Aung San Suu Kyi home auction fails again to attract bids

The second auction of Aung San Suu Kyi’s lakeside villa at 54 University Avenue in Yangon’s Bahan Township did not receive any bids on Thursday. The auction took place in front of the home on University Avenue, which has been part of a legal dispute between Aung San Suu Kyi and her brother Aung San Oo, for a second time. 

The starting bid was set at 300 billion kyat ($46 million USD). The first auction was held on March 20 with a starting price of 315 billion kyat, but it failed to attract any bidders. A Yangon court announced that the property at 54 University Avenue would be auctioned off in January after Aung San Oo successfully appealed to the Supreme Court in 2022, which led to the two auction attempts so far this year. 

The famed address is where Aung San Suu Kyi spent 15 years under house arrest until she was freed in 2010. The National Unity Government (NUG) has designated it as a national cultural heritage site and has warned that legal action would be taken if the property is sold. Aung San Suu Kyi has been held incommunicado since her arrest during the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021.

China officially endorses regime election plan

China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi said that Beijing backs the regime’s plan to stage an election. Min Aung Hlaing has stated to regime officials that he wants to hold it next year, in 2025. Wang Yi made the remarks after he met with Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyidaw on Wednesday.

Chinese state media reported that Wang Yi “reaffirmed China’s support for Myanmar’s efforts to achieve domestic political reconciliation under the constitutional framework, hold national elections and restart the democratic transition process.” He added that China opposes “external interference” in Burma’s political affairs. 

These visits from Chinese diplomats, including Beijing’s Special Enjoy Deng Xijun on Aug. 8, have come after the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) took control of the Regional Military Command (RMC) headquarters in Lashio, Shan State, on Aug. 3.

Freed Japanese executive returns to Tokyo

Hiroshi Kasamatsu, the director of the AEON Orange supermarket chain in Yangon, arrived at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on Wednesday, Japanese media reported. The regime released him from prison in Yangon on Monday.  

Kasamatsu was convicted of selling rice up to 70 percent higher than the rate set by the Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) and sentenced to one-year in prison on July 11. Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that he is in good health following his release by the regime.

Tokyo continued to demand his release throughout the ordeal. Kasamatsu was among 11 business leaders who were arrested for selling rice at prices higher than those set by the regime. Two other Japanese nationals have been jailed since the 2021 military coup, but have also been released by the regime.

News by Region

SHAN—The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) stated on Wednesday that 11 civilians were killed and 12 were injured by airstrikes and an artillery attack carried out by the military on Hsipaw Township, located in northern Shan State, Aug. 9-13. 

Hsipaw residents have fled to neighboring Kyaukme, Namlang and Pinlon towns due to the retaliatory attacks. The TNLA claimed that the military is targeting civilians in response to its losses to the Brotherhood Alliance, which includes the TNLA and the MNDAA, in northern Shan State. 

ARAKAN—The Arakan Army (AA) took control of Kyeintali town but fighting continued in Kalapyin village of Gwa Township, located in southern Arakan State, on Tuesday. “They withdrew after suffering many losses,” said a Kyeintali resident. 

The military has blocked the transportation of goods into the township. “The prices of commodities and medicines have doubled,” said a Gwa resident. Tens of thousands of southern Arakan residents have fled to Ayeyarwady and Yangon regions since fighting between AA and the military began in the township on Aug. 8.

SAGAING—Zaw Tuseng, the founder and president of the Myanmar Policy Institute (MPI), told DVB that the NUG is holding talks with key stakeholders in the resistance to form a political roadmap for Sagaing Region. Resistance groups there have been trying to form a federal unit.

“These three key stakeholders, the NUG, [the] Sagaing Forum, and ethnic communities and NLD lawmakers, have to come together and they are having ongoing discussions. Mostly, informal discussions about how they can work together,” said Zaw Tuseng. He noted the challenge faced in replicating bottom up federalism in Sagaing due to its diversity.

YANGON—Regime officials are investigating Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who have relocated to Yangon from conflict-affected areas of the country. Immigration officers and ward administrators have been reportedly taking photos of the IDPs and sending them to township offices and military bases for further investigation.

“They checked our phones and even asked if we were involved in welcoming the [People’s Defense Force] with flowers. They took three photos [of us],” said an IDP from Shan State who recently relocated to Yangon. The Yangon RMC instructed officials to conduct a census of the IDPs, according to a source close to the regime.

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