9th April, 2021 #day68

 

The atrocities of the junta have not diminished but worsened. At least 20 people have been killed in Bago Region toady as the junta’ troops violently cracked down protests with live ammunitions, heavy weapons and rocket-propelled grenades. Some estimate the number be around 40. Eyewitnesses told local media that the bodies were found piled up near a pagoda and that most of the dead are from excessive bleeding as medical treatment were denied. In addition, military tribunals have sentenced those arrested in martial law townships to death, according to the junta-run MRTV at 8 p.m. tonight. A total of 23 arrested civilians, 19 from Yangon’s North Okkalapa and 4 from Bago, have been sentenced to death under Section 396 and 397 of the Criminal Code for robbery that involved murder. Although no actual execution has taken place in the country since 1988, it is unclear how the junta will deal with those sentenced to death by the military tribunals today. According to the images of the detainees’ faces showed on the TV, they have been are beaten and tortured.

Amidst the mass murder and killing of civilians, the junta is reportedly meeting some powerful ethnic armed organizations to maintain their ties. The junta's peace negotiation committee led by its chairman Lt. Gen. Ya Pyae recently met the leaders of UWSA and SSPP at their headquarters, according to the Irrawaddy news. A spokesman of the UWSA (Wa) told the Irrawaddy that the junta’s representatives explained them about the current coup and the need to maintain their current relations. The UWSA sent a letter of congratulations to Aung San Suu Kyi after the NLD landslide victory in the 2020 election but it has remained silent on the current coup. On April 8, a junta’s officer was wounded when the SSPP fired on a military helicopter flying near its headquarter in Wan Hai, Shan News reported. A spokesman of the junta said that it was a misunderstanding and the meeting with those EAOs were successful. However, some netizens claimed that there are tensions between the junta’s troops and the SSPP’s soldiers on the ground.

At the junta's fourth press conference in Naypyidaw, the spokesman said that the duration of the state of emergency would be extended by two years under the 2008 constitution and democratic election will be held within two years and power will be transferred to the winning party. He questioned the number of the death tolls and claimed that, "if they (soldiers) were to fire automatic gun intentionally at this group of protesters, they would have easily killed 500 people within a few hours." He also said that the airstrikes against the KNU's 5th Brigade was to reduce the number of casualties. The highest paid celebrity couple Pyay Ti Oo and Eaindra Kyaw Zin have been arrested under Section 505 (a) of the Penal Code for supporting the protest, according to MRTV at 8 pm tonight. So far, about 15 celebrities have been arrested.

The CRPH Acting Foreign Minister Daw Zin Mar Aung and Special Envoy to UN Kyaw Moe Tun attended the UN Security Council “Arria-Formula” Meeting on Myanmar at 8.30pm (local time) on April 9, according to DVB news. The meeting is an informal meeting of UNSC and held to learn more about the works of Security Council. Although the meeting has no decision-making power, discussions and suggestions can be sent to the Chairman of the Security Council. Special Envoy of UN Secretary-General on Myanmar Christine Schraner arrived in Bangkok yesterday, she posted on her social media account. She has informed the junta for dialogue, but the junta replied that they are not ready to receive her.