8th-15th February, 2022

 

Political prisoners in Yangon’s Insein Prison have been on a three-day hunger strike since 12 February, sources close to the prison told Khit Thit. Nine Hpa-An University students in their 20s and a driver arrested on suspicion of attending military training in ethnic areas were sentenced by the junta to 10 years in prison on 10 February under Section 505 (a) of the Penal Code and Section 124 (c) of the Criminal Code.

A total of 271 civilians were killed by the junta troops in Mandalay Region after the military coup, according to AAPP records. Most of the victims were shot dead during peaceful protests, and the second highest cause of deaths were due to torture during interrogation.

Union Day, which falls on 12 February, was celebrated by both the National Unity Government and the junta. EAOs, political parties, strike committees, and diplomats from more than 20 embassies attended the NUG’s online event. Nine EAOs attended a ceremony held in Naypyidaw and met separately with the junta’s representatives the next day. For the first time, the junta invited the EAOs to the meeting without any preconditions.

On 12 February, the military council pardoned 814 prisoners, including 46 Arakan Army members. The junta has also halved the sentence of NLD's Karen State Chief Minister Nang Khin Htwe Myint, who was sentenced to 80 years in prison. The Karen National Union's 5th Brigade in Hpapun District and 1st Brigade in Thaton District have warned all junta-appointed civil servants, BGF members, and their families to leave their controlled areas as soon as possible.

The SSPP told People’s Spring that its troops arrested the RCSS brigadier general, who was negotiating with the junta to form militia group in Lawksawk township and claimed that the junta carried out airstrike against its troops during the clash with the RCSS on 8 and 9 February. The RCSS has denied allegations that the junta provided air support.

On 11 February, the ForUm, a network of 50 Norwegian CSOs, filed a complaint against the leadership of Telenor, a Norwegian-based telecommunications company, with the Norwegian Police to investigate whether the sale of Telenor Myanmar could lead to crimes against humanity, Myanmar Now reported. As Telenor is preparing to sell its subsidiary to a junta-linked company, the junta would be able to access and exploit the personal data of more than 18 million of its network users.