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There are assumptions that coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing made a dangerous bet by staging a military coup as he was not in a position to become a president. It is undeniable that he wanted to be a president although these assumptions are not said to be totally right. In an interview with the CNA before the 2015 General Elections, coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said he would play any role and make all-out efforts according to his experiences.
He alone will know whether he decided to make a bet on the country and the people for his survival, with attachment to his wealth. We don’t want to accuse him with suspicion.
Along with the Spring Revolution which erupted since the Feb 1 military coup, the news about gambling centers and narcotic drugs have emerged like monsoon mushrooms across the country. Although currently, the prices of water, oxygen cylinders and other daily human used material are high, narcotic drugs are easily available in the market, at a cheaper price.
The Myanmar Peace Monitor’s weekly review mainly focuses on the gambling centers and narcotic drugs.
Emergence of gambling centers like mushrooms
Locals are concerned about the reopening of gambling centers and KTVs in Panglong Township in southern Shan State at a time when the transmission of COVID-19 is high. Our town is small. I am concerned that the virus may spread to the whole town. There was no transmission in our town as the civilian government did not allow the opening of gambling centers. The persons who have opened the gambling centers have a close relation with the military council, a local man told the Shan Herald Agency for News.
Likewise, KTV, night clubs and gambling centers have reopened in Tachileik. Three females from the online gambling business tested positive for COVID-19. Now the total number of locally-transmitted cases has reached 33, according to the Shan Herald Agency for News. After the military coup, illegal businesses have become rampant in Tachileik. A 30-year-old man from Tachileik said: “Since the military coup, illegal businesses have become rampant. There is no rule of law. The enforcement of orders is weak.” In some Shan villages in Kengtung Township, open gambling is allowed. Reports of a growing gambling and drug problem in the Chinese border town of Muse have been circulating rising since the coup.
Led by Captain Mi Ta Po (aka) Kabaungyu of the military-backed Border Guard Force (BGF), Captain Hla Thein and village in-charges, the cockfighting and roll-the-dice gambling have opened between Kyochaung village and Walhla village in Hlaingbwe Township in Karen State. Gamblers are from Hpa-An, Shwegun, Hlaingbwe and Thaton Townships, according to the Karen Information Center (KIC). Roll-the-dice gambling takes place every night under the security measures of the BGF. Cockfighting gambling is held indoors every Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
The military council is generating money by running the gambling in the forest near Ngarbetwa village in Shwegu Township in Kachin State. A local told the DVB that the gambling takes place at Botunouke hill. There is no gambling party if the army carries out offensives along Ayeyawady River or inland. But the gambling resumes after that. The DVB covered the news on July 16th that the gambling businesses have to pay protection money to the township police officers. 2D , 3D and other online gambling dens, which have been missing for a decade in like Yangon’s suburbs, have re-emerged.
Gambling, coup and narcotic drug
The people have recognized all businesses from 2D and 3D to gambling parties as illegal businesses as these businesses are the ones which chouse the people. Mostly, these businesses usually are booming in countries with low income and huge unemployment problems.
The daily news show that the country has seen the revival of gambling centers as the military council’s administrative mechanism cannot operate well after the military coup in Myanmar where the gambling is deeply rooted due to the mismanagement and personal interest through the abuse of power
The government led by the National League for Democracy (NLD) decided to investigate the Shwekokko project in Karen State. After the military coup, the activities at the suspended project have resumed, according to the report of the US Institute of Peace issued on April 21st. The project is a joint venture between the Hong Kong-based company called Yatai International Holding Group (IHG) run by Chinese investors and Karen Border Guard Forces. The project involves gambling, money laundering and different crimes.
An armed group attacked the police station, citing the seizure of narcotic drugs worth nearly Ks-15,000 million in Tachileik in early June. A police corporal died in the attack. According to the statement by the Tachileik People’s Defense Force which revolutionizes the military council, it is assumed that the attack is the police’s capitalization. It has nothing to do with the PDF.
Some neighbouring countries, including China, have viewed the military coup by the military chief who has a dream of becoming a president as just an internal affair. Jeremy Douglas, Regional Representative from the UNODC based in Bangkok is worrying that as a result, transnational crimes like gambling may increase, especially, the increase in the production, transport and distribution of narcotic drugs.
International Crisis Group’s Myanmar expert Senior Adviser Richard Horsey expressed his view that the significant point is that except the transnational criminal organizations and those involved in these businesses, almost all people emerge as losers in the coup. It is unknown at this time what is the real Impact of Coup in Myanmar but the sure things are that the Drugs and Gambling are re-entered the daily lives of the isolated Myanmar people with high momentum.
Review
On May 27th, Shwegu PDF issued a statement urging locals not to go to the gambling parties in Shwegu Township in Kachin State. A group of people who have a close relation with the military council’s troops is collecting money from the gambling centers, using the name of the SPDF. The SPDF said it would investigate the case. It shall take effective action against those who open the gambling centers by paying bribes to the military council at a time when the military coup has put the entire people in a tight corner.
It can be said that there is nothing the military council and its cohorts won’t dare to do, in order to retain the power seized after the arrests of the civilian government leaders elected by the people. It is evident that the ban on the people’s access to oxygen at a time when the daily caseloads of COVID-19 are rising shows the military council does not value the lives of the citizens.
It is noticeable that the junta who wants to be a president and his cohorts will not view that all illegal businesses from 2D, 3D and gambling to narcotic drugs are to be solved when the country is in chaos. Even the junta’s followers are involved in the illegal businesses.
According to the statement by the military council on July 20th, all criminal cases prosecuted at respective courts with the offences pertaining to gambling, narcotic drugs on February 1st and before that date shall be dropped, and inmates shall be released. It is suspicious that the junta leader and its cohorts are utilizing gambling and drug dealers to retain his power.
Part-2
What happened in the week?
Chin State
The military council’s troops arrested three youths who were holding the funeral service prayer ceremony in Pyidawthar ward in Hakha Township, for no apparent reason. The military council’s troops who arrived in Thanhtaung village in Paletwa Township for military operation, do not repay their debts for the purchase of goods at the shops in the village.
Mindat Township IDP camp management committee called on the UN and relevant organizations to distribute relief aid to remote villages and IDP camps. As both the military council and the UNHCR did not reach agreement on the donation of relief aid to the rural IDPs, the UNHCR could provide relief aid to 60 households in downtown Mindat, according to the local News Agency, Khonumthung.
There were 20 encounters between Mindat Township People’s Defense Force and the military council’s troops, killing around 200 soldiers of the military council, according to the statement by the Mindat PDF. Matupi Township People’s Defense Force said it shall fight against the military council until the return of the State’s power to the public.
Arakan State
Four Arakan students who are facing the charges including sections of the Natural Disaster Management Law and defamation charge, staged a protest in the compound of Sittwe Court on July 16th. The families of detainees in Arakan State, held a press conference for the immediate release of those detained without a legitimate reason, according to the Narinjara News Agency.
The United League of Arakan/ Arakan Army (ULA/AA) imposed a two-week stay-at-home order in Arakan State, warning the people to take action against rule breakers. Although there is no fighting between the military council’s troops and the ULA/AA in Arakan State, the IDPs have been unable to go home. The IDPs may face hunger if Sinbawkaing IDP camp which is placed in lockdown following the detection of COVID-19 does not receive rations.
Shan State
The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) ambushed the military council’s troops who were carrying out military activities in Monekoe in Muse Township of Shan State since July 18th. There were encounters on the morning of July 19th. On July 12th, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) attacked the Military Division-99 of the military council as the military council carried out offensive attacks on the MNDAA’s COVID-controlled areas. Seven soldiers from the military council were killed and 18 others injured in the fighting.
More than 5,000 people have been displaced by the fighting between the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) and the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP) in Kyethi, Mongkai and Kyaukme Townships in Shan State. The IDPs are in need of food, medicine and health care. The IDPs are facing the difficulty in the availability of food and assistance as the transport of food and assistance to Lwalhmonesar IDP camp in Kutkai Township is suspended after the spread of COVID-19. More than 1,000 people from five IDP camps in Lechar (Laikha) Township are in need of health care and foods, according to the Shan Herald Agency for News.
The military council’s troops are searching nearly 20 philanthropic youths in Taunggyi and Ayethaya Townships, accusing them of being the PDF members. The junta’s troops have not yet released three family members from Taunggyi detained since the night of May 31st although the detainees have to pay Ks-15 million, according to the Shan Herald Agency for News.
Karenni State
Fighting is taking place between the military council’s troops and the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) and the Karenni Army (KA), between Bawlakhae and Phruso Townships in Karenni State, displacing more than 2,600 locals, according to the Kantarawaddy Times. Those who want to make donations for the IDPs can contact 09765733168, 09445571977, 09788069188 and 09428003926.
More than 700 IDPs who are taking shelter in the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP)-controlled area are in need of assistance. The IDP camps in Loilimlay are in need of medicine, blankets, mosquito nets, waterproof sheets and huts.
Kachin State
There were fighting between the military council’s troops and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) near Tadarnyinaung Bridge in Hpakant Township. Six locals were injured by the military council’s heavy shelling. Intense fighting near Hkum Tsai Zup, Gawlu Yang Mare, Gat Noi and Tadarninaung villages has displaced locals, according to the Kachin News Group (KNG).
The military council’s troops have threatened to fire heavy weapons if the KIA enters the villages on Karmaing-Hpakant Road. A bomb exploded near Moegaung police station, forcing the people living near the incident to flee.
A 50-year-old woman was raped and murdered by the soldiers in Numlang village in Moemauk Township. Action will be taken against three soldiers who committed the crime, the military council announced. The army apologized to the family of the victim, and the military division-88 and the Light Infantry Battalion-616 paid Ks-2 million in compensation.
The KIA has launched its vaccination program in the KIA-controlled Laiza. The KIA has ordered the shutdown of the religious buildings and schools. The IDP camps in Bhamo Township are in need of food and other assistance.
SOUTH EASTERN MYANMAR (Mon, Karen and Tanintaryi)
An unidentified group attacked the house of a military-backed BGF officer in Bilin Township, with heavy weapons. A candidate from the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) was shot dead in Phayathonesu Township.
As the military council’s troops were doing military activities on# Hpapon-Kamamaung road opened for the daily existence of the people and cargo transport, there were encounters between the Karen National Union (KNU)/ Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA)-Brigade-5 and the military council. Five soldiers were killed and six others injured in the mine explosion in KNU-controlled Hpapon Township.
Fighting continues between the KNU and the military-backed Karen BGF although the discussions are made to avoid encounters between the Karen armed groups. Plan is under way to resume the Shwe Kokko project jointly developed by the military-backed BGF and Chinese investors. The people staged protests against the military coup and the military dictatorship in Dawei in Tanintharyi Region, on the Martyrs’ Day.
Military Chief of the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) Saw Mo Shay died from COVID-19 while receiving treatment in Mingaladon Military Hospital.
UPPER MYANMAR (Mandalay, Magway and Sagaing Regions)
Fighting between the military council’s troops and Kalay-PDF, continues in Kalay Township. Eleven soldiers from the military council were killed and at least 10, injured in the fighting between the army and the PDF in Minkin Township. Twelve soldiers of the military council died after stepping on the mine near Kyeengo mountain in Pauk Township. Fighting between the military council’s troops and local PDF, took place in the place where Pale Township and Yinmarbin Township share a border, for three consecutive days, leaving around 20 soldiers dead. Fourteen soldiers of the military council were killed in the combined attacks by the PDFs in Myaing and Pale Townships.
DSTA Boom blast
Military council’s troops have arrested 12 people suspected of links to bomb attacks to Defence Services Technological Academy (DSTA) in Pyin-Oo-Lwin
On July 17th, four villagers were shot dead by the military council’s troops in Seikkhun village in the west of Shwebo Township. Two police members who removed the wreaths were wounded by the explosion, near the lotus roundabout in YayU Township. Three men were murdered in the Chindwin River in Kani Township, and four others were missing. On July 20th, the Thalar ward administrator in Monywa was stabbed to death by an unidentified group. The military council’s lackeys are carrying out the arrests and killings of the IDPs, according to the statement by the Kani PDF.
Two bombs exploded in the compound of the Defence Services Technological Academy (DSTA) in Pyin-Oo-Lwin in Mandalay Region. The military council’s troops have arrested 12 people suspected of links to bomb attacks. On July 21st, the military council’s troops arrested the wife of Region MP, the son and daughter in Nganzun Township. In Myingyan Township, the military council’s troops arrested the workshop owner who was doing oxygen refilling and five others, for no apparent reason.
Two bombs exploded at the electricity office in Pyigyidagun Township. The military council’s troops shot and arrested some youth in an apartment between 66thX 67th street and 105thX 106th Street in Chanmyathzi Township, accusing them of being PDF members.
A bomb exploded at the entrance to the 103-LIB under the military division-88 based in Taungdwingyi in Magway Region. This is the fourth explosion. Beiktano Area PDF is formed with those who oppose the military coup and the military dictatorship in Taungdwingyi Township.
Lower Myanmar (Yangon, Bago and Ayeyawady Regions)
Yangon sees a rising number of COVID-19 cases. Yangon sees a huge stockpile of the dead bodies as there was no sufficient time for cremation. Likewise, there is a growing problem with a shortage of oxygen cylinders in Yangon, and demands for oxygen and oxygen cylinders remain high. The military council issued a stay-at-home order in almost all townships and close banks in Yangon.
The military council’s troops made a brutal crackdown on the anti-coup protestors in Yangon on the eve of the Martyrs’ Day and shot the protestors. Two protestors were arrested in the brutal crackdown. Former political prisoner Ko Tin Htut Paing and a youth got arrested in Hlaing Township. The junta’s troops lured and arrested five doctors volunteering for a COVID-19 charity group in North Dagon Township, by posing as COVID-19 patients.
Six inmates infected with COVID-19 died in Insein prison. Lawyer U Nyan Win who is also a top leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) was infected with COVID-19 in prison. He died in Yangon People’s Hospital. The news emerges that the NLD’s top leader, former Yangon Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein and his wife were infected withCOVID-19. The spread of COVID-19 in Bago prison is worse.
The military council is doing an information blackout about it. A bomb exploded in the front of the house of a pro-military supporter in Kangyidaunt Township, Irrawaddy region.
National Unity Government
- The NUG blacklisted 19 officers from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation and removed 15 officers from the Ministry of Electricity
- The NUG asked for emergency help from the international community to help Myanmar people suffering from COVID-19 pandemic.
- Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing meet today.
Military Council
- PR agent hired by the Myanmar military stopped his work after sanctions prevented payment.
- Apart from political cases, the pending trials will be closed, and inmates will be released.
- Military Council asked a YCDC staff to lay a wreath on Martyrs’ Day, on behalf of General Aung San’s family.
International arena
Human Rights organizations have called on the Japanese government to cancel infrastructure projects in Myanmar. Similarly, five international organizations have called on Japanese companies to stop their businesses linked to the military council. Two UN envoys have called on the international governments to strongly respond to the military coup. According to the ILO’s report, 1.2 million people lost their jobs after the military coup. The UNHCR could distribute relief aid to the people only in the downtown area of Mindat Township. But the UNHCR could not go to the remote villages and the IDP camps due to the military council’s restriction.
The news has emerged that Russia is helping the military council closely and glaringly.