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A Good Story About Crisis And Capitalism In Myanmar

Since the Feb 1 military coup till date, all ethnic people across the country have not heard and seen even the good news yet. The military coup is a major blow to the efforts being made by the Myanmar citizens who are struggling to fight against the Covid-19 pandemic which originated in China and spread to the world. The acts done by the military junta leader and its cohorts are said to be shameful acts lacking careful thought, sympathy and humanity.

The junta’s troops are carrying out brutal crackdowns on, arrests and tortures of peaceful protestors who oppose internet blackout, military coup and military dictatorship. In addition, they are arresting, taking actions against, threatening and putting pressure on the civil servants from CDM doctors to railways staff and teachers. The junta’s troops arrested and killed anti-coup protestors by firing live ammunition into the crowds. These are the sorrowful historical records for our citizens.

The future expectations of ethnic people across the country have disappeared. At the same time, the economic crisis such as the shutdown of factories, unemployment problems, stagnant banking industry due to internet shutdown and the withdrawal of foreign investments becomes bigger.

The Myanmar Peace Monitor’s weekly news review mainly focuses on the news about the sale of all shares by a big telecom company, which is one of the consequences of the military council’s acts.

Telenor Myanmar and the military council

During the military coup, Telenor Myanmar with a motto “Always together” is going to leave the country by selling all its shares. Telenor Myanmar usually discloses the junta’s directives and restrictions which are said to be the violations of human rights committed against the public. Telenor Myanmar is credible to a certain extent for the people who are trying to root out the military dictator in the Spring Revolution.

As the country’s economic environment has worsened, and human rights situations have deteriorated, there are limitations to the future work, said the Telenor’s CEO. Business operations in Myanmar is a balancing act with many ambiguities from maintaining operations including the security of staff, the handling of network restrictions and continued keeping the trust in freedom of expression, the Telenor CEO said.

Telenor announced that it booked an impairment loss of over 700 million USD on its operations in Myanmar since the Feb 1 coup. On July 8th, Telenor announced that it has agreed to sell its Myanmar operations to the Lebanese investment firm M1 Group for 105 million USD. In The HRW’s review, Telenor Myanmar’s situation shows that it is impossible for a company to run businesses in Myanmar during the coup without human rights violations.

What is M1 Group?

M1 Group led by former Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, is a major shareholder in Irrawaddy Green Towers Company in Myanmar. It worked for the construction of mobile towers for the military-owned Mytel telecom operator in 2017. The M1 Group is included on the list of 44 foreign companies which have economic relations with the military, according to the UN’s report on Myanmar issued in September, 2019.

Ex-Prime Minister Najib Mikati faced corruption charges in 2019 as he made illicit gains from subsidized housing loans in Lebanon. Myanmar people who defy the military dictatorship are to keep a watchful eye on the M1 Group’s business ethics.

U Aung Naing Oo, the military council’s Minister for the Investment and Foreign Economic Relations said Telenor’s departure would have no impact on the country. The ministry and the M1 Group are now preparing for talks.

Although the M1 Group led by Najib Mikati which had links with Syria dictator Bashar Assad, former Yemen dictator Ali Abdullah Saleh and Sudan dictator Al-Bashir, is not a problem or a challenge for the military, it may become a challenge which calls for special attention, for Myanmar people who defy the military coup.

Review

The military council has directed telecom companies to monitor phone calls, SMS and websites in order to conduct the tracing of mobile users. The military council amended the law protecting the personal freedom and security of the citizens in order to carry out the interception of telecom services at will. The military council barred foreign senior executives of telecom companies from leaving the country. They need special permission to leave the country.

The departure decision of Telenor Myanmar which has been regarded as the most transparent company among the telecom companies in Myanmar, becomes a worrying situation for secure mobile communication. Oliver Spencer, an advisor to the digital rights group, the Free Expression Myanmar (FEM), reviewed that the internet freedom for Myanmar may become worse when Telenor Myanmar leaves the country.

A total of 464 CSOs in Myanmar have called on the Norwegian government and Telenor company to cancel the sale agreement between the M1 Group and the Telenor Group. In its joint statement, “When the people of Myanmar are faced with the dual crises of Covid-19 and the terrorist military junta, we expected Telenor to live up to its international human rights responsibilities to the people of Myanmar, under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines on Responsible Business. Telenor has an obligation to minimize negative human rights impacts associated with its businesses and provide remedy when negative impacts occur.

“The situation in Myanmar has become increasingly challenging for Telenor for security, regulatory, and compliance reasons,” Telenor Group CEO said in a statement.

Anyway, it is questionable that Telenor Myanmar’s decision to leave the country before the expiration of its 15-year license, especially at a time when the people are facing the military coup and disaster, is neglecting the faces, lives and expectations of more than 18 million subscribers. There are many other businesses cooperate group already left to the Myanmar people within those day too.

Likewise, Myanmar youths have suffered a big trauma. This is the fact that the people from the elite groups have chosen the protection of self-interest, neglecting humanitarian affairs when they confront the crisis. It is become a sorrowful story for Myanmar people who face cooperate capitalism (the withdrawal of huge foreign investments) at a time when the miliatry council is building the miliatry capitalism.

PART (II)

WHAT HAPPENNING IN THIS WEEK?

Chin State

The ceasefire was extended as the 14-day ceasefire between the army and the CDF-Mindat expired on July 4th. Thanks to meditation by town-elders during the ceasefire period, some IDPs returned to their homes. But most of the IDPs remain in the IDP camps.

Five detainees from Paletwa Township charged under Section 505 (a) of the Penal Code, were sent back to Paletwa Township Police Station via Sittwe Myoma Police Station, without any court appearance. Five youth were unlawfully arrested for the connection with bomb blasts in Paletwa on May 28th.

On July 9th, the Chinland Defense Force (CDF)-KKG was formed with the people who oppose and revolutionize the military coup from Kalay, Kabaw and Gangaw Townships. The CDF-KKG will fight against the military council and their cohorts under the directive of the Chin National Front (CNF), according to its statement.

Arakan State

Although there is no fighting between the ULA/AA and the army, aid programs by the UN agencies face restrictions due to Covid-19 pandemic. There were food poisoning cases in some IDP camps in Sittwe Township. Some IDPs are suffering from skin diseases in an IDP camp in Kyauktaw Township.Two locals from Kyauksin village in Ann Township were severely injured as they stepped on the land mine while searching for their missing cows. Due to the explosions of mines and unexploded ordnance, 45 civilians have been killed and 91, injured in Arakan State.

Shan State

There are military tensions between ethnic armed organizations in Kyaukme Township. A dead body of a 50-year-old man was found near a monastery in Kywalgone village. An unidentified armed group detained two staff who were collecting electricity bills in Muse and then released them after warning. The Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) said discussions should be made to seek ways to solve military tensions in the northern Shan State.

Some locals in Monghsu Township have gone into hiding due to the news that the SSPP/SSA is recruiting villagers. More than 750 locals have been displaced by artillery shelling in Mongkai Township and are in urgent need of food, clothes and medicine.

On July 12th, Shan State Liberation Party/Shan State Front for Federal formed for the revolution against the military coup, declared a war on the military council and its terrorist army. In its statement, it has declared a war on Min Aung Hlaing, the cohorts of the military dictator, military group and all military bureaucrats as of today.

The SSLP/SSFF which is formed mainly with youth has spread its troops across the country, in addition to Shan State. The SSLP/SSFF said it would ally with any organizations which revolutionize the military dictator. The formation of a federal front is that the SSLP/SSFF formed with five-point policy, is concerned about the conflict with one group if it makes cooperation either with the RCSS or the SSPP. Currently, the fighting is taking place between the RCSS and the SSPP. Like the SSLP/SSFF, six PDFs from the southern Shan State formed Shan State Youth Groups PDF in the last week.

Karenni State

Fighting took place between the army and the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) in Loikaw Township. The Karenni National Defense Force (KNDF) which has made a ceasefire, has warned that the fighting would take place at any time if the military council continues to carry out the violations of human rights.

The Karenni Civil Society Network (KCSN) said the military council’s troops are carrying out threats, extortions and forced labour at the IDP camps in Karenni State.

Ethnic IDPs are living with fear, anxiety and insecurity as the military council’s troops arrive in the IDP camps.

Kachin State

The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) attacked Light Infantry Division-321 under the army based in Waingmaw Township. Likewise, the KIA attacked and destroyed the camp of Waingmaw people’s militia and seized some arms. The military council’s troops suffered heavy casualties in the Myohla battle in Shwegu Township.

On July 9th, a blast occurred at the administrator office of Thayargone ward in Hpakant Township. On July 12th, there were explosions in front of Saitaung and Yumar in Hpakant Township, injuring around 10 people.

Fighting continue between the army and the KIA in Kachin State. The military council was carrying our bombardments and the firing of heavy weapons. Some civilians were injured in Dawphoneyan Township due to the army’s artillery shelling.

Due to the currency crisis, some IDP camps in the KIO/KIA-controlled areas face a delay in the availability of rations. In addition, the number of confirmed patients continues to rise in the KIO/KIA-controlled areas.

The KIA’s information officer said that the people should be cautious as the military council and its cohorts consecutively are spreading fabricated news that may lead to dissension.  There emerged the news that the KIA is helping youth and the PDFs who want to attend the military training courses. Other fabricated news is sticked on the places in urban Bhamo Township.

South Eastern Myanmar (Mon State, Tanintharyi Region and Karen State)

Fighting between local PDF and the people’s militia force under the control of military council took place in Yaungmaw village near the border of Dawei-Thayetchaung Township in Tanintharyi Region. The military council detained four locals in connection with the attacks on July 8th. On July 12th, a war veteran was shot dead in Pantinin village in Launglon Township in Dawei District, said some locals.

Fighting between the KNU and the army took place in Hpa-An Township in Karen State. The KNU announced that the KNU temporarily suspended the Karen National Defense Organization (KNDO) commander over the army’s massacre allegation in Wowlay in the KNU-controlled areas. After that, the KNDO issued a statement, denying the temporary suspension of the commander. The KNDO has warned that the military council is making instigation in order to create the disunity among Karen nationals through the release of fabricated news.

Some villagers were injured by the shooting in the villages while the Border Guard Forces (BGF) under the control of the military council are moving the troops in Belin Township in Mon State. Local ethnics in villages along Kyaikkaw-Laykay road are fleeing to the safer places as they are concerned about the fighting.

Upper Myanmar (Mandalay, Magway and Sagaing Regions)

A clerk from the General Administration Department was killed in Sanswe-Sigyi village-tract in Tanse Township in Sagaing Region. Two local youth were killed and three injured by the military council’s shooting in Tamu Township. The military council killed 15 IDPs in Yin and Konetha villages in Kani Township. The military council also killed two civilians from Zinkalae and Thanpauk villages in Minkin Township.

Nearly 200 soldiers including a tactical operation commander were killed in the fighting between the military council’s troops and the KIA and the PDF, in Katha Township. The military convey was ambushed by the local PDFs in Myaing and Pale Townships. More than 20 soldiers were killed in the ambush attack.

A civilian was shot dead in Myingyan Township in Mandalay Region. CDM traffic police member Ko Khant Ko Ko Maung from Chanayethazan Township Traffic Police was shot dead by the military council and five CDM police members, detained. Two people were arrested in the brutal crackdown on the joint protest column (Myataung and Mandalar) in Mandalay.

A bomb exploded in the compound of the development affairs office in Mandalay Myothit. An oil browser was destroyed by fire. The Mandalay PDF announced that it carried out more than 20 attacks on the military council and its cohorts at the late June and in early July.

 LOWER MYANMAR (Yangon, Bago and Ayeyawady Regions)

Flash mob anti-coup protests continue in Yangon. Bomb explosions continue to occur in wards and townships every day. The military council has threatened to cut power in order to collect power bills. Bomb explosions occurred in eight electricity offices in Yangon within three days.

A bomb explosion occurred in the electricity office even in cantonment Mingaladon Township. In addition, a bomb exploded at the gold shop owned by the State Administration Council (SAC) member Daw Thet Thet Khaing.The 100-household head appointed by the military council was shot dead on Mon Sanpya-7th street in Bago, on the morning of July 10th.

The military council is trying to form the people’s militia forces in townships of Ayeyawady Region. There are forced recruitments of locals in some townships. The military council recruits at least 10 persons from each ward and at least 20 persons from each village, a local said.

International arena

At the UN Human Rights Council’s meeting, Tom Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, called for the urgent formation of an “Emergency Coalition” to end junta’s reign of terror. The resolution on the situation of human rights of Rohingyas and other minorities in Myanmar, was also adopted at the HRC session.

On July 8th, the U.S. Secretary of State held a talk with representatives of the Myanmar CSOs. Spokesperson of the US Department of State Ned Price said that the US has committed to work with Myanmar people to help support democratic affairs, human rights and rule of law.

Along with China, the military council is included in the State Department’s annual report to Congress on genocide and atrocities prevention. The US will put pressure on the military council in cooperation with its partners in order to stop brutal crackdowns on and oppressions of the public by the military council and its cohorts since the military coup on February 1st.

China, Russia and some Asean countries are still turning a blind eye to the military council’s oppressions and brutalities experienced by Myanmar people. Thai government has said that Thailand wants to see peace in Myanmar.

National Unity Government

• Daw Aung San Suu Kyi appeared in court with her own map for trial
• the NUG announced that it would reseize the State-owned land and building to be sold by the military council.
• Former Mandalay Region Chief Minister Dr. Zaw Myint Maung faces corruption charge.
• NUG defense Union minister said there were over 8000 PDF in First week of JULY

Military Council

• The military council is putting its efforts into the collection of power bills
• The military council has directed private Oxygen factories to stop refilling.
• The military council announced the appointment of doctors who have clean criminal records, for treatment of Covid-19, under the contract system.
• Coup leader urges not to take political advantage of oxygen

Summary review

The situations in Myanmar become silent in the second week of June, with the third wave of the Covid-19. Here silence means that the activities on the streets are silent. It is found that individuals and families are in stressful condition. Higher demands for Oxygen, lack of prevention and control measures, lack of self-protective materials have embittered the Myanmar people. Especially, the military council’s improbity and the acts done by those who are working to take advantages become rampant across the country.

Skyrocketing commodity prices and a shortage of daily utensils have significant impacts on the daily life of people. Youth who are defying the military council have lost their ways of how to go ahead due to the current circumstances. On the other hand, the voices of the National Unity Government (NUG) become weak. Although the people feel patient for their federal democracy dream, relevant groups should adopt the policy before this patience goes off like a time bomb.