10th March, 2021 #day38

 

As the violent repression escalates, so does the number of police fleeing from their stations. According to the Irrawaddy on March 6, a total of about 600 police, from station chief to the lowest rank, have undertaken CDMs across the country. To date, the BBC estimates that around 100 police have fled to the neighboring Mizoram state of India where predominant Mizo people sharing the similar cultural and historical backgrounds with Chin people of Myanmar. Most of the police officers told the media that they did not want to obey the orders of their superiors to shoot the protesters. A fugitive police officer told to Reuters that his commander had ordered him to shoot the protesters to death which he denied to follow. According to another police officer who accompanied him, there are many police officers who want to flee, but they could not escape due to fear of being punished by the police’s rules and regulations and the lack of a leader who is willing to organize the CDM in the police force. The government of Mizoram has announced that it will provide refuge to those fleeing. Currently, security is tight on the Indian side of the border and more people are expected to arrive in a few days. The Thai government had a meeting with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) including the UNHCR today to discuss the situation in Myanmar and potential refugees fleeing to Thailand, according to a social media comment of a participant at the meeting.

As street protests dwindled, the military begin targeting CDM staffs. Soldiers and police stormed a railway workers’ quarters in Yangon and evicted CDM staff and their families since 5 am in the morning. In the past, the military council has tried once to demolish the site but unsuccessful. This housing is home to about 1,000 railway crews and all of them have joined CDM since early of February. Train services in Yangon have been suspended for about a month.

In Kanthaya, North Okkalapa Township, where more than 20 people were killed a few days ago, soldiers and police stormed another protest again and lockdown the entire township. This township, like Sanchaung, is a hotbed of protests, and many students are trapped due to the township-wide roadblocks and soldiers patrol. Embassies have urged the military to back down and allow young people to return home. According to some reports, about 400 people have been arrested in that area. Among those arrested are landlords who provided protesters hideouts. The BBC reports that at least two people have been shot with live ammunitions and the one injured in the neck is in critical condition. Moreover, about 500 police officers are reportedly blocking Sanchaung again. According to residents' social media updates, the blockade happened due to the disappearance of a gun of the armed forces and a door-to-door search is being carried out. The military-owned MWD media broadcasted pictures of student union leaders like criminals and announced that they would be arrested. In Myeik, locals told to media that arrested protesters in Myeik Prisons have been beaten with chains and whips and severely injured.

CRPH says that new government will be formed soon. A spokesman for the CRPH told the BBC that the acting vice president has been elected yesterday and that the new government would also include the position of the presidency. It is unknown at this time who will involve in the new acting government and which constitution will be exercising. However, CRPH officials are meeting with other political forces, including ethnic armed organization, according to their records. The CRPH has rejected the 2008 constitution and has announced the formation of a national unity government. A decision on Myanmar is being discussed at a Security Council meeting in New York. The UK has called for the meeting and submitted a draft resolution condemning the Myanmar military coup, but India, China, Russia and Vietnam have called for it to be amended. Therefore, discussions are still ongoing and decision is still pending, the BBC reported. Dickens and Madson (Canada) Inc., hired by the Military Council to lobby internationally is promised to be paid US $ 2 million, according to a U.S. Department of Justice website. This company has been criticized for a potential violating of the Canadian law as Canada, like the United States, has imposed sanctions on Myanmar’s military leaders.