18th April, 2021 #day77

 

Protesters and rights groups are strongly demanding the ASEAN to invite the representatives of the newly formed National Unity Government instead of the junta’s leader to upcoming summit in Indonesia. The #RejectMinAungHlaing online campaign has been going viral since yesterday and netizens are joking that the coup leader should not leave the country since his generals would lead another coup against him once he is outside. Dr. Simon Adams, Director of Global Center for R2P Director, wrote on his social media platform that he should be handcuffed in accordance with international law as soon as he leaves Myanmar. A well-known Reuters correspondent Matthew Tostevin do an online survey on who should be invited to the next ASEAN summit. According to nearly 90,000 voters within five hours, 96 percent voted in favour of NUG, 3 percent voted in favour of both, but only 1 percent voted in favour of the coup leader. So far, the junta has not officially released any information about the meeting. Indonesia and Myanmar people held bicycle strike in favour of the anti-coup movement in Jakarta, Indonesia today.

Local organizations are issuing statements of support for the NUG. Including the Central Committee of the National League for Democracy (NLD), the Kachin Political Interim Coordination Team, the Rvwang Development Association, the Kachin Alliance, the Lisu National Organization, the Rehmonnya Federal Democratic Committee, the Ta'ang Political Consultative Committee, the Karenni State Consultative Committee, and the Mon National Network have also issued letters of support for the NUG. Dr. Too Khaung, a Kachin Nationality and the NUG's Union Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation told to media that the US$ 3.6 billion worth Chinese hydropower dam project in Myitsone, Kachin State, will never been allowed to be built saying "Myitsone will never happen, no matter what China's interests are.” The project has been suspended since 2011 under the Thein Sein's administration due to nationwide public opposition.

In order to intimidate, the junta has been torturing detainees and broadcasting their images with bruises on television. The junta showed a photo of a prominent protest leader Wai Moe Naing with bruises on his face a day after he was arbitrarily arrested in Monwya. This evening, the junta again broadcasted images of six young people with tortured faces who were arrested in connection with yesterday's bombing in Yangon’s Yankin township. Similarly, the youths arrested in Hlaing Tha Yar are seen severely tortured in custody. People close to them wrote on their Facebook accounts that most of them are teenagers and in their 20s and were not involved in the bombing but framed by the informers as they could not catch the responsible person(s).

A car belonging to a celebrity caught fire in Yangon's Sanchaung Township today, according to Mizzima. Netizens said that a car of celebrity Yone Lay was reportedly set on fire as he attended a Thingyan festival organized by the junta’s troops inside military camp. Photos of some celebrities, including him, taking part in that event have been circulating on social media a few days ago. They have been labelled as informants and traitors since they initially involved in anti-coup protests. Japanese Reporter Mr. Yuki Kitazumi was arrested again on Yay Kyaw Road in Yangon's Pazundaung township at around 8 pm tonight, according to Khit Thit Media. The junta’s troops reportedly took two boxes filled with his documents. He was arrested on February 26 while covering anti-coup protest in Myay Ni Gone but released immediately. A young man was shot in the head by a group of soldiers on the street in Myingyan, Mandalay Region. According to the Irrawaddy, 25 people have been killed in Myingyan alone since the coup.

Fighting between the KIA and the junta has intensified in Momauk Township, Kachin State, since 7 pm tonight. In Laiza, where the KIA reportedly base its headquarters, the KIA has warned residents to be aware for possible airstrikes, according to social media sites close to the KIA. Fighting has been raging for almost a month in the vicinity of Mount Alaw Bum which located near Laiza. Karen diaspora community in Thailand have donated 1 million baht (US$ 32,000) to the Karen National Liberation Army, the armed wing of the KNU, according to a gratitude letter of the KNLA’s Commander-in-Chief. Millions of Myanmar diaspora communities around the world are actively involved in fundraising for the anti-coup movement.