India restricts access to Myanmar border bridge
India has restricted access to the No. 2 India-Burma Friendship Bridge, located on the border between Rikhawdar, Chinland, and Zokhawthar in Mizoram State since Jan. 2. Rikhawdar is 147 miles (236 km) north of the Chinland capital Hakha. It came under Chin resistance control on Nov. 13, 2023. The export of goods from Rikhawdar into Zokhawthar was stopped by India on July 25.
“The bridge is open from 6am to 6pm. They are collecting fingerprints and eye scans [on the Indian side] for a border pass that allows travel within 10 km of the border. It must be renewed every seven days,” a Rikhawdar resident told DVB. More than 500 students from Chinland cross the bridge daily to attend schools in India since fighting between Chin resistance forces and the military began following the 2021 military coup.
India’s government announced last February that it is ending its Free Movement Regime (FMR) along its 1,020 mile (1,643 km) long border with Burma, which allowed Indian and Burma nationals to travel up to 16 km on either side of the border for up to two weeks without a visa, using a border pass. The Institute of Chin Affairs (ICA) has documented that over 60,000 people from Burma have fled into Mizoram since 2021.
Regime yet to free four detained Thai fishermen
Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura expressed “disappointment” over the continued detention of four Thai nationals who were sentenced from 4-6 years in prison for illegally fishing in Burma’s waters. He added that “patience and careful negotiations” were essential for securing their release. Thai officials were told by the regime that the four Thais would be released on Jan. 4.
Thailand’s Minister of Defence Phumthan Wechayachai told Thai media that negotiations between Bangkok and the regime in Naypyidaw, which seized power after the coup, to release the four Thais are still underway. He added that family members had visited them and reported that all are in good health while being held in detention in Kawthaung, located 408 miles (656 km) south of the Tanintharyi Region capital Dawei.
The four Thais, along with 27 Burma nationals, were arrested by the Burma Navy in 15 fishing boats after allegedly “encroaching” inside Burma’s territorial waters on Nov. 30. They were accused by the regime of having items related to “terrorist groups” but handed suspended sentences for “illegal fishing.” A total of 151 Thai prisoners were freed in the regime amnesty on Jan. 4. Bangkok stated that one Thai fisherman died while attempting to evade arrest by the Burma Navy, which was denied by Naypyidaw on Dec. 2.
Documented number of political prisoners freed reaches 344
The Political Prisoners Network Myanmar (PPNM) updated its list of political prisoners released in the regime amnesty on Monday. It reported that 344 political prisoners have been freed so far. The regime spokesperson Zaw Min Tun claimed that 600 political prisoners were pardoned to mark Burma’s 77th Independence Day on Jan. 4.
“It is far less than the number claimed by the military regime,” stated the PPNM press release on Monday. It added that the 344 were released from 40 prisons nationwide. No prominent members of the ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) government, including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi or President Win Myint – arrested on Feb. 1, 2021 – were included in the amnesty.
The regime announced that it had released a total of 6,044 prisoners nationwide. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) told DVB that the unconditional release of all political prisoners would be a positive step by the regime. It has documented that 28,134 civilians have been arrested across the country since the 2021 coup, and that 21,452 are currently held in prisons nationwide.
News by Region
AYEYARWADY—A boat carrying nearly 300 people, including children, women and the elderly, from Manaung, Thandwe and Taungup townships in neighboring Arakan State has been held by the military near Hainggyi island in Ngapudaw Township since Dec. 27. Ngapudaw is located 59 miles (94 km) south of the Ayeyarwady Region capital Pathein.
“They are not allowed to go anywhere. The military does not allow aid groups to help those poor people,” a local aid group member told DVB on the condition of anonymity. The 300 people from Arakan State have fled fighting between the military and the Arakan Army (AA) which launched its most recent offensive on Nov. 13, 2023.
Kyonpyaw Township residents told DVB that the military evicted an unknown number of families from their homes in Ngayoema village in order to build an airstrip near an outpost belonging to the Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 36. Kyonpyaw is located 52 miles (83 km) north of Pathein.
“Ngayoema residents have been forced to leave their homes since last week without any notice,” said a Kyonpyaw resident. The military has set up checkpoints inside the town. The AA seized Gwa in southern Arakan State, located 63 miles (101 km) west of Kyonpyaw, on Dec. 29. Regime authorities in Ayeyarwady have been on alert for possible AA attacks.
MAGWAY—The People’s Defense Force (PDF) told DVB that the military has deployed troops near the Shwe Set Taw pagoda in Minbu Township ahead of a festival there on Feb. 2. Over 1,000 residents from 11 nearby villages have fled their homes since Dec. 22. Minbu is located eight miles (12 km) west of the region’s capital Magway.
“We would like to tell residents not to travel around the pagoda during the festival as fighting [with the military] may occur at any time,” a PDF spokesperson told DVB. Minbu residents accused the military of forced recruitment. The regime enacted its military conscription law on Feb. 10. It stipulates men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 24 must serve at least two years in the military.
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,470 kyat)
