28th March 2021
The Tatmadaw are increasing the variety of weapons they are deploying against the public.
The regime would probably prefer it if we stopped referring to such weapons as RPGs. They are from now on to be described as SMPC Shoulder-Mounted Peace Cannons.
The air raids on Karen region continue and there are now an estimated 10,000 people fleeing over the border to Thailand. That is not going to be appreciated by the Thai government.
Meanwhile, in Yangon 9, truckloads of soldiers entered South Dagon (one of the poorer industrial suburbs).
The military have stopped all medical personnel from entering South Dagon to give aid to the wounded. That is part of the policy of maximising the death rate and terrorising the population. Expect high casualty figures to become known after dawn tomorrow.
As a welcome diversion from the views of the non-approved media the following extract from the Global New Light of Myanmar proves to be interesting reading.
The Tatmadaw is taking measures for the flourishing of genuine, disciplined, and sound democracy. The Tatmadaw has assumed the State responsibilities inevitably under the law due to unlawful acts and irregularities in the 2020 election and will hold free and fair elections to transfer State responsibilities after accomplishing the responsibilities under the state of emergency.
As the Tatmadaw is a part of the state, and defence services personnel are a part of the people, the Tatmadaw is taking continued sound measures to enable all citizens to lead lives peacefully and safely through thick and thin by joining hands together to take pride in our country and efforts are being made for the development of socio-economic lives of citizens.
It is necessary for families of the Tatmadaw to fulfil the duties of an individual while also carrying out responsibilities of the state and to exert efforts for perpetuation and propagation of race, literature, and religion. In conclusion, the Senior General urged all to perform duties with firm belief until goals have been achieved.
Source Global New Light of Myanmar 29th March 2021.
Students of the history of the 1930s may be familiar with the views expressed in the extract above.
In another development which will upset the Thai authorities, the export of illegal drugs from Myanmar to Thailand has increased.
Thailand braces for a fresh methamphetamine influx after a coup in neighbouring Myanmar.
The kingdom’s narcotics bureau has already seized more than 80 million “yaba” pills just in the past six months, a record haul partly blamed on a supply glut caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
But now the United Nations warns of an even bigger deluge as Myanmar’s legal economy tanks, following weeks of nationwide unrest and strike action following the military takeover.
“If past actions are an indicator of what’s coming, then we’re likely to see another increase in synthetic drug production,” said Jeremy Douglas of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
He told AFP that organised crime groups and allied militias across the border were likely working to strengthen their positions while Myanmar was in turmoil.
“The best way to make big money fast is the drug trade, and the pieces are in place to scale up,” Douglas said.
Synthetic drug production is already the number one revenue source for several insurgent groups and militias in lawless pockets of Myanmar close to the borders of Thailand and Laos.
The frontier traversing the three countries makes up the “Golden Triangle” that has for decades been the hub of Southeast Asia’s lucrative drug trade.
The recent supply glut has kept the street value of a meth pill in Bangkok at rock bottom prices – 50 baht ($1.66) apiece.
Methamphetamine’s more potent crystallised form normally gets sent on to wealthier overseas markets such as Australia and Japan, although pandemic transport bottlenecks have disrupted that trade.
Heavier patrols along the Myanmar border have not deterred traffickers, with Thai authorities estimating that around three-quarters of illegal drugs entering their territory are now routed through Laos.
Source Frontier 29th March 2021.
Of course, apart from geopolitical issues affecting Australia and New Zealand, this is one result of the coup that will affect Australasia
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