9th March, 2021 #day37

 

The military council is trying to quell the protests using new methods. The military has been targeting midnight raids in townships where protests frequently occurring rather than daytime shootings. The media estimates that about 50 people were arrested during last night's blockade in Sanchaung Township of Yangon. In the past, detainees were often released immediately, but now they are being tortured and even killed. Soldiers informed the family of Zaw Myat Lin, the NLD party’s official in Shwepyithar Township, to take his dead body in the morning. Two NLD officials have now been beaten to dead in custody. Some speculate that the killings may have been a response to the CRPH's actions and intimidation towards NLD’s members and protesters.

In addition, the junta has been cracking down on the media since yesterday. Five media outlets have been revoked to publish news, and soldiers stormed the Mizzima office in Yangon today and took computers and records. They also raided Kamayut Media's office and arrested its founders, Nathan Maung and Han Thar, according to RFA. Soldiers are also inspecting photocopier shops to see if posters have been printed for protesters.

The Myanmar embassy in London, after meeting with British officials, said it would accept Suu Kyi's guidance, call for the release of the country's leaders, using diplomatic means to resolve the current crisis. The ambassador was earlier criticized for calling police to stop people protesting in front of the embassy. Although its statement does not clearly indicate CDM nor condemnation of the coup, there are speculations on social media saying that this office would be working with CRPH. If the rumors were true, it would be the second embassy after the Myanmar embassy in Washington, D.C., to be a CDM embassy. According to reports, there are now more than 30 Myanmar diplomats around the world doing CDM. Most of them are based in USA, UK, and Germany.

According to Press Release No. 9, the CRPH has filed a lawsuit against the current military council under Section 122 (1) 124 (a) of the Penal Code as treason due to the unjust confiscation of state power. Although the case is unlikely to be heard in practice, the intention of the statement is to tarnish the image of the military council. According to CRPH Declaration No. 12/2021, Mann Win Khaing Than, a Karen national who was the Speaker of the National Assembly (Upper house) under the previous NLD government, is chosen as the Vice President to exercise state power on behalf of the President and State’s counsellor. He is the grandson of Mann Bakhine, a 1947 martyr, and a lawyer who was rumored to be running for the same position before the coup.

Relations between the military and ethnic armed groups, which openly against the coup, are deteriorating. According to people close to the Karen National Union, the Myanmar army fired about 30 artillery shells at Thaton District, which is under the control of the KNU's 1st Brigade. Details of damages are still unknown at this time. In addition, a spokesman for the Kachin Independence Organizations, a powerful ethnic armed group, told Myikyina News that they would retaliate in some way if the military council unjustly killed civilians. Two civilians were killed in a violent crackdown yesterday. Some social media users are saying that the KIO will attack and seize Myitkyina but some have responded that the KIO will not actually carry out the siege, as it could be deadly.

State-run MRTV reported that it had found secret financial documents from Sean Turnell, an Australian adviser to Suu Kyi. Earlier, the military had announced the seizure of illegal foreign currency at the Daw Khin Kyi Foundation, in her mother's name. The military council has accused the NLD of receiving international funding and donations which are illegal according to party registration law. According to a letter sent to students by the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Thailand, the Thai Immigration Service has warned that Myanmar nationals participating in the protests could have their visas revoked and deported to Burma. For the first time, the Japanese military ambassador to Myanmar met with the junta’s appointed foreign minister in Naypyidaw yesterday. The meeting was the first between a foreign ambassador and a military council’s representative since the coup. Japan has a large investment in the country and is a major contributor to peace and social development programs. It also condemned the current coup.