20th March, 2021 #day48

 

Both domestic and international pressure on the junta is growing. Almost two months since the coup, no country has recognized the military council led by Gen. Min Aung Hlaing. Many Western and Asian countries have already imposed some targeted sanctions or suspended ties with the junta. Some investors have decided not to continue their operations. Today, Electricite de France (EDF), a French company that plans to invest more than $ 1 billion in the Shweli hydropower project in Kachin State, announced that the company will suspend the project. The Shweli 3 project, which will generate 671 megawatts on the Shweli River, is now halted at an initial stage of development, according to Bloomberg. Japan's Kirin, which previously invested millions of dollars in Myanmar, has also shut down its emga brewery business. However, energy companies such as Total, Chevron, and Daewoo in the oil and gas industry, which generate about $ 90 million a month in government revenue, have yet to respond. According to Human Rights Watch, at least 27 companies from 13 countries are investing in this sector and many of these companies are wholely or partially owned by the governements. The CRPH has issued a letter urging an immediate halt of companies’ payments to the junta.

Tin Tun Naing, the interim Minister of Economy and Trade appointed by the CRPH, called on the prevention of the flow of money to the junta. According to his statement, the military council needs at least 20,000 billion kyats (approx: $ 15 billion) annually to operate and has three sources of revenue: taxes and duties paid by individuals, revenues from companies including taxes from electricity and transportation, and finally international subsidies. He said that letters have been sent to banks in Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia in order to prevent the junta from withdrawing Myanmar's foreign reserves. In addition, the CRPH is coordinating with the international community to prevent the junta printing more currencies.

Japan has decided not to attend the Tatmadaw Day (Armed Forces Day) celebration on March 27. Some ethnic armed organizations that have signed the NCA also said that they will not attend the event, according to Myanmar Now. March 27, which had been celebrated as Revolution Day since the colonial era in 1945, has been changed into the Tatmadaw Day under the General Ne Win’s coup government. Protesters claim that the military is trying to crackdown all the protests and end anti-coup movement before March 27. Twenty-five Myanmar nationals in Japan are on hunger strike in front of the Myanmar embassy and UN office, according to Myanmar Now. Photos and videos of soldiers smashing cars parked in neighbourhoods of Yangon for no apparent reason are circulating among internet users. Protesters in Yangon say that they are now using guerrilla tactics to protest in Yangon as the crackdown escalated. In addition, some older people have spoken out against the protests in their neighbourhoods fearing crackdowns and property damages. Young people have criticized and labeled them as generation lee (d*ck).

In a village in Myawaddy District of Karen state, two village chairmen appointed by the junta and a militia were shot dead, according to Karen State-based media. The group responsible for this attack is still unknown, but many speculate that it may have been an ethnic armed group operating in the area. According to the Thai-based The Reporters, the Thai government has delivered about 700 bags of rice to Myanmar troops based on the Thai-Burmese border. The supply routes of the military camps in the areas have reportedly cut by members of the 5th Brigade of the Karen National Union. In the comment section of the news, Thai people wrote that they are ashamed of the Thai military action and are with the Myanmar people. The Prime Minister of Mizoram has called on the Indian government to provide assistance and shelfter to those fleeing Myanmar, according to Chin World. Thousands of people including hundreds of police and soldiers have already fled to India side.

Acknowledge and Disclaimer: I'd like to thank all the reporters and citizen journalists who risked their lives to report news contained in this summary. This daily news summary is solely based on my observation and analysis. It does not represent any organisation or individual.