23rd March, 2021 #day51

 

Yesterday was a 15-year-old child and today is a 7-year-old girl named Khin Myo Chit. Both of them were shot dead in Mandalay while living inside their houses. None of them take part in the protests, families told to the media. She has become the youngest of 261 people confirmed killed by the junta since February 1. Locals claim that more children are being shot because soldiers not only crackdown the protests, but also chase civilians with army vehicles, beat pedestrians, and shot in the residential areas blindly for no reasons. In Mandalay alone, at least six people were reportedly killed today. In cities with a high death toll, non-human protests are becoming more common instead of mass protests. Protesters are using innovative ways to show their emotions and demands. In some cities, youths and students have carried out dawn protest which happened around 5 AM in order to avoid clashes with the soldiers. Some youths have also taken to the small lanes to protest. Tomorrow, March 24, has been declared a Silent Strike and people are being urged not to leave their houses. Many shops and markets including City Mart, a popular supermarket in Yangon, have also announced that they will be closed tomorrow.

Soldiers destroyed houses and shops in Hua Ri Tuang Chay village in Pekon, near the border between Shan and Karenni (Kayah) states. The Karenni Information Center reported that soldiers also looted chickens and pigs. A few days ago, four soldiers, including two officers from Battalion 422, were killed near that village and their car was set on fire. Soldiers arrived in about 10 military vehicles after the incident and arrested about 50 villagers, whose whereabouts are still unknown. Ethnic peoples have always claimed that the military has frequently threaten villagers and looted their properties in their areas, whether or not there is on-going fighting. In Karen State, some 8,000 locals have fled into the jungle due to the military offensive against the KNU, according to the Associated Press. At least 15 people have been killed and more than 400 are missing in a yesterday massive fire that swept through a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. According to the UNHCR, more than 500 people were injured and about 45,000 have been displaced. Many young protesters including social influencers in Myanmar have posted on their social media that they are sorry for the incident and wish them to return to Myanmar. Such prayers written in the name of Rohingya have been very rare in the past among Myanmar social media users.

The junta held a third press conference in Naypyitaw today. Significantly, many well-known private media outlets did not attend the event. During the conference, the military council aired a video of the confession of the NLD-appointed Yangon Region Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein as a proof of Aung San Suu Kyi's bribery. However, the video has been criticized on social media for being too obviously a fabrication. People pointed out that it was not Phyo Min Thein's original tone, that his lip and voice did not synchronize, and that his body posture was not normal. In addition, a young man tested the video with an artificial intelligence technology and the result showed that it is 75% fake. Previously, the military council released the videos of the confession of businessman Maung Weik and an official from the Union Election Commission at a press conference. The junta claimed that the rioters destroyed six government buildings, 30 police stations, 12 police outposts in 30 townships, and burned bridges, banks, ATMs, telecommunications towers, and fire station. Social media users also criticize the military’s statement about reopening schools in a few months and its plan to let students complete two classes in one year. The military has been criticized for not being serious about education and for failing to predict the will of the people.

The Arakan Army’s spokesman, Khaing Thukha, told Reuters that the AA, which has been silent about the coup, stand with the people. He said that they are "saddened" by the killing of innocent civilians and said that “the current actions by the Burmese army and police are very cruel and unacceptable." He added that they would continue to fight for the oppressed Rakhine people. The remarks came after statements of Rakhine (Arakan) civil society groups and the Arakan National Party. It remains to be seen whether the ceasefire between the AA and the military will break soon. The Chinese and Russian foreign ministers, who met in Guilin city, expressed concern over the situation in Myanmar and called for a political solution to the crisis, avoiding no more bloodshed, and urging no external forces to take advantage of the crisis. The meeting came after the meeting of Quad countries and announcement of navy exercise in Bay of Bengal. The European Commission has imposed travel and financial sanctions on eleven generals and businessmen close to the junta yesterday. However, Burma Campaign UK has called for EU sanctions to be too lenient and demand more strong measurements against the coup leaders and investments. Following the arrest of two Australians, the Australian Embassy in Yangon has issued a letter warning its citizens to stockpile food for two weeks. Last week, the embassy asked its citizens to leave the country as soon as possible saying that the protests could turn violent and it would be difficult to help them if there is civil unrest. Social media users have speculated that the warning could come as the embassy has received information that major changes could take place in politics during the next two weeks.