10th March 2021
Well, the situation is getting interesting. The BBC carried a report today and an interview with members of the Myanmar police force who had crossed the border and sought asylum in India as they didn’t agree with killing innocent people.
Following on from my report about possible action against the BRI pipeline, the following update appeared in The Irrawaddy.
At least two officials from Myanmar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Naypyitaw have reportedly been detained over a leaked document about an emergency meeting with the Chinese government representatives.
Staff said a ministerial assistant director, U Chan Aye, was taken from the building by six plainclothes officers on Tuesday morning.
“When he got into a car, they put a hood on his head,” a witness said.
Another assistant director, U Soe Thu Ra, was also reportedly detained in the evening. He allegedly recorded the minutes during a meeting with Chinese representatives.
The two men’s families said they were being treated well and were still under interrogation.
A leaked document spread on social media at the weekend revealing that a Chinese delegation held an emergency meeting with home affairs and foreign ministry staff in late February.
The Chinese delegation reportedly asked the military regime to boost security for its pipeline projects amid rising anti-Chinese sentiment across the country due to its defense of the regime, the document said. Moreover, China asked the military regime to pressure the media to help reduce skepticism towards China, according to the document.
In response, protesters said they would intensify efforts against China’s interests in Myanmar. They also threatened to blow up the oil and gas pipeline and oppose all Chinese projects across the country if China continues to block United Nations Security Council action against the regime.
Myanmar opposition to the regime is growing.
In late February, nine ministerial staff were sued by the military regime. Nearly 20 diplomats based in the US, UK, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, and Norway have participated in the civil disobedience movement after the Junta intensifies its crackdown on protestors.
Source the Irrawaddy 10th March 2021.
It had been reported that NGOs were cooperating with the Government, but it turns out to have been one-sided cooperation.
The five international organizations have denied having any discussions with Myanmar’s military regime after the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement announced cooperation with them.
On Tuesday, a ministerial press release announced ongoing cooperation with several NGOs.
The ministry’s assistance director, U Ba Than, said Daw Thet Thet Khine plans to cooperate with People In Need, Trocaire, ChildFund Myanmar, Christian Aid and Mercy Corps, according to the statement.
Within hours, all five NGOs said they had not attended a meeting or signed any agreements with the ministry since the February 1 coup.
The ministry is being led by Daw Thet Thet Khine, who was appointed by the military regime.
Source the Irrawaddy 10th March 2021.
In Karen State the Karen Liberation Army (KNLA) have started to escort protestors to take part in meetings. Funnily enough the police have not tried to stop them. Perhaps they don’t like facing people who also have guns. The KNLA is just one of the EAOs now taking a greater part in the CDM and the KNLA has a strength of about 7,000 active members.
They are well armed, having supplies of HK33A3 rifles, M4 Carbine with M203 UBGL and M1 Carbine rifle. Fairly notable weaponry. It is thought that they also have access to RPGs.
A similar situation is arising in Kachin State in the North and Shan state in the middle. In Kachin, the authorities have been especially brutal in Myitkyina, the capital and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has started to take action. They have started minor actions and will escalate unless the violence is tempered. It is noticeable that the deaths in Myitkyina are much lower. (The brutality is still there). Their strength is estimated at about 12,000 regulars and 10,000 reservists. They are adept at guerrilla and jungle warfare and have the usual AK47s, but they also have some artillery.
This signals a worrying development for the Military. Whilst the EAOs will probably not win an open conflict, they can cause long term problems (as they have done in the past) and combined with an extensive CDM the authorities are having to face two fronts. Something they have not had to contend with before.
If all the EAOs can coordinate their actions together, along with the CDM then the military will be in for the long haul and will retaliate with ever increasing levels of brutality.
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