Min Aung Hlaing makes apology for death of senior monk
Regime leader Min Aung Hlaing issued an official apology on Monday after his troops killed Sayadaw Bhaddanta Munindabhivamsa, 77, a member of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee, at a checkpoint in Ngazun Township of Mandalay Region on June 19.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of the monk, and I would like to sincerely apologize for this incident,” stated Min Aung Hlaing’s apology, which was delivered by regime Minister Tin Oo Lwin from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture to the revered monk’s Win Nein Mi Thar Yon Monastery in Bago Region.
Min Aung Hlaing’s apology mimicked regime spokesperson Zaw Min Tun’s remarks about how the vehicle failed to comply with the troops’ orders to stop. He also said that the vehicle bore no markings to denote that monks were inside. Sitagu Sayadaw visited the monastery on June 22 and called on the clergy to forgive and forget the incident. Sayadaw Bhaddanta Munindabhivamsa’s funeral will be held June 27.
Karen National Union to transfer suspected murderer to Thais
A resistance group operating under the command of the Karen National Union (KNU), known as Lion Battalion, stated that it will transfer a man suspected of murdering his wife in Thailand over to the Thai police.
Htet Htet Zaw, 26, died in April of a brain hemorrhage. “We will definitely transfer the suspect and cooperate with the Thai authorities. We do not tolerate injustice. Violence against women is unacceptable under our policy,” a Lion Battalion spokesperson told DVB.
“We welcome the response to our open letter from comrades in the Lion Battalion, who have detained the suspect,” said Thinzar Shunlei Yi, a member of the women’s group Sisters 2 Sisters. Women from Burma in Thailand have demanded justice for Htet Htet Zaw. They would like to recuperate her body from the Thai hospital to bury her.
Burma nationals on hunger strike in India prison face health issues
Sixty-six Burma nationals staging a hunger strike over the last nine days inside Imphal Central Jail in Manipur State of India are facing deteriorating health conditions. Staff refuse to negotiate with them.
“Prison authorities are not giving them food. They don’t even pay a visit to see inside their cells. I feel sorry for them as no one mentions [their names],” said Salai Dokhar, the founder of India for Myanmar – a New Delhi-based group advocating for democracy in Burma.
Twenty-eight Burma nationals launched a hunger strike on June 16 to protest against deportation from India. Some were injured after prison guards used violence to suppress the strike. A total of 76 Burma nationals held in jail were repatriated by the Manipur State government on May 2 and June 2.
News by Region
SHAN—Two civilians were killed and another five injured in fighting between the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the military in Kyaukme town, located in northern Shan State, on Tuesday. Two homes were also damaged.
“A man was killed instantly while sitting outside his house in front of the market when an artillery shell landed. Another victim was a woman from ward nine in Tallinn village. I don’t have details about her situation,” a Kyaukme resident told DVB.
The TNLA stated that Kyaukme’s Kyaukmelay village and Nawnghki0’s Ohmmati village came under artillery fire on Monday. It claimed that three TNLA members have been killed and four others have been injured by attacks since June 9. The Brotherhood Alliance signed its ceasefire with the military on Jan. 11.
SAGAING—Thousands of residents living in seven villages of Salingyi Township near the Letpadaung copper mine, which is operated by the Chinese-owned Myanmar Wanbao Mining Company Limited. have fled their homes to become Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) since June 19.
“The number of IDPs continues to increase. They are in need of food,” said Aung Min, an aid worker. The People’s Defense Force (PDF) attacked Nyaungpingyi Police Station last June, which led to retaliatory attacks that made thousands of Salingyi residents into IDPs. | N
ARAKAN—The World Food Programme (WFP) condemned the looting and burning of its warehouse in Maungdaw Township, located in northern Arakan State, on Saturday. WFP staff have been unable to access the warehouse, which stored 1,175 metric tons of food aid, since late May due to fighting between the Arakan Army (AA) and the military.
“WFP calls on all parties to the conflict to uphold their obligations under International Humanitarian Law to ensure that humanitarian facilities and assets are respected and protected, and safe and secure access is provided for the delivery of vital assistance to those in urgent need,” stated a WFP press release.
MANDALAY—Chaunggyi bridge, located along the Mandalay-Mogok Road, was damaged in an explosion on Tuesday. “Four mines exploded at the bridge. Trucks are unable to use [it],” said a passenger in a vehicle traveling from Mogok to Mandalay. The PDF warned motorists against traveling along the road from Mandalay to Myitkyina, the Kachin State capital, between 7 pm and 6 am.
TANINTHARYI—Approximately 200 residents from Kawthoung Township fled across the border into Thailand’s Ranong Province as the PDF attacked a military outpost, with 30 regime troops inside, on June 22. Kawthoung residents fled after a retaliatory artillery attack by the military, Thai media reported.
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