25th April, 2021 #day84

 

Several reports of sexual assault on female detainees have been circulating on social media following a report of a 32-year-old female being subjected to sextual violence at the Shwepyithar Interrogation Centre in Yangon. Reports stated that the junta troops have been seizing mobile phones of the female detainees and accessed their personal information which later being used for sextual harassment. A young woman who was released from prison told RFA that some of the young women arrested in Insein Prison were both verbally and physically abused by the police almost every day. In addition, yesterday's incident of forcing two young women to dance on the streets for banging pots and pans at their homes has been heavily criticized as insulting not only the dignity of these young women but also the whole of Myanmar culture. Hla Phone Khaing, a transgender man living in Yangon’s Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township, was also arrested last night by the junta troops for allegedly participating in the #BlueShirtStrike. According to people close to her, she was severely beaten during the arrest. These incidents clearly indicate the culture of discrimination against women and LGBTQ community and the dominant ideology of patriarchy in the military, activists claimed. As a result, women activists are launching #sisters2sisters campaign on social media, saying that the actions of the junta troops are hurting women physically and mentally, international community including UN Women must press for their releases and justice, and they are always standing with the women who have been victims of those sextual violence.

Three Myanmar students from England and Ireland have been on a three-day hunger strike on Westminster Bridge in London since yesterday in protest of a Myanmar coup, according to Mizzima. They urged the UK government to declare the military council a terrorist group under the Terrorism Act 2000 and the renewal of visas for Myanmar nationals who are having difficulty returning home due to current political crisis. In Canberra, Australia, some Myanmar students and diaspora community also held a two-day hunger strike in front of the Myanmar embassy last week. Myanmar people also went on hunger strike in Norway and Japan as well. Five civilians, including three members of the Myeik Students' Union, were arrested in Myeik, Tanintharyi Region, according to Dawei Watch. Their safety is at stake as members of the student union are often tortured in custody. According to Khonumthung media, a few soldiers were injured after a shootout between the junta troops and civilians armed with homemade hunting rifles in Mindat, Chin State, at around 9 last night. Seven civilians who participated in street protests were also arrested, the report said.

A shootout between police and soldiers killed one solider and another injured in Kawkareik, Karen State, DVB reported. Two days ago, two soldiers were killed in a shootout between soldiers and police at ministerial residence in Hakha, Chin State, according to local media. Freedom News Group reported that about 20 soldiers, including two sergeants of the 235th Infantry Battalion based in Pakokku, fled their base with their families. The reports said that they fled after their commander told them to go frontline in Kachin State where many troops have already been killed or captured. However, there is no report about this from other media groups yet. The World Health Organization’s report on April 9 indicates that only 0.2 percent of 700 million COVID-19 vaccines doses were given in 95 developing countries including Myanmar. The exact amount of people vaccinated in Myanmar is unknown as the entire country’s health system has collapsed since the coup. Moreover, there is no more update on the number of COVID-19 transmission and monitoring cases.

Criticism of ASEAN's five-point statement on Myanmar continues to rise. Human rights groups in Myanmar have criticized ASEAN countries for failing to reach an agreement on the release of political prisoners, saying the meeting was a paving of the way and making the time for a troubled military council that caught up with domestic and international pressures and a statement ignoring the whole anti-coup movement and the wills of protesters. A statement issued by the European Union (EU) today welcomed the five points of the ASEAN meeting and also called for the release of all political prisoners. Tom Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, tweeted that “the result of the ASEAN summit will be found in Myanmar, not a document.” He also raised questions whether the killing will stop, whether the terrorizing the neighbourhoods will end, whether prisoners will be released, and impunity will persist. The junta-controlled newspaper, Myanma Alin or Global New Light of Myanmar, today reported on the coup leader's visit to Indonesia, but did not mention five points. According to the report, the coup leader said that the they will continue to work with ASEAN members in accordance with the ASEAN Charter and to achieve the objectives of ASEAN.