12th-13th July, 2021

 

Around 600 people die everyday from the Covid infection in Yangon, three Yangon-based groups providing free funeral services told Myanmar Now. They said they are overwhelmed by transporting so many bodies to cemeteries everyday for more than a week. The Irrawaddy reported that hospitals and Covid centres in the city are no longer accepting Covid patients. In addition, there has been a shortage of medicines in the market and the prices of oxygen cylinders have skyrocketed. Netizens are saying that a 40-Litre oxygen cylinder now costs around 300,000 kyat (USD 185), but in some places, the price of a cylinder is ranging from 500,000 to 800,000 Ks.

The junta’s spokesperson at a 12 July press conference confessed that the junta has instructed private oxygen plants to stop providing oxygen to individuals in order to control panic-buying, but that they did not ban any import of oxygen-related items. The remarks have been widely criticized on social media.

Witnesses told Mizzima that people lining up to refill their oxygen cylinders near Industrial Zone 1 in South Dagon Township, Yangon Region, had to abandon their cylinders and flee as the junta troops opened fire into the air to disperse them at around 10 pm on Monday. A curfew has been still imposed in the country, causing troubles for those in urgent need of oxygen. On 12 July, the NUG announced that the junta is weaponizing the Covid-19 situation to oppress the people.

Aung San Suu Kyi has been charged with four additional counts of corruption by the junta, her lawyers told local media after a 12 July court hearing. She has now been charged for ten counts.

Locals told RFA that 14 bodies were found in the jungle near Yin and Kone Thar villages, Kani Township, Sagaing Region, on 12 July. Several heavy fighting broke out between the local PDF and the junta troops in Kani Townships in the past few months. According to some locals, the junta troops have arrested about 60 villagers on July 9 and 10.

Five clashes broke out between the Karenni Army of the KNPP and the junta troops on 13 July in northeast of Loikaw Town, Kayah (Karenni), killing 14 members of the junta, Khit Thit Media reported. According to SHAN News, more than 3,000 villagers have been displaced due to the fighting between two Shan armed groups: the RCSS/SSA and the SSPP/SSA. They have been fighting over territory in Kyethi Township, Shan State, since 1 June.