Min Aung Hlaing orders 20 generals to run in regime polls
Sources close to the regime in Naypyidaw told DVB that Min Aung Hlaing ordered 20 military generals, including National Defence and Security Council (NDSC) executive chief Aung Lin Dwe, and the regime Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Communications Mya Tun Oo, to run as candidates for the pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) in the general elections on Dec. 28.
A regime source told DVB on the condition of anonymity that USDP Chairperson Khin Yi is unhappy about potential challenges to his party leadership from regime-appointed ministers. Aung Lin Dwe served as the commander of the Western Regional Military Command (RMC) 2015-16, with Mya Tun Oo at the Eastern Central RMC 2011-12. Both of them have been sanctioned by the Western countries since the 2021 military coup.
The USDP is one of the six parties registered with the Union Election Commission (UEC) to contest nationally. It ruled Burma from 2011-16 until it was defeated in back-to-back landslide election victories by the National League for Democracy (NLD) in 2015 and 2020. The first phase of the elections on Dec. 28 will take place in 102 out of 274 townships as the UEC announced that elections will not be held in a total of 56 townships.
Investigation into airstrike on schools in Rakhine State
The Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) released a statement on Tuesday requesting witnesses, or those with direct information, about the airstrike on Sept. 12 that reportedly killed 22 students, and injured at least 20 others, at two private schools in Kyauktaw Township of Arakan State to contact its investigators. Kyauktaw is located 60 miles (96 km) northeast of the Arakan State capital Sittwe.
The IIMM stated that regime attacks on children are “heinous” and that all will be included, along with the Sept. 12 airstrike on schools, in its ongoing investigation. Targeting schools can be considered a war crime under international law. The U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF) condemned the attack. The Arakan Army (AA) vowed to “retaliate” on Sept. 13, calling on the international community to take action against the regime.
Over 100 civilians, including children, have been killed by airstrikes in Mrauk-U, Kyauktaw, Rathedaung, and Ramree townships this year. Over 100 have been injured and over 430 buildings, schools, and homes have been destroyed, according to the AA. The regime has not issued any statement regarding airstrikes on schools in Arakan. The IIMM requests information about the airstrike be shared via Signal +41 766-911-208.
Arakan Army leader meets Muslim community in Rakhine State
Residents in Arakan State told DVB that the reopening of the Jarma Central Mosque on Sept. 12 was approved by the Arakan Army (AA) Commander-in-Chief Twan Mrat Naing personally during his meeting with Islamic religious leaders in Maungdaw Township on Aug. 30. The historic mosque had been shut down since inter-communal conflict broke out across Arakan in 2012.
“We achieved positive results,” a Maungdaw resident who attended the meeting told DVB on the condition of anonymity, but did not disclose further details. He added that the AA leader discussed regional development and how to better integrate Muslims into its expanding administration. The AA has seized 14 out of 17 townships in Arakan, as well as Paletwa Township in neighbouring Chinland.
An Arakan State-based politician, who withheld his name due to security concerns, told DVB that the meeting was evidence that the AA did not discriminate against the Muslim community in territory under its control. He claimed that members of the Muslim diaspora abroad were spreading “fake news” about the AA but did not elaborate further. Maungdaw, located in northern Arakan, was seized by the AA on Dec. 8. Read more
News by Region
MANDALAY—Residents of Aungmyaythazan Township told DVB that the regime’s Department of Fire Services stopped search and recovery operations at the Sky Villa condominium on Monday. Rescue workers stated that 207 bodies have been recovered since the March 28 earthquake, and 52 have been rescued from the rubble at the collapsed Sky Villa condo.
A tenant who lost four family members during the earthquake at Sky Villa told DVB that they wanted compensation equal to the value of their condo. The developer N.T.L Company reportedly paid 10 million MMK ($2,200) each to the families of 146 deceased tenants on Sept. 8 and 15.
The People’s Defense Force (PDF) and residents of Madaya Township told DVB that three civilians were killed and one man was injured in airstrikes carried out by the Burma Air Force on Oakkan village, located northeast of the township on Tuesday. Madaya is located 23 miles (37 km) north of Mandalay.
“The locations where the airstrikes occurred and the ongoing clashes are 30 miles apart,” a PDF leader told DVB on the condition of anonymity. He added that the military carried out airstrikes in Madaya and on resistance-controlled areas of Singu and Thabeikkyin townships on Wednesday.
NAYPYIDAW—The regime Ministry of Commerce set the wholesale reference rate of palm oil for the Yangon Region market at 6,610 MMK ($1.5 USD) per viss (1.8 liters) from Sept. 15-21. This is a 90 MMK ($0.02 USD) increase from the previous week. Regime media advised residents to file complaints to the Consumers Affairs Department hotline number 1535.
The Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) reportedly sold $1.25 million USD to edible oil importers on Sept. 15, following a $2.76 million USD sale on Sept. 12. The ministry’s figures showed that Burma consumes 1.2 million tons of cooking oil annually, of which 0.9 million tons are imported from Malaysia and Indonesia.
YANGON—Sources close to the regime administration told DVB that the number of people who’ve fled their homes in Burma and live as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Yangon is nearly 50,000. The regime announced on Monday that registered IDPs need to cast their ballot in advance at a polling station Nov. 26-29.
“They have been instructed to cast an advance ballot,” a source close to the regime administration in South Dagon township told DVB on the condition of anonymity. Polls on Dec. 28 will be held in Kamayut, Kyauktada, Taikkyi, Twente, South Dagon, Botahtaung, Mayangon, Mingaladon, Hmawbi, Thingangyun, Thanlying and Alone townships.
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,260 MMK)
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