17th-18th August, 2021

 

More than 1,500 junta troops had joined the CDM within six months after the coup, Captain Lin Htet Aung, locally known as CDM Captain, told Myanmar Now. He added that most of the troops are from the lower ranks, and there are hundreds of officers up to the rank of major. 

On 17 August, at least 15 junta troops from Thayet No (12) Defense Factory in Mandalay Region fled with their weapons, according to Mizzima. They fled after the junta issued an order to crack down on protesters. Chin World Media reported that a soldier fled and surrendered to the CDF-Mindat during a clash with the junta troops on 17 August. According to Zalen, a police officer on duty at Hakha Myoma Police Station also joined CDM and fled to the CDF-Patetwa.

A well-known journalist Si Thu Aung Myint was arrested on 15 August in an apartment in Yangon’s Bahan Township. The Irrawaddy reported that a female BBC correspondent who was with him was also arrested. Kaung Min Thant, who was widely believed to have died on 44th Street incident in Yangon, escaped unharmed and fled to KNU-controlled areas, he streamed live on his social media account. In an interview with DVB, he said that he escaped because he had been hiding all night on the roof of the building. He also claimed that Botataung police had lied to his family members, saying they would have to pay 26 lakhs if they wanted his body.

In Minkin Township, Sagaing Region, Zaw Myo Myint, a father of three, was shot three times dead by a junta troop who appeard to be drunk, Khit Thit reported. Witnesses told that he was shot for being not wearing a mask and Ma Zin Mar Win also died from heart attack after hearing the gunshots. On 18 August, the junta troops raided the houses of three NLD MPs of Depayin Township and arrested their families as they could not locate them, Khit Thit reported.

The NUG's interim president said at a meeting on 17 August that the date for the D Day would be submitted to the NUG government soon. At a meeting of the junta on 18 August, the coup leader called for the construction of subway and electric car services in Naypyidaw and city plan for the population of 20 million. Netizens criticized that his remarks were unrealistic and ignored the deteriorating economic situation of the country.

The Irrawaddy reported that more than 156,000 people including former East Timorese President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jose Ramos-Horta, South Africa President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Frederik Willem de Klerk, former US Ambassador to Myanmar Derek Mitchell, Laurence Fehlmann Rielle, joined the online petition calling the UN to recognize the U Kyaw Moe Tun as the Myanmar’s Envoy to the UN and the NUG as the legitimate government of the country.