6th-7th June, 2021 #day126 #day127

 There has been growing concern over the threat of religious violence. The junta-run MWD reported yesterday that a Buddhist monk was abducted and killed by CDF-Mindat in Chin State and police are investigating. However, some locals including a monk wrote on Facebook that the news was completely based on lies and that the monk had been released from custody without any harm. Some have criticized the junta for trying to cover up their troops’ attacks on the Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Daw Ngan Khar, Demoso Township, Karenni State. There have been reports of junta killing Muslims for no reason and destroying mosques after the coup. 

Aung San Suu Kyi asked her lawyer to provide them financial support as she and nine other family members living with her are runing out of money and food. Before her second in-person trial in Naypyidaw today, she told her lawyer that she had denied the junta’s support. She has been charged with five counts and trail will be finished within 180 days, the court said. It is still unknown where Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint, and Dr Myo Aung are being held. According to Khit Thit, Magway Regional Chief Minister Dr Aung Myo Nyo was sentenced to two years in prison under Section 505 (b) by the junta today.

The junta-controlled state newspapers claimed that the report of soldiers beating and swearing the monks at the Masoyein Monastery in Mandalay is not true. However, the monastery itself issued a statement today (7 June) stating that members of military council raided the monastery in four trucks on the night of 1 June and attempted to arrest monks. The junta is also using chemical weapons during their recent attacks against the CDF, according to the Mindat People's Administrative Group’s social media page. Around 50 junta troops were killed, and three CDF members and twenty wounded, the statement said. Fighting also took place near Surkhua village in Hakha Township, and photos and video footage of the soldiers using heavy weapons and stealing villagers' property have surfaced on social media. Netizens have condemned the demolition of a martyr's shrine built by the NLD government in Karen State at midnight last night.

Some Rakhine groups, including the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), have issued a letter protesting NUG's Rohingya policy, claiming that the Rohingya issue, which is too sensitive, should not be brought to the forefront now and that the NUG need to consider the will of the Rakhine people. However, some activists pointed out that the ALP used the name Rohingya in its official statement in 1989 as a group residing in Rakhine. Many rights-based organizations and US State Department spokesman also welcomed the NUG statement. The NUG issued a statement today declaring the Tatmadaw (military) and its affiliates as terrorist organizations.

During a meeting with the coup leader in Naypyidaw, ASEAN representatives demanded the release of all political prisoners and an end to the violence, according to RFA. They also discussed the names of candidates for ASEAN envoy on Myanmar. The NUG has said it does not trust ASEAN for being biased and communicating only one side.