13th April, 2021 #day72

 

Today is the beginning of the Thingyan New Year festival also known as Songkra. It is one of the most religiously and traditionally important periods in Myanmar. However, the festival that used to be full of joy is now filled with anger and sorrow. Many have refused to celebrate the festival in honour of the fallen heroes of the #springrevolution. Led by young people under the guise of "Revolutionary Thingyan," the anti-dictatorship movement have been held in innovative ways using the symbols of the festival. The youths are calling to hold Atar Oo strike (Thingyan Pot strike) on the first day (a-kyo nei), the bloodless strike on the second day (a-kya nei), car strike on the third day (a-kyat nei), mourning day on the fourth day (a-tet nei), and the prayer day on the first day of the new year. In addition, as Ramadan, the holy month for Muslims, begins today, Myanmar Muslim youths are calling for a “Sad and Quiet Ramadan” for this year by praying for the fallen, the displaced, and the suffering, instead of celebrating Ramadan Mubarak (happy Ramadan).

Bomb blasts have been reported all over Yangon in recent days. No one was killed or injured in the blasts, according to local media. According to Khit Thit Media, the junta troops stopped vehicles and searched in Yankin, Bahan, South Okkalapa, and Myaynigone townships where the blasts took place. There has been a rumour that a driver was reportedly shot dead today as he refused to stop at the checkpoint. In Tamu, Sagaing Region, the junta continued to open fire on civilians, and a Gurkha couple Kishan Gtm and Harimaya Gtm, milk vendors, have been shot dead by junta troops near the Pahe Bridge this morning, locals told local media. They were parents of three children.

The junta again charge 20 medical doctors under Section 505 (a) of the Penal Code for their active involvement in CDM movement and support of CRPH. To date, 717 people have been issued arrest warrants, according to the AAPP. Residents near of the the Myanmar Christian Fellowship Of The Blind (Kaweichan) in Yangon wrote on their social media page that about 100 members of the junta have been encamped inside the school compound since last night frightening hundreds of students. They told U Thein Lwin, the school's principal, that they would stay for a week or two.

KIA Battalion 12 operating in Bhamo District issued a letter today warning locals not to transport the military weapons and foods and accommodate at church compounds. In the past, Brigade 9 in Hpakant and Brigade 1 in Putao have issued similar statements. The KIA's Colonel Naw Bu told RFA that fighting between the KIA and the junta could escalate as the junta are trying to reseize their bases. Currently, fighting is taking place between them in Kachin State and northern Shan State. The BBC reports that the KIA's ambush has killed many members of the junta. New York-based S&P Dow Jones Indices said that it removes India’s Adani Ports from its index because of its joint venture with the junta-owned Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC). The company is building a $ 290 million port on military-owned land in Yangon, Reuters reported.