23rd April, 2021 #day82

 

In Yangon, where street protests have subsided due to extreme brutality and daily crackdown, a big street protest took place again in the heart of the city this afternoon. Around 300 people participated in this rally on Shwebontha Road with the slogan “What are we? We are Yangoner,” and many showed their support by clapping their hands, honking their car horns, and blocking streets with their cars. The rally ended successfully right before the arrival of the junta troops. Amid criticism of Yangon residents being reluctant to involve in street protest, today’s sudden protest has sparked praise on social media and street protests are expected to intensify again in Yangon. Similarly, street protests erupted again in Mandalay and many other major cities defying the military junta. In an interview with RFA, Zeyar Lwin of the Peacock Generation said he had met with prominent politicians and artists, including Mya Aye, Lu Min, Nilar Kyaw, Saw Phoe Kwar, Sean Turnell, in Insein Prison. He added that some of the detainees are suffering from mental illness. He was released on amnesty on Burmese New Year's Day.

The young people expressed their gratitude to the Korean people for their concern and support for Myanmar crisis. Like other Asian countries, K-Pop culture is very influential in Myanmar and young people are thankful for not forgetting their country. Korean people and government have continuously spoken out about the anti-coup movement. There are reports that Myanmar national football team will be preparing for the World Cup qualifier match against Japan national team. However, some players, including big names, are reluctant to play and said they would retire if they were forced to play, according to freelance journalist Cape Diamond. Fighting between locals with handmade rifles and junta troops has intensified in Yinmarpin and Kanni Townships in Sagaing Region, according to RFA. The shootings began on April 2 when soldiers tried to arrest a Buddhist monk who led a protest in Yinmarpin. A villager told RFA that there had been six clashes between the two groups and that at least 10,000 villagers are armed with handmade rifles as they are hunters, and that the junta troops have been using heavy weapons such as RPGs.

Coup leader Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing will go to the ASEAN summit tomorrow by the state-owned MAI airline, Khit Thit Media reported. ASEAN countries have been widely criticized for not inviting NUG representatives. Netizens wrote on their pages that the MAI pilot should help the people by crashing the plane or by landing it somewhere else not Jakarta. Amnesty International released a statement calling for immediate action against coup leader. NUG's Deputy Minister of Education wrote on her Facebook page that the she is doing her best to recognize the sacrifices of CDM civil servants and assist them financially.

Clashes between the RCSS and the SSPP/TNLA has set fire to more than 10 houses in Mansa village on the Namtu-Hsipaw road in Shan State, leaving about 2,000 people displaced, according to RFA. Fighting between these groups has been raging in the area since 2016. The Shan Nationalities Development Party (SNDP), has issued a letter urging two Shan armed groups to end fighting, dialogue between the military council and other stakeholders, and Ministry of Social Welfare to assist those displaced persons, according to Shan News. Netizens criticised the SNDP for failing to condemn the coup in first place and having close ties to the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).

In Thaton, Mon State, at least two junta soldiers including an officer were killed in a shootout between KNU Brigade 1 soldiers who providing security for protesters and junta troops who coming to crackdown, according to Myanmar Now. Fighting has later intensified in the region. In addition, two soldiers were killed and several policemen were injured in a shootout between soldiers and policemen at a ministerial residence in Hakha, Chin State, according to Chin World. A local resident said that about 10 gunshots were heard around 8 pm. The reason of the shootout is still unknown, but netizens are saying that they wish more shootouts happen among the junta troops. Khit Thit Media reported that on April 22, a Thai border guard boat patrolling in the Salween river was shot by the junta troops on the Burmese side. So far, neither side has released any information.