FROM THE DVB NEWSROOM
Burma’s UN Special Envoy to leave post
The U.N. Special Envoy for Burma Noeleen Heyzer will leave her post at the end of her contract on June 12. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres thanked Heyzer “for her tireless efforts on behalf of peace and the people of Myanmar.” Guterres will appoint a new envoy to replace Heyzer. She took the role of U.N. Special Envoy for Burma in October 2021 following the military coup that ousted the country’s National League for Democracy (NLD) government. Heyzer met with coup leader Min Aung Hlaing but was not able to meet with Burma’s jailed leaders State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint.
Calls to immediately release jailed journalist
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has issued a statement calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Myanmar Pressphoto Agency (MPA) journalist Hmu Yadanar Khat Moh Moh Tun. She was recently sentenced to an additional 10 years (13 years total in prison). The CPJ urged the military to stop jailing journalists. “Myanmar’s junta must stop using terrorism and anti-state charges to suppress the free press and should release all of the reporters it holds behind bars,” said Shawn Crispin, the CPJ Southeast Asia representative. CPJ attempted to seek information regarding Hmu Yadanar Khat Moh Moh Tun’s conviction, health, and treatment in detention, but there has been no response from the military. She is being held at Yangon’s Insein Prison.
WFP feeds 230,000 cyclone survivors
The World Food Programme (WFP) stated that it – and partner organizations – has provided food to over 230,000 people living in cyclone-affected communities of Rakhine State and Magway Region. The WFP added that it is providing emergency food and cash for the next three months to around 800,000 residents impacted in Kyauktaw, Kyaukphyu, Sittwe, Ponnagyun, Pauktaw, Myebon, Mrauk-U and Rathedaung, Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships. It is currently seeking $60 million USD in order to continue emergency food and nutrition assistance until the end of this year.
News by Region
BAGO—Nearly 10,000 children displaced from their homes in Kyaukkyi Township, located in the Karen National Union (KNU) Brigade 3, have reported cases of skin disease due to the unclean water during, the KNU states. “The water that they’re using is unclean, so they are not healthy. And they are suffering from skin diseases,” said a Karen social affairs group spokesperson. Twenty thousand people have been displaced from their homes in Kyaukkyi Township due to fighting between the Burma Army and Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA).
NAYPYIDAW—Regime media reported Vice-Senior General Soe Win met a delegation of Chinese officials led by Major-General Yang Yang, China’s Acting Director-General of the Intelligence Bureau on May 30. The meeting discussed “relations and cooperation between the two armies and other proper cooperation in peace, tranquility and development programmes for border areas.”
RAKHINE—400 Naga Mauk village tract homes in Rathedaung Township were destroyed by Cyclone Mocha. Saltwater intrusions have affected water sources, along with land for agriculture and aquaculture. “There are no relief groups arriving in our village as the only transportation to our village is by waterway. Although we’ve heard the township administration has supported other villages, we haven’t received a single drinking water bottle,” a villager said.
SHAN—The Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF) documented from April to May that three locals, including one child, were killed and 18 others were injured by airstrikes in Pekon and Pinlaung townships. A pregnant woman was killed and three nurses were injured at a clinic in Saung Phui village on April 25. Another woman and a three-year-old were killed by another airstrike on Moebye May 27. Civilian houses and religious buildings were also damaged, the SHRF stated.
The Northern Alliance of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and the Arakan Army (AA), were scheduled to meet the regime peace committee in Mongla, Shan State Special Region 4 on June 1, Mongla News reported. The Governor of China’s Yunnan Province is reportedly planning to attend. Ep
YANGON—Singer Li Li Naing Kyaw was killed in Yankin Township on May 30. “Soldiers arrived shortly after the sound of two gunshots,” said a Yankin Township resident. Li Li Naing Kyaw was pronounced dead by medics in the ambulance to Mingaladon military hospital. The singer is from a military family and claims that National League for Democracy (NLD) party supporters “want to destroy the nation.”
