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Freedom from Terrorist
This is the first paragraph of the poem written by Poet Phaw Way named “The place where fire breaks out”. We cannot count the number of fallen heroes killed during the Spring Revolution. It has been more than 200 dark days and nights in Myanmar since the coup caused by the schizophrenia suffered by the power-hungry coup leader and his followers at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has put Myanmar people in a tight spot.
The 44th Street incident bears witness to the fact that death is better than being arrested and tortured at the hands of coup leader Min Aung Hlaing, his followers and military council’s troops.
The Myanmar Peace Monitor’s weekly review mainly focused on the 44th Street incident and the public’s difficulties.
Five youths jumped from a 50-ft-tall four-storied building when the members of the terrorist military council troops with plain clothes raided an apartment building on 44th Street in Botahtaung Township in Yangon at around 3 pm on August 10st. Two youths died on the spot when three were severely injured and three, detained, according to a statement by the terrorist military council.
The military council broadcast the confessions made by detained Ko Wai Phyo Aung, Ko Thiha Kaung Set and Ma Po Kyaw Kyaw Khant, via the military-owned Myawaddy TV. But the military council has not released any information yet on whether three severely-injured youths are still alive or not. In addition, the military council did not release the information about Ko Kaung Min Khant (aka) Flex who was in the apartment during the raid. There is a circulation of rumor that he was shot dead. On the evening of that day, an audio file about the sending of message between the members of the terrorist military council troops, was circulated on social media.
On August 17th, the DVB broadcast an interview with Ko Kaung Min Khant who arrived in a liberated area. Previously, he was assumed to have died. Regarding the statement by the terrorist military council, Ko Kaung Min Khant said: “What the army said is untrue. The fact that the military raided the apartment on 44th Street to arrest us, and we jumped from the apartment, is true. But the army hid the facts such as shootings and beating with gun butt.
Ko Kaung Min Khant told the DVB that although he did not see the person who first jumped from the apartment, he saw four youths including Ma Wai Wai Myint, jumping from the apartment. The four youths were lying in supine position on the ground.
He saw plain cloth military council troops members beating the youths who were still alive, with gun butt. Two youths are assumed to die on the spot, Ko Kaung Min Khant said. According to the follow-up news, four youths have died as the corpses of four youths were cremated by the terrorist military council at Yayway cemetery. It is heard that Ko Min Thitsar Aung was admitted to the 1000-bed hospital with severe head injuries, said Ko Kaung Min Khant. He views that the news released by the military-controlled Myawaddy TV about three detainees are just the fabricated ones.
Findings
The terrorist military council’s statement about the 44th incident could evoke the memory of the shootings on 54th Street and at the corner of 56thX110th Street in Chanmyathazi Township in Mandalay Region on June 22nd. It accentuates the military council’s broadcast of fabricated news and erroneous news.
It is questionable that coup leader Military Chief Min Aung Hlaing, his cohorts and terrorist military troops, who do not hesitate to commit mass killings such as brutal killings, interrogation till death and ban on all forms of freedoms, have committed to killing each and every citizen to solidify grip on power. During the six-month coup, thirst for freedom and the disappearance of future expectations have put the people to suffer more plights than the eras ruled by the military leaders for more than 60 years.
According to the report by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), till August 17th, 999 people have been killed, 7,320, detained and more than 30 people died during the detention and interrogation. There may be many fallen heroes which are not included in the list of the AAPP. The public has witnessed the deaths of thousands of people due to the COVID-19. The significant and shocking finding from the 44th Street Incident is that the youths shall sacrifice their lives rather than getting arrested by the terrorist military council’s troops and betrayal. The youths searched for their freedom to escape from the hands of the junta’s slaves by jumping from a 50-ft-tall building, even the terrorist military council troops got amazed.
Ko Kaung Min Khant who managed to escape by hiding on the rooftop said: “I don’t want to get arrested alive. I would try to escape. I would kill myself if I am not in a position to escape.”
Review
It is found that the dissidents are struggling to maintain the momentum of the various forms of the Spring Revolution to root out the military coup and military dictatorship while coup leader Military Chief Min Aung Hlaing is trying to operate the mechanisms and hold onto power.
The country and its citizens have lagged behind development on all fronts due to the successive military regimes. Along with Military Chief Min Aung Hlaing’s military coup, the 10-year so-called democracy era has disappeared just like a dream. We need to carefully look at how many people are grappling with economic woes and social problems during the six-month military coup. We can only see those who feel unsafe and those who are in a tight corner.
How many youths are there in our country like those from 44th Street who will jump just by seeing a glimmer of freedom amid the plights. How long does the revolutionary groups including the international community calling for rooting out the military dictatorship and the construction of the federal democratic union, take to help the people find their exits? The death toll from the February 1 coup in Myanmar rose to 1,000 on Wednesday, August 18, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). Even if we pray for the recurrence of events such as the 44th Street incident, that prayer will not be fulfilled as long as the military junta is in power. How long does coup leader Min Aung Hlaing and his cohorts take to restrict the people’s freedom? Raising the above-mentioned questions, here we would like to stop our review with the last paragraph of the poem.
PART (2)
What Happening in this Week?
Chin State
No one was injured in a bomb blast in front of the house owned by the Chair of the Chin State Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) in Htantalan Township. The terrorist military council’s troops killed and ate chickens and pigs in Taal village in Falam Township and destroyed more than 20 houses there, according to locals.
On August 15th, a 30-year-old man and his two-month-old baby from Kantharyone village in Kanpetlet Township were severely injured by the military council troops’ indiscriminate shooting. Both were sent to the Kanpetlet hospital. Kanpetlet Red Cross called for extending a helping hand to the IDPs in villages of Kanpetlet Township. Fighting continues between the CDF and the terrorist military council’s troops in Mindat Township.
Rakhine State
Although there has been no fighting between the terrorist military council troops and the Arakan Army (AA), the terrorist military council has tightened security in downtown Sittwe. It has caused disturbance to locals. A woman died and three went missing in a boat capsizing in Ponnagyun Township in Arakan State while on their way to pick bamboo shoots. The AA’s Chief Maj-Gen Tun Myat Naing said the Arakan people were dutiful throughout the revolution of the ULA/AA and called on the Arakan people to continue to have unity and be on alert for the revolution. The ULA/AA was working on the inclusion of Muslims in the administrative sector.
Locals are concerned about the resumption of fighting. The AA said it was monitoring the movements of the terrorist military council troops. An unidentified group of people abducted the Kanyindan village administrator in Maungdaw Township at gunpoint. A local’s left ankle was cut off in Usontaung village in Kyauktaw Township after stepping on a mine. The ICRC said the distribution of food to the IDPs in Arakan State faced delays as the military council stepped up its restrictions on logistics.
Shan State
Fighting took place between the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) and a combined force of the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP)-Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in old Pankwan village and Panphyat village in Kyaukme Township. Some villagers from old Pankwan village were injured and some houses destroyed by the fighting. Nearly 100 people were added to the list of IDPs after the fighting in Kyaukme Township. The total number of IDPs has exceeded 1,000.
The IDPs who are taking shelter in Panghsang near China-Myanmar border are in need of shelters and medicines while more than 100 IDPs in Lechar Township are in need of food. IDP camps in downtown Namhkan are at a high risk from the COVID-19. In addition, more than 500 IDPs in Namlam of Hsipaw Township are in need of drinking water and food. Two IDPs were injured by a mine blast at Naungsin IDP camp in Kyaukme Township.
One of them got a severe injury. The 50th anniversary of the founding of the SSPP was held in Wanhai military headquarters. The SSPP issued a statement saying that it would strive for unity among ethnics in Shan State and the complete decline of the dictatorship. Inle Nationalities Defence Force (INDF) announced that it would revolutionize the terrorist military council’s troops in Inle region in the southern Shan State.
The Shan State People’s Defence Force (SSPDF) made a merge with the PDFs in Taunggyi, Nyaungshwe, Kalaw, Aungban, Yatsauk, Pindaya and Ywangan. Fighting took place between the terrorist military council’s troops and a combined force of the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) and the Karenni Army (KA), in Pinpone and Lwalwae villages between Pinlaung and Phalkhone Townships in the southern Shan State. At the same time, the Pa-O National Organization (PNO) (Pa-O people’s militia) carried out the attacks in cooperation with the terrorist military council’s troops. Southern Shan State pdf, Karenni PDF and Nay Pyi Taw PDFs will join forces with ethnic armed groups to attack terrorist militant council.
Eleven Pa-O organizations raised questions over the PNO’s acts. Phalkhone Township PDF blew up two power towers being separately used by the terrorist military council’s troops with mines. The MNDAA (Koekang) ambushed the terrorist military council’s troops entering the Monekoe area in Muse Township on the west bank of the Thanlwin River via the Haysan river jetty near China-Myanmar border. China is building the fences near the China-Myanmar border in the Panghsang region.
Kayah ( Karenni) State
From the evening of August 13rd till the evening of August 14th, the fighting took place between the terrorist military council troops and the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) in Demawso and Phruso Townships, forcing more than 10,000 locals from nine villages to flee to safer places. The KNDF has announced that it would attack the Pa-O National Organization (PNO) which assists the terrorist military council’s troops to fight PDFs. On the founding day of the Karenni Army (KA), the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) called on the Karenni people to have quaintness and to avoid daredevil, in the revolution against the military dictatorship.
The KNDF also called on the entire Karenni people to cooperate in the efforts to drive the military dictators out of the country.
A man from Nyaungkone village in Demawso Township and a woman from Phruso Township were injured by the shootings by the Light Infantry Battalion (LIB)-102 based in Demawso Township and the LIB-531 based in Phruso Township. On August 14th, the junta’s troops abducted five locals from Hteephokalo village in Demawso Township, including a 15-year-old boy and his father, and took them to the front line.
Kachin State
Two people were injured and some houses destroyed by the artillery shelling of the terrorist military council’s troops in Mongnaung village in Indaw Township, according to the news by the Kachin News Group (KNG). A young female who returned home via the market fell down after being hit by the gunshot fired by the terrorist military council’s Battalion-58. On the evening of July 29th, the terrorist military council’s Battalion-58 in Waingmaw was under attack. The army is interrogating the battalion commander and officials at the court martial at the Northern Command in connection with the incident. Some soldiers of the terrorist military council including the watchman were killed and some weapons were lost in the incident, according to the Mizzima news.
Local people are concerned as the terrorist military council has threatened to carry out retaliation. A head of the military-backed people’s militia was shot dead in Maubin village in Karmaing Township. The military ships going upstream are sailing to Shwegu by firing heavy shells along the river after the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) fired shots at the ration-loaded military ships. The terrorist military council troops threatened and abducted around 20 youths from Oukkyin village on Hpakant Road in Mogaung Township, according to the KNG.
South Eastern Myanmar (Mon, Karen, Tanintharyi)
The Karen people had to cancel a ceremony to commemorate the Karen Martyrs’ Day, at Karen Leader Saw Ba U Gyi’s native town due to the terrorist military’s ban.
KNU President General Saw Mutu Sae Poe said the political dialogues cannot be expected. On the other hand, there is a demand for the resignation of General Saw Mutu Sae Poe and other KNU leaders via the petition signed by Karen people as they no longer have confidence in them.
There were 56 encounters between the Karen National Union (KNU) and the terrorist military council’s troops in Hpapon District on Thandaunggyi-Bawgali Road. The terrorist military council’s troops attacked the KNU township office, taking advantage of the funeral service of the KNLA Brigade Commander.
An administrative member of the new Mawkanin village in Yay Township got gunshot wounds and was admitted to the hospital, according to the Network Media Group (NMG). A member of the military-backed PyuSawHtee group was shot dead in Asin village. On August 14th, the administrator from Letku village appointed by the terrorist military council got gunshot wounds in Palaw Township in Myeik District in Taninthayi Region.
Upper Myanmar (Mandalay, Magwe, Sagaing)
Pale People’s Defense Force has issued a warning letter, calling on the terrorist military council to immediately withdraw its troops from Pale Township. Kalay PDF carried out mine attacks on the ration warehouse, the regional operations command and the police station in Kalay Township. Three soldiers of the junta and a PDF member were killed in the fighting between the Kalay PDF and the terrorist military council troops.
A member of the terrorist military council troops killed Ko Zaw Myo Myint in front of the ferry association office beside the Chindwin River in Minkin Township by firing three shots at the victim’s head, citing that the victim did not wear the facemask. Ma Zin Mar Win who was present near the incident died of a heart attack due to the sounds of gunfire. Three innocent people were tortured and killed by the military-backed PyuSawHtee group in Kyaukkhaetat village.
Two bombs exploded in front of the house of Namar village-tract administrator in Pinlebu Township. Bomb blasts occurred near the inspection gate run by the terrorist military council troops in Monywa Township. On August 16th, Shwebo Mine Action Team Hawk (SMATH) carried out a bombing attack on the development affairs office in Shwebo Township. There was a bombing attack on two military vehicles of the terrorist military council’s troops, heading to Daunggyi village in Taze Township. It is expected that the bombing attack may result in casualties. On the afternoon of August 17th, the terrorist military council’s troops abducted more than 20 people from Htanaungpakar village in Kani Township to use them as human shields.
Thousands of locals in Kani Township are fleeing to safer places for fear that they may get arrested. The formation of the PAFD was announced on August 12th. The PAFD said it would be active mainly in Sagaing and Mandalay and affiliate with other groups in regions and states. The monk protest column was brutally cracked down by the terrorist military council’s troops in downtown Mandalay. A young protest leader was arrested in Mandalay. The terrorist military council arrested four youths for the alleged link with the PDF in PyinOoLwin. There emerged the news that an inmate died due to the police’s beating in the protest in Obo prison.
An eight-month-old baby was killed and two others injured by the PyuSawHtee’s shooting in No.4 ward in Myingyan Township. In connection with the incident, the MG6 Guerilla force warned that it would not take any responsibility for the lives and properties of the military council and its followers. A combined force of the KIA and the PDF carried out attacks on the advancing terrorist military council’s troops in Mogok. Bomb blasts occurred at Township Electricity Manager Office in downtown Myothit Township and the sub-power stations on Myothit-Natmauk road in Magway Region.
Four fight jets were damaged in an explosion in the compound of Magway Airbase, according to locals. The police arrested Region MP Daw Myint San from Pauk Township. The terrorist military council’s troops abducted four family members including a 13-year-old daughter and a 11-year-old son, in Taungdwingyi Township, for no apparent reason. Magway PDF carried out a bomb attack on the police housing in Magway.
Lower Myanmar (Yangon ၊ Bago ၊ Irrawaddy)
A 100-household head appointed by the terrorist military council’s troops was shot dead in South Dagon Township. Four of six police members were shot dead on a Yangon-Insein circular train. After that incident, a document depicting an order given to the PyuSawHtee members to assassinate the police members, was circulated on social media. The terrorist military council’s troops detained seven people who planned to sell the basic foodstuff at a price of Ks-100 per packet, on Anawmar Road at No.18 Ward in Hlaingthayar Township. Two blasts occurred near the Insein central prison. Bomb blasts occurred in Sanchaung and Kyimyindaing Townships. There is widespread criticism about the information hiding about the 44th Street incident in Yangon by the terrorist military council.
Due to the deployment of more troops by the terrorist military council, the Bago Region PDF (Yoma) warned the people in Htantabin, Kyaukgyi and Shwegyin Township in the east Bago Region, to stay indoors from 9 pm to 4 am as from August 17th. The terrorist military council troops are collecting Ks-1.5 million each from the villages in Tharbaung Township in Ayeyawady Region, citing the construction of an Oxygen plant.
National Unity Government
- The NUG’s Aung Lan Lwint Chi Spring Lottery tickets were sold out within hours.
- The NUG said it would decide the D-Day soon.
- The NUG’s Health Ministry announced the formation of the National Health Committee (NHC).
- The NUG sent a message to the Karen Martyrs’ Day, praying for achieving the goal of self-determination the Karen people are longing for.
- The central bank denied rumours of the shutdown of banks and abolishing bank notes.
- The number of those involved in the profile campaign for the support of the NUG, has exceeded two million.
Military Council
- The military council has directed banks and monetary service providers to scrutinize transfers of money about the Spring Lottery.
- The military council announced that it would close nine cases including state defamation and high treason and release the inmates.
- The military council will equip prison staff with electric shock sticks.
- The UEC formed by the military council is preparing to check funds, money and properties of the political parties.
- The Eastern Central Command Office asked the people’s militia to dispatch its members in order to crush PDFs.
- The coup leader has called on ground forces to be on standby until the rainy season comes to an end.
International Arena
The WFP announced that it needs a fund of USD 86 million to help fight hunger in Myanmar over the next six months. The US government is planning to provide aid in Myanmar via NGOs. Myanmar expats in the US are trying to get the support for the Burma Bill in order to take action against the terrorist military council troops. At the UN Security Council meeting, the UK said it needed to prioritize the vaccination against COVID-19 in Myanmar. The US government called for the immediate release of detained journalists in Myanmar. The Embassy of Denmark in Myanmar issued a statement, honoring nearly five million Myanmar youths for their efforts to protect their communities during times of crisis. The Myanmar Ambassador to the UK lodged a complaint to the UK government about threats by the representatives of the terrorist military council. There emerged the news that there may be a conflict of interest between the terrorist military council and the Brunei government whose Second Minister of Foreign Affairs was appointed as the ASEAN special envoy.
The ASEAN special envoy held talks with the Chinese Foreign Minister and the Indian External Affairs Minister on the Myanmar issue. Famous politicians including the former President of the East Timor Nobel Laureate and the former US Ambassador to Myanmar signed the petition for the UN’s recognition of the National Unity Government (NUG). The terrorist military council led by military chief Min Aung Hlaing sent an apology letter to the Chinese army for the landing of shells on the Chinese territory. The US Ambassador to the United Nations met with Dr. Cynthia Maung. The military council responded by accusing the UN special envoy of violating the code of conduct. The military council has left the Rohingya as a priority in the Kovic-19 vaccination campaign.