Thailand parliamentary committee meets with UN Special Rapporteur

Thailand’s Parliamentary Committee on National Security, Border Affairs, National Strategy, and National Reform held a meeting with the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burma Tom Andrews in Bangkok on July 11. Andrews’ latest report accuses Thai banks of facilitating weapons purchases by the military.

“Banks in Thailand facilitated over $60 million dollars in purchases for the junta’s Ministry of Defence in fiscal year 2022. That total more than doubled in fiscal year 2023 to over $120 million dollars. As Singapore banks were winding down their facilitation of these types of transactions, some Thai banks were winding up,” said Andrews.

His recent report: Banking on the Death Trade: How Banks and Governments Enable the Military Junta in Myanmar identified 16 banks in seven countries that have processed transactions linked to military weapons purchases. He added that an additional 25 banks provided services to banks under regime control.

Talking Burma in the diaspora

Napas Thein is a Canadian master’s student at the Munk School of Public Policy and chair of the Myanmar Culture Club at the University of Toronto. He’s the host of a new English language podcast called Talking Burma, which is produced by the Burma-Canadian Association of Ontario (BCAO).

“We are trying to uncover stories from people who are from Burma, or people who do work in Burma, and share these kinds of stories, these oral histories, with the Canadian public and our Burmese diaspora,” he said.

Talking Burma Podcast was initiated by the Burmese-Canadian community to explore the lives, stories and work of people from Burma. Hear Napas Thein on the Weekly Briefing podcast today. Find DVB English News wherever you get podcasts. Listen on Spotify, YouTube, Audible, Amazon Music and Apple Podcasts.

National Unity Government to investigate murder of 16-year-old

The National Unity Government (NUG) issued a statement on Wednesday that it will investigate the murder of Myint Myat Oo, 16, a member of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU) who was killed in Saingnainggyi village, Wetlet Township of Sagaing Region on July 8.

“[The] ABFSU condemns the heinous acts by whosoever and will seek the justice through movements against the brutality until the accused has been punished,” stated the ABFSU in a press release.

It alleged that ABFSU members have been attacked by representatives of the NUG People’s Administration in Wetlet Township. It went on to state that it “strongly opposes the acts of cruelty by such authorities.”

News by Region

CHINLAND—The Chinland Defense Force Kale Kabaw Gangaw (CDF-KKG) which is operating in Kale and Tamu townships of Sagaing Region, as well as Gangaw Township of Magway Region, claimed that more than 40 of its members have been killed and several more have been injured since the 2021 military coup. 

“Although we provide medical treatments for the injured, we are unable to assist them well due to our financial difficulties,” said Salai Lonpi, the CDF-KKG spokesperson. It stated that it has fought in over 80 battles against the military since it was founded in July 2021. It claims to have over 600 members fighting alongside other anti-coup forces.  

MAGWAY—Residents of Irin village in Myaing Township claimed that nearly 20 civilians were arrested and one woman was raped and killed by soldiers during an arson attack by the military on July 7. Nearly 3o homes were destroyed.

“The soldiers raided the village that morning and arrested everyone,” said a resident who fled from their home during the attack. He added that soldiers stole valuables, rice, edible oil and food from residents’ homes.   

YANGON—Two police officers were injured in Bahan Township during an attack on a police station by a group calling itself the God’s Hand Force on July 10. “We heard the explosion,” said a Bahan resident.

One hundred and fifteen people are reportedly receiving treatment for cholera at hospitals in Yangon on July 10, stated the regime’s Ministry of Health. Twenty-two are in serious condition and 87 others have been discharged. It added that a total of 217 have been discharged from the hospital after recovering from illness related to the cholera outbreak.

Eight passengers are still missing from a ferry boat capsized in the Yangon River on July 10 and the search operation is ongoing, RFA Burmese reported. The missing individuals include three students, regime media reported. A total of nine individuals have been rescued out of the 17 passengers on board.

SHAN—The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) stated that it has seized control of Nawnghkio Township after it captured the remaining military outpost there on Wednesday. It had already seized the town’s Light Infantry Battalions (LIB) 114 and 115 in June. 

“There is one more military outpost left and it is located 15 miles from the town,” said a resistance group member on the condition of anonymity. A Nawnghkio resident told DVB that Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have started to return to their homes but many fear retaliatory airstrikes and artillery attacks. 

Operation Shan-Man, which refers to the twin offensives launched in Mandalay and northern Shan State by resistance forces on June 25, continues against the military for control of Mogok Township in Mandalay Region, as well as Lashio and Kyaukme townships of northern Shan State.