16th-17th May, 2021#day105 #day106

 

Up to nine CDF members were killed in the battle of Mindat, Chin State, a CDF-Mindat member told Zalen Media. During the three-days attacks from 15-17 May, the junta troops carried out massive ground and air attacks in Mindat town, which has a population of about 50,000, and many civilians were reportedly injured. A 10-year-old kid was also shot in the neck and is in critical condition, according to Chin World Media. Locals told to CW that reports about an eight-grade girl being raped by soldiers is untrue. NUG said in a statement on May 16 that it had received evidence that the incident happened. There were also rumours that nine women had been raped on 15 May; but no media can verify. The Mindat Township Administrative Group urged emergency aids and shelters for the displaced people as about 90 percent of the residents fled to the mountains in the jungle or trapped in their houses and are in risk of food scarcity and health problems.

The CDF-Hakha attacked the military council troops on the Hakha-Falam road on the night of May 16 in retaliation for the shootings in Mindat, according to the CDF facebook post. The attack killed six members of the military and Salai Van Biak Ling of the CDF. In addition, clashes broke out between the junta troops and some locals in Tedim, northern Chin State, on the night of May 16. A local told the Irrawaddy that a pedestrian and a child were killed, and up to four people were shot dead in Tedim since the coup. The Chin National Front (CNF) has issued a statement strongly condemning the military's violence in Mindat, and spokesperson Salai Htet Ni told Myanmar Now that the CNF would stand with the people of Mindat and respond to the military council, both militarily and politically, for self-defence.

The People's Party, led by a renowned politician Ko Ko Gyi and is made up of many 1988 uprising generation, has received public backlash following the news that it decided to attend the meeting of the junta’s Election Commission in Naypyidaw. According to DVB, many party members, including the party's Mandalay region chairman and general secretary, have resigned. His party did not win a single seat in the 2020 general election and he himself lost to the NLD candidate in Yangon. Miss Universe Myanmar 2020 Miss Thuzar Win Lwin has won the best National Costume award at the 69th Miss Universe pageant held in Florida, the United States. She wore a traditional Chin costume instead of her original dress after her suitcase with the outfits got lost at the airport. She has been praised by netizens for her courageous role in bringing Myanmar’s issue back to the world stage. 

According to DVB, a special investigation unit (Sa Thone Lone) under the Ministry of Home Affairs is taking a lead to bring down the record high gold price. Under the previous military regime, the department arrested gold and dollar traders to bring down prices, Myanmar Now reported. The kyat has depreciated since the coup due to political and economic instability and has climbed to 1,730 kyat per US dollar this week.

The Bago-based People's Defence Force (PDF) told Myanmar Now that its primary target list includes military informers in the town. A PDF spokesman said effective actions are needed to stop the killings and lootings. As many as 85 civilians were killed in Bago during the three-day crackdown between April 9 and 11 by the junta troops. Bombs explode on a daily basis near local administrative offices and military supporters across the country.

The Irrawaddy reports that the Rwan militia operating in Putao District, Kachin State, is urging locals to be prepared for a possible attack by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the People's Defense Forces (PDF) in Naungmon and Kawnglanghpu townships. The militia group under the military is mobilizing villagers to attend basic military training. On May 16, the People's Defense Army was formed with about 1,500 locals in Ayeyarwaddy’s Pantanaw township, where many Karen people live, DVB reported.