Funeral for pro-democracy activist Wutyi Aung in Yangon
A funeral service for Wutyi Aung, who died at Yangon’s Insein Prison, was held at Yayway Cemetery in Yangon’s North Okkalapa Township on Tuesday. She was serving a seven-year sentence after being convicted by a regime-controlled court under Section 505(a), for alleged sedition, and under Section 52(a), for allegedly violating the Counter-Terrorism Law.
A poem was read at the funeral from an anonymous student, which posed the question: “Was she wrong for wanting to free the people [of Burma from this military regime]?” Wutyi Aung was a central executive committee member of the Dagon University Students’ Union (DUSU). She was arrested alongside five other student activists in Yangon’s Kyauktada Township on Sept. 14, 2021.
Wutyi Aung joined the Unity & Progress Students’ Society in 2018 and was elected to her position at DUSU in 2020, her colleagues reported. Sources close to her family told DVB that the 26-year-old developed a brain tumour due to torture during interrogation and died from an epileptic seizure. She was reportedly denied adequate medical treatment for her condition.
Regional MPs ‘alarmed’ over end of aid to Myanmar refugees
The ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), an independent coalition of Southeast Asian lawmakers and human rights experts, called on Thailand to allow the more than 108,000 refugees living in nine refugee camps along its border with Burma to find work, and to expand legal protections, ahead of the impending end to funding humanitarian assistance in the camps on July 31.
“We are abandoning people who have already been abandoned by the world too many times,” said Mercy Chriesty Barends, the APHR Chairperson and an Indonesian parliamentarian. The regional lawmakers also called on donor countries, like the U.S., to restore funding and support long-term solutions for refugees from Burma in Thailand, who can’t return home due to the crisis since the 2021 military coup.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) failure to implement its Five-Point Consensus peace plan in Burma was cited by APHR as a reason to bypass the regime in Naypyidaw and send humanitarian aid directly to those in need along the Thai-Burma border. Twelve Karen community-based organizations urged Thailand to allow refugees from Burma to become self-sufficient on July 17.
People’s Defence Force 10 miles from Mandalay
The People’s Defence Force (PDF) in Mandalay Region told DVB that it killed 15 regime troops and took 16 others as prisoners, seizing their weapons and ammunition, following the capture of three outposts located in Thayatkine, Myakanthar and Htanbingon villages along the Mandalay-Madaya highway on Sunday. The villages are located 10 miles (16 km) north of Mandalay’s Chanayethazan Township.
A resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity that the regime has launched retaliatory air and artillery strikes against the PDF in Myakanthar village of Patheingyi Township since Sunday. The number of civilian and resistance casualties was not shared by the PDF. But a member told DVB that dead and wounded regime troops have been transported to Mandalay from Myakanthar and Thayetkine villages.
U Toe, a PDF spokesperson in Mandalay, told DVB that regime forces had launched a counteroffensive in Madaya Township, located eight miles (13 km) northwest of Myakanthar village, on July 14. He added that both sides suffered casualties without disclosing the exact number and claimed that the situation is now “under control.” Read more
News by Region
KACHIN—A group called Kachin Human Rights Watch marked one-year since mobile and internet services were suspended to all 18 townships in the state on Monday. It called on the regime to stop restricting the flow of information and for the restoration of all telecommunications services.
“Not only has access to information been severely limited, but the freedom to produce and disseminate news has been completely suppressed,” stated the group’s press release on July 21. The state-wide telecommunications ban began on July 21, 2024.
KARENNI—The Karenni Interim Executive Council (IEC) second secretary Banyar Aung told DVB that it will close nearly 530 schools. The instruction came after an unknown number of homes were destroyed by airstrikes in Demoso Township on July 17.
“We instructed teachers, residents and school councils to close schools,” he said. A total of 15 civilians, including children, were killed and at least 18 were injured in Karenni the first two weeks of July, according to the IEC, which called for designated “demilitarized zones”.
MANDALAY—Residents of Bawlongyi village in Mogok Township told DVB that the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) released six parents it detained on July 18. Mogok, which came under TNLA control on July 23, 2024, is located 124 miles (200 km) northeast of Mandalay.
A resident told DVB that the parents were released after pledging to bring their children to the TNLA upon their return. Four others detained have not been released. The TNLA started compiling lists of 18 to 45 year-old residents of Mogok for mandatory service in its armed forces in March.
MON—Residents in Ye Township told DVB that a woman was charged under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code for sedition and Section 50(j) of Counter-Terrorism Law after allegedly criticizing the regime on July 20. Ye is located 95 miles (152 km) south of the state capital Mawlamyine.
A source close to the police told DVB on the condition of anonymity that the accused was suspected of having connections with the National Unity Government (NUG) and was detained at the Ye police station. The source added that her family members are also under investigation.
SHAN—Regime deputy Soe Win pledged to reopen schools in Nawnghkio and held a ceremony for 85 troops who helped retake the town from the TNLA on Monday. Nawnghkio is located 96 miles (154 km) south of Lashio and 163 miles (262 km) north of the state capital Taunggyi.
“The hospital and police station have reopened,” a Nawnghkio resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity. Soe Win also mentioned regime-planned elections will be held in Nawnghkio. The TNLA seized control of the town from July 21, 2024 to July 16.
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