to local media, including AAPP. Myanmar Now reported that there are more than 60 confirmed deaths. However, due to the internet outage, it was difficult to obtain video footages and photos of the ground situations, journalists said. Heavy artillery and rocket launchers were used against the Bago protesters. The United Nations Office in Myanmar said that it is following the attack in Bago and urged the junta to allow the wounded to be treated. If the death toll is correct, it would be the deadliest massacre following the massacre in Hlaing Thar Yar, Yangon where more than 100 were confirmed killed on the March 27 Armed Forces Day. The junta’s troops today launched an attack on protests in Tamu, Sagaing. However, locals defended them with arms killing 18 soldiers, Voice of Myanmar reported. Two civilians including a man going to the market were killed as the junta’s troops were shooting everyone on the streets, according to Chin World.

Khaing Za Aung, a navy captain (5427), has joined CDM. He told to Mizzima that he left the military because he did not like it’s use of violence against civilians. In addition, Capt. Lin Htet Aung (62136) of the 528th Light Infantry Battalion under the Triangle Regional Command told RFA that had joined the CDM. According to him, there are many people in the military who say that the military’ actions against the protesters are unfair and that there will be only few soldiers who will fight back if their camps are under attack. He added that the Tatmadaw has just over 300,000 troops and at least 75 percent of officers know that the leaders are doing wrong, therefore they are willing to join if the Federal Army is established.

Khit Thit Media reported that the junta cracked down on the Mya Taung rally in Mandalay today, with thousands of people protesting against the junta almost daily. Most of the protesters, including the leader of the rally Tay Za San were escaped the crackdown a few minutes early. Tay Za San is a medical doctor in Mandalay who led the first street protest since the coup and is now a popular youth leader of the Spring Revolution. The Irrawaddy reported that a handmade bomb exploded near Yadanarbon Market in Mandalay this afternoon, but no one was injured. The Nordic countries - Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden – said in a statement issued for the Arria Formula Meeting on Myanmar that, “the international community has a responsibility to protect the people of Myanmar from atrocity crimes.” According to Dr. Sasa's social media page, the CRPH has received more than 275,000 pieces of evidence indicating the junta’s crimes and violence.