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Down with the military dictatorship! Our cause! Our cause!

Protest, Protest! Start, Start!

Revolution must prevail!

These call-and-response chants by the people arbitrarily arrested came from the densely-populated Insein prison in Yangon on the morning of July 23rd. These chants penetrate the wall of Insein prison, open the world’s closed door and show that the people continue to defy the coup leader and his cohorts. It can be said that the prison protest by the heroes who have no weapons, even a needle and no place to escape to, is the life-risking anti-dictatorship protest.

This week, the Myanmar Peace Monitor’s review mainly focuses on the anti-dictatorship protests in prisons.

Event

Hundreds of the people who defy the military coup and military dictatorship have been in detention in the Insein Prison in Yangon due to the military council’s arbitrary arrest since the military coup on February 1st. The prisons including Insein prison, across the country, are flooded with anti-coup protestors as the military council continues doing arrests and brutal crackdowns till date since the coup.

An anti-dictatorship protest broke out in the female ward of Insein prison at around 7 am on July 23rd. More than seven military vehicles entered the Insein prison in the evening and made a brutal crackdown on protest prisoners, according to the news. Due to the brutal crackdown, six prisoners were killed and dozens of prisoners injured. Around 20 protest leaders are in solitary confinement. U Chan Aye Kyaw, Deputy Director of the Prisons Department denied the news at a time when it was difficult to confirm the news.

In the State-owned newspaper issued on July 25th, U Chan Aye Kyaw said: “We had coordination. There was no beating and solitary confinement of prisoners.” But he did not talk about the prison protest’s major demands for the release of all political prisoners, providing healthcare in prisons, the control of COVID-19 and relaxations of prison rules.

Diplomatic heads from 15 countries including US, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Norway and Australia issued a joint statement, urging the relevant authorities to resolve the situation peacefully and respect the basic right to the proper healthcare for all those detained inside this and other prisons. We are following the situation closely as it continues to evolve, the statement says.

Prison and the regime leader

During 178 days of the military coup till July 28th, the total number of the civilians including the State leaders being detained by the military council has reached nearly 7,000. The military council has issued arrest warrants for around 2,000 people, according to the report by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).

The prisons are the places where those who commit the crimes and offences are imprisoned and detained and educated. For the military dictator and his cohorts, the prisons become the places where the citizens who defy them are imprisoned and tortured.

Successive military leaders have been solving anti-coup movements like the 7^th July Student Movement in 1962, the U Thant Uprising in December, 1974, the 8888 Uprising and the 2007 Saffron Revolution by means of brutal crackdowns, killings, arrests and tortures and heavy sentences for dissidents.

The prisoners staged the protests even in the prisons when they faced injustice and lost basic human rights such as inhumane tortures, difficult situations, information cutoff and lack of health care and equal rights.

The protest staged in Insein prison on the morning of July 23rd will be neither the first time nor the last time for Myanmar. Along with the protest in Insein prison on August 26th, 1988, the prison riots occurred in the prisons in Sittwe, Pathein, Myaungmya and Myeik. On September 25th, 1990, the political prisoners staged a historic protest at Insein Prison. In 1995, the protests erupted in the prisons in Cocokyun, Insein, Thayawady, Myaungmya, Mandalay, Myingyan and Mawlamyine. These historical events show that the people dare to protest against the dictatorship according to their hearts and minds when unfair practices have prevailed, even if there is no place to escape to.

The prison protests and riots emerged in Shwebo, Thayawady, Myitkyina, Pathein and Hpa-An prisons on May 8 and 9, 2019 in the time of the government led by the National League for Democracy (NLD). Inmates demanded equal rights for the amnesty. Due to brutal shootings, four inmates were killed and two injured in Shwebo prison.

The significant point is that ex-Sagaing Region Chief Minister Dr. Myint Naing who is now being detained by the military council, himself inspected the Shwebo prison. Even journalists who interviewed him were allowed to go to the prison along with him to cover the news. The military council denied the fact that there was a brutal crackdown on the inmates and solitary confinement of protest leaders in the Insein prison on July 23th. It can be said that the military council’s denial is difficult to believe.

The military council’s brutal crackdowns on and arrests, tortures, brutal killings of peaceful protestors have been witnessed by every citizen. But the coup leader and his cohorts bluntly denied and hid their acts. It is even more difficult for the public to know the truth about the situations in the Insein prison which is not within their reach.

On July 24th, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) which has got the permit to inspect the prisons and prison camps since May, 1999, issued a statement saying that it was continuing its dialogues with prison authorities to resume its purely humanitarian visits and activities in places of detention, including Insein Prison, which had been on hold since the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Review

The prisons in Myanmar are already overcrowded. The situations of anti-coup protestors, political prisoners, CSO leaders, students and youth at the overcrowded prisons are terrible.

Due to the military coup and the lawless gang led by the coup leader, the people from the four corners of the country are striving for their survival. Myanmar people are also encountering many health problems caused by the COVID pandemic. There are thousands of the people who have caught the virus and died of COVID-19 due to shortness of breath even in their houses.

“Down with the military dictatorship! “Our cause! Protest, Protest! Start, Start! Revolution must prevail!” These call-and-response chants by the detainees in the densely-populated Insein prison, shall be the life-risking chants. These chants have raised the alert to Myanmar people who are facing both the COVID-19 Pandemic and the military council’s disaster simultaneously. At 8 pm on July 23rd, the people made noises by banging pots and pans to show their opposition to the military coup.

The release of all arrested political prisoners, proper health care and the relaxation and annulment of unlawful prison rules and regulations are the historical lessons which remain unresolved in the successive era. The military dictators are still applying these means. The National Unity Government (NUG) which emerged with the Spring Revolution is required to analyze the prison system, law and jail manual.

NUG must addresses the human rights abuses that have taken place in the aftermath of generations of prison battles. Requesting a letter or releasing a statement to request remedial and other action; should do more by doing more than ever just asking for international help.

These issues are directly or indirectly related to NUG; It must be made clear that there are implicit connections. The situation in the picture below should be taken seriously.

Part-2

What happened in the week?

Chin State

Fighting between the military council’s troops and the Civil Defense Force (CDF)-Mindat resumed on July 21st after the ceasefire broke, forcing more than 10,000 locals to flee to safer places. The military council’s restrictions hampered the UNHCR’s distribution of relief aid to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Mindat Township. Seven members including a captain from Makui Innu police station in Mindat Township defected to the CDF-Mindat. The CDF-Mindat detained a Catholic priest and a pastor in Shukhwar town, accusing them of having a tie with the military council. The CDF-Matupi announced that it would fight against the military council under the directive of the Chin National Front (CNF) and under the supervision of the Chin National Army (CNA). The Chinland Defence Force allied with the Yaw Defence Force.

Arakan State

Teinnyo and Kalarchaung IDP camps in MraukU Township are flooded. Some children in Taungminkalar IDP camp in Kyauktaw Township where Mro and Khami races are taking shelter, are sick. These IDP camps face a shortage of rations.

Although the Arakan State has a better enforcement of COVID-19 control rules, the IDP camps are in need of virus protective materials including rations. The Arakan State Administration Council has banned health staff from giving the media interview about COVID-19 information. The Military Chief of the Arakan Army (AA) has urged the Arakan people to get COVID-19 jabs without fail. The Oxygen Committee in the Arakan State said they would not do their work under the directive of the Arakan State Administration Council.

Shan State

There were clashes between the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) and the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP) in Thibaw Township and Namlam Township. The Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) has called on both the RCSS and the SSPP to urgently hold a meeting in order to stop the ongoing fighting between the Shan armed groups. A villager from Pandaung village in Kyaukme Township was wounded after stepping on a landmine.

A youth was killed and one other severely injured in an explosion of heavy weapons in Namsar village in Tarmoenye in Kutkai Township. On July 29^th, a clash occurred between the military council’s troops and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) on Nampaw Bridge between Kutkai and Nampharkar.

A bomb exploded near a garbage pile at Warpyar junction in Kyaunggyisu Ward in Taunggyi, leaving a woman injured.  The persons in police uniform and plainclothes police shot and arrested the youth in Yanaungkyay ward in Tachilek. The Public Security and Defense Force (PSDF) announced that it executed two informants who are so-called PyuSawHtee in Muse Township.

The Ta’ ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) has imposed a two-week stay-at-home order in its controlled area in order to contain the COVID-19. The people in the SSPP-controlled area get China-made vaccine jabs.

Karenni State

Due to the fighting between the military council’s troops and local PDF since the coup, more than 3,000 locals have been taking shelter in the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP)-controlled area. Plan is underway to give Covid-19 vaccine to nearly 80,000 people in Karenni State and border area, said Director of the Karenni Civil Health and Development Network (CHDN) Khun Philip who is also a member of the COVID-19 Task Force (CTF) and Director of the Karenni Health Department.

The Karenni Army (KA) and the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) jointly conducted an ambush attack on a military convoy loaded with rations and soldiers, near Kayantharyar and Kyaukkone village in Loikaw Township. A military vehicle was destroyed in the attack. On July 23rd, a military column with more than 200 soldiers based in Hoyar-Biyar region in the west of Phruso Township withdrew from the region.

According to an in-charge helping the IDPs in Karenni State, the number of the IDPs has increased to 3,500 due to the resumption of fighting. The IDPs are in need of rations.

Kachin State

Casualties were reported in an attack on the inspection camp where the military council’s troops are stationed, at the entrance to Karmaing in Hpakant Township.

Seven military ships loaded with tanks leaving Katha Township were attacked near Shwegu Township and turned back to Bhamo, according to the Kachin News Group (KNG).

A highway bus was damaged by the mine explosion near the inspection camp in Mawhan village and Namsi Awng in Mohnyin Township.

Two people tested positive for COVID-19 at Gyanmaikaung IDP camp in Myitkyina Township. Jayyan and Waikyaing IDP camps are put in lockdown in order to control the COVID-19. Mainar KBC IDP camp which has been in lockdown is in need of food and assistance. The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) issued a letter, ordering the shutdown of gambling centers, KTVs and guest houses in the Hukawng District area.

South Eastern Myanmar ( Mon, Karen and Tanintaryi)

A clash occurred between the military council’s troops and the Karen National Union’s (KNU) Brigade-2 in Thandaunggyi Township in Karen State. More than 20 soldiers including a battalion commander were killed during eight-day of fighting from July 15^th to 22th in Mutraw District. In addition, there were clashes between the KNU’s Brigade-1 (Thaton District) and the military council’s troops. The administrators of Duyinseik village in Thaton Township and Sonenanthar village in Yay Township were shot dead.

A leader of the military-backed people’s militia group was shot dead in Thaton Township. The military council’s troops shot a motorbike driver dead and took the dead body and motorbikes in Sinphyugyun village in Thanton Township. A gas pipeline connecting Thailand exploded near Winsein and Sakhangyi villages in Thaton Township. The Local People’s Defense Force announced that the explosion had nothing to do with the PDF. The military council itself conducted the explosion and accused the PDF, in order to draw international attention.

The military council’s troops entered and searched lower Yayphyu village in Launglon Township and arrested three youths. A member of the military-backed People’s Militia Group was murdered in Kyaungneain village in Pulaw Township. To revolutionize the terrorist military council’s troops in unity, the Dawei-People Defense Alliance (DPDA) was formed with local PDFs in Dawei District, according to the announcement on July 26^th.

UPPER MYANMAR (Mandalay, Magway and Sagaing Division)

An anti-dictatorship protest erupted inside Insein prison in Yangon due to the ban on inmates’ visitors, a lack of health care and strict prison rules. An attack took place at the office of No.3 Bayintnaung ward administrator in Mayangone Township, leaving a 10-household head dead. The military council’s troops raided Thatbyay village in Tikegyi Township at night and arrested some villagers.

Some soldiers and police members from the military council were injured in a bomb explosion at Kyaukgyisu ward administrator office in Bago. Two youths died in Thegone Township due to the explosion of handmade bombs. The terrorist military beat and arrested nine civilians including the chair of the Letpadan GTI Student’s Union and members. The military council’s troops shot two men searching for Oxygen cylinders on 6th Street in Block-4 in Shwetagar Ward in Pyay Township. One man was injured in the shooting.

A bomb exploded near the development affairs office in Mawgyun Township in Ayeyawady Region. Members of the military-backed People’s Militia Group and the ward administrators, are extorting money from locals in Mawlamyinegyun Township, citing the fund. The PDF detonated a bomb at the entrance to the shipyard police station near the new Pathein Bridge on July 29^th.

Lower Burma (Yangon, Bago and Irrawaddy)

Protesters in Rangoon’s Insein Prison chanted slogans over the lack of proper medical treatment, Prison entry restrictions; and tightening prison rules. The governor’s office of Bayintnaung No. 3 Ward, Mayangone Township was shoted by unknown arm men, and one head of ten households was shot dead. The Military Council troops raided Thapyay village in Taikgyi Township, Yangon at night and arrested some villagers.

A bomb blast at the Kyaukgyi Su Ward Administration Office in Bago division, Bago City, injured a military council soldier and a policeman.

Two young men were killed in an explosion while making a handmade grenade in Theingone Township, Bago division. Nine people, including the chairman and member of the Letpadan GTI Students’ Union, were beaten and arrested by the coup junta. In the ShweDagar Ward 4, on 6th Street, Pyay Township, military council soldiers opened fire on two men searching for oxygen, injuring one.

A bomb blast occurred near Mawkyun Township Municipal Office, Irrawaddy Division. In Moulmein Kyun Township, military council backed militia groups and administrators are collecting money from locals as a funds.

On July 29, the Pathein People’s Defense Forces (PDF) detonated a bomb at the entrance of the dockyard police station on the new bridge in Pathein.

Two young men were killed in an explosion while making a handmade grenade

National Unity Government

• Myanmar’s Parallel Govt Forms COVID Task Force With Ethnic Health Agencies
• 4 million COVID 19 vaccine to arrive in Myanmar, to be started to the public / Dr. Sasa
• CRPH declares election results canceled by military council isn’t down People Power
• NUG military department declare CoC for People Defense Force
• CRPH calls on ICRC to provide emergency assistance to political prisoners
• 178 student unions call on international community to crack down on Burma’s military dictatorship
• The CDM code will be issued to members of the military and police who are involved in the Civil Disobedience Movement / NUG
• Maw Tun Aung becomes NUG Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy

The Military Council

• Myanmar military councils’ tribunal sentences 65 civilian people to death after Coup
• The military council urges Young Activist and protester them to return to their homes in good faith
• Myanmar junta cancels results of 2020 polls won by Suu Kyi’s party
• Russia sends multi- Versatile fighter jets to military council
• Myanmar junta agree to replacement for Britain envoy to Myanmar
• Myanmar Military Seizes Medical Oxygen Imported by Charities
• Myanmar Junta to Build New Crematoriums as COVID-19 Death Toll Soars
• Myanmar Timber Enterprise seeks foreign revenue for military council after military coup /NUG

International arena

UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq confirmed that currently there was no change to the place of Myanmar’s Ambassador to the United Nations U Kyaw Moe Tun who defied the military coup and joined the Spring Revolution.

The European Commission (EU) announced that it mobilized an additional 2 million euro in emergency assistance for actions helping to fight the pandemic in the country. International affairs experts have called on the military council to stop arresting and attacking doctors, nurses and health workers. Amnesty International (AI) has called for the immediate release of human rights and women affairs activist Daw Thin Thin Aung and all detainees. The activists working for Myanmar discussed the US’s more sanctions against the military council.

The U.S Defense Secretary who arrived in Singapore said: “The Myanmar military’s refusal to respect the inalienable rights of the Burmese people and to defend their basic well-being is flatly unacceptable.” He also urged the ASEAN to keep demanding an end to the violence. China is putting up fences at the Myanmar-China border post in Manhero town in Muse Township. The military-appointed Health Minister said: “The people in the border area would first get vaccinated for China-Myanmar border trade.