3rd April, 2021 #day62

 

Myanmar is on the brink of full-blown civil war. Conflicts are spreading rapidly throughout the country. The junta's offensive in Karen State has intensified and clashes occur day and night. Khit Thit Media reports that junta’ troops have been attacking the KNU Brigade 1 in Thaton, Mon State, since this morning. Currently, fighting is taking place in three KNU brigades (1, 3, 5) controlled areas. The KIA has issued a letter urging Burmese troops fighting on the front lines of Kachin State to halt fighting and join with them. The MNDAA or the Kokang group, a member of the Northern Alliance, which operates in northern Shan State, said in a statement that the Tatmadaw has been attacking them and that its soldiers are avoiding a confrontation as much as possible to protect the people’s interests. One of the controversies of Chinese troops in the MNDAA uniforms emerges again on social media.

The Shan State Refugee Committee (Thai Border) said in a statement yesterday that people in five Shan refugee camps on the Myanmar-Thai border are extremely worried about the possibility of armed conflict in the region. in At a PPST meeting of 10 NCA-signatories ethnic armed organizations, the action leader General Yawd Serk condemned the junta's use of airstrikes in KNU-controlled areas. He said that the group will review the status of the NCA agreement, ways to support the Spring Revolution and CDM, and collaboration with the CRPH.

According to Kalay-based Chinlung Today Media, protesters from the main protest camp in Tahan, Kalay Township, exchanged their seven detainees and nine detainees from the military council at 7.30 pm tonight. The military council promised to release all but the accused on Monday. Locals in Kalay have been fighting back the junta's troops with their handmade rifles for about a week. At least two people have been killed and five others injured in a series of shootings in Monywa, Sagaing Region, where massive anti-coup protests are taking place on a daily basis, according to Myanmar Now. The BBC reports that at least one person was killed due to violent crackdown in Thaton, Mon State. According to RFA interview with students who have been released from Insein prison, the student unions’ leaders have been beaten and interrogated with handcuffs behind back and noose around their necks. Students said that one youth was beaten to death in custody and a woman lost her two-month pregnancy after being kicked by the junta’s troops.

The Military Council has announced that it will take action against Federal FM (90.2 MHz), which will be broadcasted by the protesters of Spring Revolution. Young people are trying to prevent information cut off due to the internet outage and the continued repression of the media. According to RFA, the FM will only be available in Yangon for the time being. Yesterday, the military council announced that it had filed a case under Section 505-A against 20 artists and social influencers who have been supporting the Spring Revolution and funding the CDM. The list includes actors, actresses, models, singers, make-up artists, and other online celebrities. NLD Central Committee members Han Thar Myint, Thein Oo arrested in Insein Prison have been charged with 505- (b) defamation of the state and Ye Min Oo has been charged under Section 409 of the Penal Code for breach of trust, RFA reported. 

The Irrawaddy reports that plainclothes soldiers arrested a total of nine people who spoke to CNN correspondent Clarissa Ward. Despite the junta's public display of freedom of the press, there have been continuing arrests and oppressions on the ground. According to Khit Thit Media, 11 youths have been arrested in Yangon’s Dagon Township last night. Malaysia’s Petronas, which has been investing in Myanmar's oil and gas sector for years, has announced that it will withdraw its investment in offshore gas operation in Yedagun. An Australian energy giant Woodside has previously announced its withdrawal from the country’s business. Currently, protesters and rights groups are calling the remaining energy companies: Total (France), Chevron (US), PTTEP (Thailand), and POSCO Daewoo (South Korea) to withdraw their investment and to impose sanctions on the state-owned Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE).