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Anti-coup protests, Anti-dictatorship movements and general strikes have been escalating in various forms since after the coup. Military Council and its troops have destroyed the protests with force and committed violence upon the demonstrators.
The real bullets have been used in breaking the peaceful strike of the unarmed innocent civilians. Hundreds of people, including youths, children and even the pregnant women, were killed. Military Council has not been able to handle the government’s administration until over 120 days have already been passed since after the coup.
Aiming to make the local situations seem getting back to normal, Military Council has ordered to open the religious buildings and the schools during this Covid-19 period without any specific guarantee. Nonetheless, Military Council had not reached its desired goal since the people do not participate in its implementing process. Moreover, Military Council has also been encountering the intensifying battles with ethnic armed resistance groups and People’s Defense Forces from different places across the country. The troops of Military Council took their bases and deployed in the religious buildings or the schools so the people are moving to the faraway places.
Amongst the events and happenings during this very first week of June, this weekly news review will report about the nightmare that Hlayswe villagers had been fronting in Kyonpyaw township, Ayeyarwaddy Region.
RECORD
On 5 June the mutual shooting between the locals and military troops broke out in Hlayswe village, Pharityoe village-tract, Kyonpyaw township of Ayeyarwaddy Region. Kyonpyaw Anti-Military Dictatorship Team confirmed that 17 locals were killed, 9 were injured and thousands of villagers from nearby villages displaced to safe areas. Amongst the dead include a four-year old baby and two women.
However, Military Council announced on June 6 that the fighting in Hlayswe village caused only three locals died, its military troops detained two villagers and seized some handmade guns.
FIGHTING EVENT
The shooting in Hlayswe village between military troops and the local people started at 8 AM and it is the very first happening out of 11864 villages in Ayeyarwaddy Region.
Whilst Military Council has been pushing to open the school during this very first week of June, every student from Hlayswe village in Kyonpyaw township has not enrolled in school. Because of a school teacher who informed to Military Council carrying weapons, military troops immediately entered the village and began investigation. Military personnel however had not got the exact answer because the villagers were holding hands in unity and therefore arrested the innocent villagers. The local-based defense forces were intolerant of such actions and had started fighting against military troops.
Military Council announced that its troops had been firstly attacked by local forces with handmade guns, gas guns, traditional small arms at the gate of the village, near the banana garden, whilst they are taking one local named U Kyay for formal investigation. It added that the fighting happened because the local forces started shooting and then the local handmade bomb caused a military truck destroyed.
FINDINGS
News Agencies have stated that the report of such school teacher to the Military Council carrying weapons has caused just a conflict and military troops have not found any weapons in practice. Thus, Military Council in their media could announce only about the handmade guns and traditional small tools.
Though the military troops themselves are using the foreign-made modern armaments including guns, launchers or bombs, it seems that Military Council regards the anti-military persons as the dangerous group because of holding traditional small tools or handmade guns.
“Hlayswe village battle” gives a message for Myanmar people that even a very far and small village has the fate to encounter the violent crackdown and forcible arrest of the brutal army if there are certain anti-military movements or activities.
GLANCING BACK TO THE MILITARY HISTORY OF AYEYARWADDY REGION
There are two periods with respect to the battle occurrences in the Ayeyarwaddy Delta: the post-independence period (around 1949) and the 1988 period. A lot of disagreements appeared in Myanmar politics shortly after the independence. Since Karen Armed Organization KNDO was able to occupy as far as Insein, U Nu-Government was even called as Rangoon-Government. KNDO leaders retreated to Eastern Region (Taungoo) and Delta Region (Ayeyarwaddy) after Insein battle. The local Karens from Ayeyarwaddy also fought with military troops. After 1988 Uprising, Myanmar Army started “Operation Fire Storm” based on the doubt that there were KNU-related suspicious persons in northern Ayeyarwaddy Division –including Latputta, Bogale and Myanaung. Since after that period, no war has been heard in Ayeyarwaddy Region for about 30 years.
Kyonpyaw is located in the southern part of Ayeyarwaddy Region. There have been no armed groups throughout the history. Karen people are living in Kyonpyaw for a very, very long time. It should be noted that the battle zone is now expanding from the hilly regions to the delta areas of the country.
EVALUATION
Ayeyarwaddy Delta Region has been appraised metaphorically as “Country’s Barn”. Apart from Cyclone Nargis, those living in Ayeyarwaddy Delta have ever experienced with other natural disasters and serious climate change. However, the armed conflict in Kyonpyaw may be extremely strange for Ayeyarwaddy Region and it can be said as the nightmare for the whole country.
The people of Myanmar must be aware that the troops of Military Council and their informants are spreading throughout the country. Certain training for self-defense, joint movements and group activities for the military revolution must be performed with a great care.
A school teacher from a school with no students who gave the information to Military Council has taught a great lesson for Our Spring Revolution that is forwarding to Federal Democracy Union.
PART II
WHAT WAS HAPPENING INTHIS WEEK?
WAR, VICTIMS OF WAR AND CHIN STATE
The Military Council had entered with two trucks around 10 PM of June 2 and deployed about 60 forces in the monastery compound at Shwe Aung Thar village, Mindat township along the Chin-Magway border. Starting after 5 AM of June 3, the weighty clashes broke out between military troops and Mindat-Civil Defense Force (CDF). Three military personnel reportedly died and four were hurt.
Military Council had used land forces as well as the air forces even in the fighting against Mindat-CDFs who are resisting only with traditional hunting rifles, and Mindat Public Administration Team confirmed the ground situation that military council had used the chemical weapons during the fighting. The battle zone in Mindat has been getting expanded and the battles occurred even in Shet village and also in Chaungzone underneath of Phayar Sakan village.
In Chaungzone battle, military troops launched the cannons from Kyaukhtu Artillery Base, Bounddae, Ashaepyin Mee That Kone, and dropped two bombs through military planes. The 274th Battalion fired the heavy weapons during the battle of Shet village. Within the battles during the first week of May, around 50 military personnel and 3 CDF-members reported died and many got injured from both sides.
The fighting between Hakha People’s Defense Force (PDF) members and the military troops which reinforced their forces in Paletwa had occurred over Hakha-Matupi highway and caused 8 military personnel to death. Paletwa is still blocked in transportation and more than 5,000 locals from Paletwa-Htantlang are displacing.
In Mindat township, Military Council further attacked the IDP camps or the places where the displaced persons were concentrated. Thus, the people are moving to other new places and encountering the challenges for food, shelters or health care.
CONSEQUENCES OF WAR AND RAKHINE STATE
The consequences of war can be seen apparently in Rakhine State where the two-year war had existed. In Ponnagyun township, a hand grenade, which has left as unexploded in the war, was exploded on June 4 after building the fire near it and such explosion caused four locals to death. As the war residues, there have been frequent landmine blast in Rakhine State.
Military Council arrested seven persons, including the Chairman of the Moe Pyinnyar charitable organization in Toungup, at the Phone Nyo checkpoints on Toungup-Thandwe Highway. It was heard that they were detained in the compound of the 346th Battalion and no one has known the reason for their arrest yet.
The statement for establishing Thandwe People’s Defense Force (TPDF) is announced on June 7. And such TPDF is formed with those who are resisting against Military Council.
It can be concluded that the performance of Myanmar Army, Arakan Army and local PDFs in Rakhine State might be possibly seen in the next few days although the clashes between Myanmar Army and Arakan Army (AA) are still quiet since after the coup.
SHAN STATE AND THE LOST TRUTH
Here is the world’s famous proverb: “The first casualty of War is Truth.” The fighting tension between Shan State-based ethnic armed groups in northern Shan State is still escalating. With the mutual allegation of territory invasion, RCSS and SSPP started the confrontations near Kyethi and there are also frequent clashes between RCSS and TNLA.
The fighting broke out between military troops and TNLA in Kutkai township within the first week of June, and Military Council even shot from the helicopter in that fighting. Locals recounted that the military troops, deployed in MineWee village, Namhkam township, fired Pan Han Gyi village with three artilleries and over thirty small weapons on June 4. Locals believed that Myanmar Army was worrying for the possible offensive operations of the ethnic armed organizations.
The anti-dictatorship Pa-O youths gathered together and formed Pa-O National Defense Force (PNDF) on June 1. PNDF announced to make alliances with other ethnic armed groups and to fight against Military Council with the ultimate aim of formulating federal democracy. It was also announced on June 7 that Tachileik People’s Defense Force (TPDF) had been established.
It is heard that military council is installing the anti-tank mines, blast mines and directional fragmentation mines within the territory of Hsihseng township. Military Council arrested 7 youths from HOpong township without sound reason.
Over 1,000 locals have been displacing due to the fighting between two Shan-armed groups in Kyethi township and facing the difficulties with respect to basic needs. The activities of Myanmar Army, ethnic armed resistance groups and People’s Defense Forces are expected to be seen widely in Shan State, where war has been rampant in the past.
” over 1000
The amount people whom displace because of the clash between two shan arm groups in KyaeThee, Southern Shan State
UNVEILING THE VEIL OF MILITARY COUNCIL AND KAREENI STATE
Military Council has committed the intolerable crimes in Karenni State—deploying at 6 Mile Village’s Christian Church in Demoso township and attacking the members of Karenni Nationalities Defense Force, operating airstrike attack over the protesters who were resisting only with the traditional weapons and using the detainees as human shields.
Military Council’s violent crackdown upon the peaceful protestors against military coup and its severe attack upon the armed resistance groups in Karenni State caused 40 civilians of death.
Kantarawaddy Times confirmed that military troops on June 3 burnt the houses from San Pya 6 Mile village and from other places as well. According to the statement of Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF), military troops deployed in the church, arrested the religious personnel and used them as human shields in Demoso battle. KNDF added that military troops attacked the public areas, burnt houses and killed the civilians without sound reason in Moe Byae battle.
Now there are more than 100,000 refugees in Karenni State due to the fighting between military troops and local people’s defense forces. The IDP camps are currently facing with the shortage of food supply and dealing with health problem.
Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) requested United Nations and foreign governments to put pressure and take serious actions upon the cruel activities of Military Council.
KIA STANDPOINT AND KACHIN STATE
Kachin Independence Army (KIA) is the unique ethnic armed organization which could capture the hearts of Myanmar people across the country during military coup. It is undisputable that lots of people have posted about their support of KIA and their prayer for KIA to be safe.
Within the first week of June, KIA shot and attacked the military ship, carrying the supplies for military troops, in Shwegu township, Kachin State. The fighting resumed on June 3 near Dawt Pon Yang in which no fighting has occurred for about 10 days.
Lieutenant-Colonel Naw Buu told about the policy that all of the possible PDFs created within the territory of Kachin State must be founded as the subordinate groups of KIA. In the very first online press conference held on June 5, according to the explanation of Deputy Minister Daw Khin Ma Ma Myo, Ministry of Defense of the National Unity Government (NUG) with respect to above-mentioned point, the revolutionary movements against military dictatorship in Kachin State have no potential for confusion.
Among tens of ethnic armed organizations in Myanmar, KIA is particularly striking and it could create ABSDF (north) and AA (Arakan Army) through giving military training in its controlled-areas. Moreover, it uses to provide assistance for TNLA that is an active group in northern Shan State. KIA perception and its revolutionary movements following after the coup led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing set a remarkable model not only for local Kachin people but also for all people throughout Myanmar.
“ “If in our KIO’s territory, they must stand as the KIO’s subordinate group and they must also cooperate with KIO. Standing themselves without our consent is not suitable. The newly established PDFs will also be our subordinate. This is the policy of KIO.”
FINDINGS IN EAST-SOUTHERN REGION (KAREN, MON, TANINTHARYI)
Karen Information Center (KIC) confirmed that over 30 military personnel reportedly died in Phalu battle between DKBA Splinter Group led by General Saw Kyaw Thet and military troops in Myawaddy township. Over 700 locals had been displacing due to the battle. Military Council keeps destroying martyrdom monuments within Karen State.
On 1 June, Military Council arrested four youths near the city round of Kawthaung, Tanintharyi Region. Since after the end of May, Military Council had been raiding almost every night and arresting the targeted persons from Kawthaung, which is located along Thai-Myanmar border.
Military Council has renamed the controversial Mon State Bridge from General Aung San Bridge into Salween Bridge (Chaungzon) and tried to comfort Mon people. Mon State Students’ Unions sent the open letter to New Mon State Party (NMSP), that is ethnic armed organization in Mon State, for standing with the public and not working, negotiating or collaborating with Military Council.
There are speculations that the military situation in Mon State depends a lot on the NewMonStateParty.
UPPER MYANMAR (SAGAING, MANDALAY, MAGWAY)
Taze People’s Defense Force announced on June 2 that it had killed the military-appointed administrator of Paw-U ward, Taze, Sagaing region. It also warned the ward administers and dalans walking in and out of the police station to stay with a great care if they cooperated with Military Council and tried to harm the general public.
Taze People’s Defense Force issued 7-point statement, including not to communicate with soldiers or police officers, to stay away from military vehicles, to stay inside after 9 at night and to avoid touching the suspicious materials.
People’s Defense Forces or Guerilla Resistance Groups have been establishing in various townships of Sagaing Region. The clashes broke out in Kalay between military troops and Kalay People’s Defense Force. The establishment of Monywa People’s Defense Force (MPDF) was announced on June 6. Moreover, the Sagaing Region People’s Defense Force (SPDF) announced that the batch-4 of the short-term military training course had been completed in a certain place of jungle in Sagaing Region.
One Police Corporal from Ohn Chaw Police Office, located near the entrance gate of Mandalay, was shot on June 3 and died. Likewise, one of the military officers deploying within the compound of BEHS (3) Myingyan, was shot to death whilst sitting down for the tea in Sein Gyi Tea Shop. One local from Kyaukpadaung was shot to death.
Military Council had been deploying in the villages of Gangaw township in Magway Region until the night of June 6 and consequently, around 20,000 are fleeing to the safe places. 6 locals reportedly died and 3 houses were burnt in the fighting between Gangaw People’s Defense Force and military troops. Locals recounted that there had been the shooting in Magway Air-Force Base in the nighttime of June 7.
LOWER MYANMAR (YANGON, BAGO)
There have been a lot of anti-dictatorship protests and general strikes in various townships of Yangon Region. And there are also frequent bomb blasts in Yangon. The clashes in Thaketa township caused one policeman died. People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) from nine townships across Yangon Region have issued the joint statement that they would never do any activity that caused harm the public, the students and the children. Military Council improperly robbed almost 30 motorbikes parking in front of the tea shop in North Okkalapa. A soldier deployed at the entrance gate of Pyay shot himself in the toilet and died.
NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT
- NUG urges Myanmar Army soldiers to cooperate with the public as quick as possible
- CRPH states that certain evil group is doing the targeted violence upon the innocent citizens
- NUG strongly condemns the use of schools as military base for their deployment and the targeted bomb explosion in school compounds
- NUG declares Military Council, Myanmar Army and the other related organizations as terrorist organizations
- NUG adds three more ministries and appoints the union ministers for those ministries
- NUG guarantees the right of citizenship and rehabilitation for Rohingya citizens
MILITARY COUNCIL
- Military Council plans to abolish NLD party
- Military Council secretly withdraws MMK 600 million to buy armaments and to provide Myanmar Army (the public has been barred to withdraw money from banks)
- Min Aung Hlaing admits that he did not expect how strong the response of the people to the coup
- Military Council secretly orders to block the passports of CDM doctors, to seize their medical license and not to allow them going abroad
- Min Aung Hlaing meets with China Ambassador
- Min Aung Hlaing says NUG is just in the air and there is no possibility for civil war
UN, US, EU, ASEAN and International
At international level, there have been a lot of criticisms about the performance of ASEAN upon Myanmar Crisis. Two officials representing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Brunei’s Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Erywan Pehin Yusof and Lim Jock Hoi, secretary-general of ASEAN, met with the military leader of the State Administration Council (SAC). Burnei is currently the Chair of ASEAN. China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that China supported ASEAN’s meeting with Myanmar military leaders, Myanmar’s situation was directly related for China’s interests and China was ready to cooperate with ASEAN with respect to Myanmar crisis. Indonesia urged ASEAN to appoint special envoys for Myanmar crisis as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, NCA-signed EAOs declared that they will not hold further political discussions with Military Council although the National Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) has not been rescinded as it was signed in the international arena and recognized by the Hluttaw, the country’s highest legislative body. Military Council strongly condemned upon the following organizations such as IJF, Leader for Peace and The Elders. ASEAN parliamentarians requested not to meet with Military Leaders in ASEAN leaders’ trip to Myanmar. Moreover, the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross met with Military Council. UNICEF has stated in writing its condemnation upon the deployment of military bases in schools and requested to protect schools and the other education-related compounds. UNHCR has requested the international assistance for Rohingya refugees. Raouf Mazo, the Higher Official of UNHCR, stated his support for moving Rohingya refugees to an uninhabited island in the Bay of Bangal, instead of placing them in Cox’s Bazar, and he added that it was also necessary to create the livelihoods for them. Bangladesh criticized the Western countries for providing $24 million bank guarantee to Myanmar, which is accused of conduct genocide against the Rohingya community and other ethnic minority people. As Thailand has revealed its extreme concerns for Myanmar Crisis and it has been making necessary preparations in advance.
SUMMARIZED EVALUATION
Whilst glancing the situations and occurrences within June first week, it can be obviously seen that all stakeholders are trying to solve Myanmar’s political turmoil in their own method. NUG and Military Council are moving forwards with their own ideologies. Meanwhile, there have been a lot of disagreements in the ethnic armed groups, which can be regarded as the Third Force. The news came out that three groups divided within the group of NCA-signatory EAOs. Non-Signatories of NCA such as the members of FPNCC including UWSA still remain neutral within current political situation. Three Brotherhood Alliances are fighting with Military Council. The youths across the country are resisting against the military dictators in various ways. There are also a lot of ongoing battles between recently emerged PDFs and military troops. According to the ground information, the number of refugees reached to the unprecedented amount. The innocent children, the old persons, women and other vulnerable persons have been suffering the effects of the battles. There has been no calling for a political solution to the political crisis until even today however the loud voice calling for destroying military dictator with armed revolution can be heard everywhere in Myanmar.