2nd March, 2021 #day30

 

Despite the bloodshed yesterday, protests continue in many cities. The forms of protest have become more systematic and slightly different in the face of violent crackdowns. Protesters in Yangon, in particular, have been blocking roads and placing themselves in defense positions. They came prepare for tear gas, rubber bullets, and even live ammunitions. As a result, there were no fatalities or serious injuries reported today. Protesters come up with an creative idea to delay the aggressiveness and time of the security forces. They put up stickers with the Commander-in-Chief's face on the streets around the protest sites. Security forces were seen removing the stickers from the streets before they marched toward the protesters.

Yesterday's brutal violence also had a backlash against the junta. Some senior government officials have decided to join the CDM. A township police chief in Mandalay announced that he had joined the CDM because he could not accept the violence against the unarmed protesters. He also wrote in his own letter that the system of transferring younger soldiers from the military to the police and giving them high positions was also unfair and disrespectful towards real police. In addition, the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Union Attorney General's Office also announced that he is a member of the CDM today. He is reportedly the highest-ranking member of the CDM movement in the AG office.

The CRPH responds to military-led SAC actions by declaring a terrorist organization. It is still unclear what this announcement will have immediate impact on the junta. But, with the CRPH gaining the support of the people and forming an internationally recognized body with the winning candidates of the 2020 election, the announcement will definitely have political implications for the junta. So far, the head of junta has spoken about the CDM, but has yet to comment on the CRPH. It is clear that the SAC’s leadership does not want to recognize the existence of the CRPH by commenting on it.

Aung San Suu Kyi is additionally charged under Section 505 (b) for disturbing the stability of the state, and Section 67 of the Telecommunications Act; President U Win Myint is also charged under Section 505 (b). According to their lawyer, she is charged under Section 67 because she personally used the illegal Walkie Talkie. Both are charged under Section 505 (b) because of the CRPH Letter No. 6/2021. She is currently being prosecuted on four counts. Party leaders also said that as the junta had relocated her, they did not know where she is currently being held.

Three members of the Northern Alliance, the Arakan Army, the PNLF (Paluang), and the MNDAA (Kokang), who fought fiercely against the military under the NLD government, have announced an unilateral one-month extension of the ceasefire until the end of March. The three groups are currently negotiating a biliteral ceasefire agreement with the military. As a result of the announcement, protesters have been criticizing the three groups and arguing that they should be attacking the junta, while others have welcomed the ceasefire and said that there should be no more casualties and internally displaced persons in ethnic areas.

Security forces stormed the compound of a Kachin Christian association in Lashio, Shan State, beating and arresting about 10 people, including pastors. According to local media, they have been detained because they allowed protesters to hide inside the church compound. Witnesses said that security forces broke the main gate and fired a few rounds inside the compound. Moreover, a 38-year-old man has been abducted by security forces at a mosque in Mandalay. Similar incidents also happened inside the mosque. According to the AAPP, 1,132 people have been arrested as of February 28, of which 833 are still in custody and about 30 have been killed.