1st May, 2021 #day90

Several small bombs went off in Yangon and multiple airstrikes hit in frontier areas on the 90th day of the military coup. The BBC reported that there have been six bomb blasts in Yankin Township, one of Yangon’s economic hubs, today. There were five explosions on Industrial Road including the one near Myanma Plaza Shopping Center and near No. 2 Administrative office. Two bombs exploded in South Okkalapa burning public transport buses and one exploded near the SSC Hospital in Bahan Township, citizen journalists reported. No casualties have been reported so far. Bomb blasts were reported in many townships in Yangon in the past few days. Every time a bomb blasts in urban populated areas, netizens commented that the bombings may have been carried out by members of the military council for their propaganda claiming protesters are violent. Security has been tightened throughout Yangon urban areas. Civilians’ IDs, vehicles, mobile phones, and even their social media accounts are being searched on daily basis, and also asked questions if the junta troops find a lot of money with them. If they find any evidences of participating or supporting protest and CDM, they are taken to police station or administrative office and forced to sign a confession. But in many cases, people were sent to interrogation centres and later charged with penal code 505 (a). 

Netizens are warning each other not to carry smartphones with them when they go out and sharing ways to keep their photos and information secretly using apps and how to quickly destroy them from their phones. In addition, netizens are urging the removal of the Bagan Keyboard from their phones. This app is reportedly developed by a Myanmar company and popular among Myanmar language users. According to the app's privacy policy, the app stores the user's phone number, contacts, locations, IP address and many other information that could be used against protesters. They are also calling to delete all the apps developed by Myanmar companies.

In an interview with VOA today, NUG Foreign Minister Zin Mar Aung assured that Aung San Suu Kyi would never reject their actions and agreements they have been doing and made with ethnic political groups. Whether this prominent leader will accept or oppose the actions of the CRPH and NUG after her release is one of the most frequently asked questions among the public since the coup. She said that the NLD Chairperson is not the type of leader who will deny the decision of the majority. Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained at her Naypyidaw residence and her lawyer, Min Min Soe, told VOA this Monday that she did not appear to be aware of what was happening outside. The junta has been denying her to see her lawyer in person. NUG Health Minister Dr Zaw Wai Soe issued a statement firing 10 high-ranking officials who decided to work under the military junta and threatened CDM health workers. NUG issued another statement declaring that it stands with the people of Mindat Township, Chin State, and pays special tribute to their united armed resistance against the junta troops without losing any soul. According to Kachinwaves, the military council arrested 11 youths in Myitkyina, Kachin State, using force, including armored vehicles. These youths have been doing a campaign called “take if you need, donate if you have extra” in order to support the needy. This campaign has been going viral across the country since the coup. 

According to Kachinwaves, the military council carried out multiple airstrikes against KIA outposts around Laiza town which is reportedly known as the KIA's headquarters. The KIA's 19th and 24th Battalions were attacked by fighter jets four times around 7 pm tonight, said KIA Colonel Naw Bu. Due to the increasing number of casualties in clashes with the KNU, the military council has been shooting, arresting, killing unarmed civilians and looting their foods and properties, the KNU News and Information Agency reported. At around 1am this morning, fighter jets bombed five times in the area controlled by the KNU Brigade 5. In Lutha Township, 17 artillery shells were fired at people's workstations, the report said. The junta yesterday announced a one-month extension of the nationwide unilateral ceasefire. In an interview with RFA, a CDM major said that the use of heavy artillery in combat is possible only with the permission of the Deputy Commander-in-Chief. The New Mon State Party (NMSP), a signatory to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, and the National Solidarity and Peace Coordination Committee (NSPC) met in Naypyidaw today, according to the Mon News Agency. The two sides agreed not to publish the details of the meeting. On 26 April, the DKBA and the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army (Peace Council), another two members of the PPST, met with the NSPC in Naypyidaw.

VOA reported that many Myanmar people are fleeing to neighboring Thailand due to lack of jobs in the country. Thai authorities said 72 Myanmar illegal immigrants have been arrested in the southern Thai province of Kanchanaburi on April 29. More than 200 people have been arrested in the area in recent days, according to the Thai Border Guard. About 40 Myanmar nationals were arrested in Mae Sot Township a few days ago. They arrived with brokers and have been left in the jungle without food or water for three or four days. WFP has warned that about 3.4 million people will face food insecurity in the next six months and that urban populations will suffer more. AFP reported that China and Russia objected to a statement on Myanmar at the UN Security Council on Friday. According to the AAPP, nearly 760 civilians have been killed in the violence by the military council. The South Korean government plans to spend billions of dollars on Korea Safe Zone (KSZ) project near Myawaddy and Mae Sot on the Thai-Burmese border for Myanmar refugees, according to Mizzima. Similar to the Syrian refugee camps in Turkey set up by South Korea, the project will use many removable containers to accommodate refugee families. He said the annual aids for the development in Myanmar will be used for the KSZ project instead, and the Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand also agreed with the plan.