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Junta NDSC meeting takes place on eve of coup anniversary; NLD states 84 members killed since coup

February 1, 2023

FROM THE DVB NEWSROOM

Junta holds NDSC meeting on eve of coup anniversary

The regime’s National Defense and Security Council (NDSC) meeting was held on Jan. 31 in Naypyidaw. Regime media reported that the meeting had described Burma’s situation as being “still in an abnormal position where attempts are being made to gain state authority through insurgency and bloodshed.” The junta stated that further details of the meeting will be released on Feb. 1. The meeting, attended by the regime’s top officials, is always held before extending the state of emergency, implemented after the 2021 coup. According to Burma’s 2008 constitution, a one-year state of emergency can only be extended twice, for up to 6 months each time. The junta has already extended its state of emergency twice for a period of six months, and legally are unable to extend it in accordance with its current constitution, legal experts said.

Despite the fact that all major junta officials were present for the NDSC meeting, Henry Van Thio, who is still acknowledged by the junta as one of Burma’s vice presidents, was hospitalized for a head injury and missed the meeting. The junta has jailed ousted NLD top officials, but Henry Van Thio (who held the same position of VP in the ousted NLD administration) still holds this position. Henry Van Thio is reported to have missed the two previous NDSC gatherings.

NLD says 84 NLD members have been killed since coup

The National League for Democracy Human Right Documentation Team (NLD-HRDT) announced on Jan. 29 that 84 NLD party members, including two Hluttaw MPs, were killed by the Burma Army since the 2021 coup. More than 9,800 people have been detained as of January, 2023, Amongst them, 1,232 members of the NLD including 80 Hluttaw MPs were arrested, according to the NLD-HRDT. Kyaw Htwe, a member of the NLD Central Working Committee, vowed the party will continue to resist the military coup. The NLD-HRDT said 605 homes were sealed, including 577 houses belonging to NLD members and Hluttaw MPs. “They sealed the Hluttaw MP’s houses including mine and sold some of them. Is this in accordance with the law? We all are suffering because of their actions and I’m opposed to them. All Burmese people can understand this,” a Hluttaw MP told DVB. In addition, the junta conducted 120 raids against NLD offices including its HQ. The NLD-HRDT also urged ASEAN and international organizations to take effective action against the coup regime’s abuses in accordance with international law.

Airstrikes kill at least 17 civilians across Burma in January

At least 17 civilians were killed in 13 regime airstrikes during the month of January. Airstrikes occurred in Sagaing, Magway, and Mandalay regions as well as Kachin, Karen and Chin states according to data collected by DVB. The spokesperson of the Presidential Office of the National Unity Government (NUG), Kyaw Zaw, claimed that over 80 percent of the airstrikes targeted civilians and that it would likely increase this year. The regime carried out 300 airstrikes since the 2021 coup. More than 460 people were killed, according to the NUG.

News by Region

AYEYARWADY—The Pathein Prison Court sentenced Hla Myat Thway, ousted Minister of Social Affairs of Ayeyarwady Region, to two years in prison for incitement on Jan. 30. “The court gave the order a month after she was charged. She was under house arrest inside government housing. None of the other members from the regional government were charged. All of them were released already,” a source with knowledge of her case said. She was charged on Dec. 28 and moved to the Pathein Prison. Hla Myat Thway represented Yay Kyi Township, first winning her seat in the 2012 by-election. She was re-elected in the 2015 and 2020 elections.

KAREN—The Chairperson of the Karen National Union (KNU), General Saw Mutu Say Poe, said that Burma’s constitution needs to be changed to become a federal democracy that guarantees freedom, justice, equality and self-determination to all. He made these remarks during an event commemorating the 74th Karen Revolution Day on Jan. 31. The KNU General Saw Mutu Say Poe urged the people to ensure the victory of the Karen Revolution by fighting together rather than individually.

TANINTHARYI—The regime’s Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC) announced that 16 people in Tanintharyi Region were arrested with 3.7 million methamphetamine tablets in January. “Many people sell drugs but arrests are not increasing. Some people are able to sell drugs because they bribe government staff so they will be quickly released if they get arrested,” a resident of Myeik town said. Of the 16, ten were arrested in Myeik, three in Kawthaung, and three in Dawei.

YANGON—Four administrators were injured after a grenade attack on an administration office in Dagon Seikkan Township on Jan. 30. “We heard an explosion and five gunshots. Then, ambulances and military vehicles arrived at the scene,” a local said. A source close to the township administration reported that the four are in critical condition at the hospital.

The regime’s education staff in Dala Township threatened to take action against students’ parents if their children boycott classes and participate in a ‘Silent Strike’ to mark the anniversary of the military coup on Feb. 1. In addition, shop owners in the township have also been pressured by authorities to open their shops on that day. The ‘Silent Strike’ will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m, on Feb. 1, 2023. Pro-democracy groups, including human rights activists, call on the public to stay home on strike – and not to go outside – to show the world they don’t support the coup regime, if they can do so safely and without notice of regime authorities.

The cost of the 2021 military coup in Burma continues to mount two years on

English Editor

February 1, 2023

Two years ago today the Burma Army seized power in a coup on February 1, 2021 under the pretense of electoral irregularities that ended nearly a decade of Burma’s transition from dictatorship to democracy. State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint, and other officials of the National League for Democracy (NLD) administration were immediately detained or forced to flee their homes to seek safety. The 2021 coup was met with almost immediate resistance from the Burmese public as citizens took the streets and civil servants went on strike. However, a pro-democracy uprising that began as large, colorful protests and acts of civil disobedience has devolved into armed resistance as the regime employs increasingly brutal methods to quash opposition to its rule. The military’s attempt at a power grab has shattered the lives of millions across the country that has imposed an insurmountable economic and human toll on Burma.

Since the 2021 coup, the military has returned Burma to levels of political repression not seen since the days of previous Burmese military regimes. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners has documented 2,940 democracy activists and civilians that have been killed by pro-military forces, a likely underestimate as it has restricted internet and telecommunications access across Burma. A total of 13,763 people remain detained in often grim conditions and face the risk of torture. Military junta officials carried out the first use of capital punishment in Burma since the 1980s when it executed democracy activists Kyaw Min Yu (aka Ko Jimmy), Phyo Zeyar Thaw, Hla Myo Aung and Aung Thura Zaw. One hundred and one people remain on death row in Burma. The Committee to Protect Journalists reported that 42 journalists were imprisoned in the country as of December, making Burma one of the worst jailers of journalists alongside China and Iran.

Hundreds of thousands of people in Burma have become displaced as violence has escalated over the last two years. According to recent UN figures, an estimated 1,215,000 have become Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) within Burma since the coup, bringing the total IDPs in the country to 1,545,000 as of January 9, 2023. More than 72,000 Burmese refugees have fled to neighbouring countries since Feb. 1, 2021. Thousands of families have been rendered homeless as military forces torched 48,463 civilian houses in a bid to crush resistance across the country in 2022, according to statistics released by independent research unit Data for Myanmar on Jan. 15. Thousands of homes and businesses have been demolished as military authorities have issued eviction notices in Burma’s cities under dubious justifications.

The Rohingya – who were victims of the Burma Army’s genocidal campaign in northern Rakhine in 2017 – continue to suffer immense persecution. Over 100 Rohingya have been arrested and sentenced by regime forces as they sought to flee the precarious situation in northern Rakhine. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) stated that 348 Rohingya have died or gone missing as thousands take dangerous boat journeys at sea to flee horrific conditions in Burma as well as the refugee camps in Bangladesh. The year 2022 was reportedly one of the deadliest years at sea as Rohingya took to boats bound for Malaysia and Indonesia for an opportunity to seek a better life.

Children have not been spared from the ill effects of the 2021 military coup. The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burma announced last June that at least 382 children have been killed or maimed due to Burma’s armed conflict – including a grisly episode where nearly a dozen school children were killed when a helicopter opened fire on a monastery school in Sagaing Region in September 2022. Over 1,400 children have been detained since the coup. Millions of would-be students have missed significant class time. Countless children have missed their annual routine immunizations. Many more have been displaced as the junta’s violent repression has had major ramifications on Burma’s economy.

Once widely heralded as one of Asia’s premier frontier markets, Burma’s economy has all but collapsed. Burma’s economy shrank by 18 percent in 2021 and only grew by a paltry three percent in 2022, according to the World Bank. The country’s GDP per capita remains 13 percent less than its pre-COVID-19 level. The Burmese Kyat’s value to the USD remains less than half of its pre-coup rate. Nearly half of Burmese households reported income losses in 2022. Hundreds of thousands of workers have lost their jobs since the 2021 military coup. The prices of basic commodities have soared due to inflation. A myriad of international investors and businesses have either suspended their operations or pulled out of Burma entirely as political realities and ethical concerns make it increasingly difficult to operate in the country.

Despite these dire realities, people in Burma continue to resist the military’s attempt to consolidate its rule across the country. Tens of thousands of people have traveled to the border regions to take up arms against the Burma Army and its coup regime. Significant swathes of the country remain outside of military control. Burma’s diaspora across the world continues to hold demonstrations to raise international awareness of Burma’s fight for democracy and lobby foreign governments. Journalists both inside and outside of Burma continue to report on the situation on the ground to bypass media censorship. The military’s ability to govern for the foreseeable future is far from being set in stone as pro-democracy forces remain resolute in their fight to take control of Burma’s future in spite of immense costs.

DVB Reports: Global Solidarity Rallies for Democratic Forces in Burma

English Editor

January 31, 2023

Global solidarity rallies were held in Malaysia, South Korea and Canada to raise awareness about the second anniversary of Burma’s military coup on Feb. 1, 2023. Some of those in attendance also raised funds for the anti-coup resistance in Burma.

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Burma nationals protest conditions inside Thai Immigration Detention Center

English Editor

January 31, 2023

At least 655 Burma nationals held at an immigration detention center (IDC) in Thailand’s southern Ranong province have staged protests inside the IDC against what they call a “violation of human rights.” The protests by IDC detainees from Burma began on Jan. 28. They claim they are in poor health, and that there are pregnant women and senior citizens being held in substandard and overcrowded conditions at the IDC. They’ve also complained that they have not been provided with sufficient food or health care.

Burma’s COVID-19 pandemic and 2021 military coup have forced many to seek work in Thailand. Despite the fact that there is a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries for migrant workers in Burma to legally apply to work in Thailand, the number of workers choosing to do it illegally has increased dramatically in the last two years. The Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Federation suggested that the number would rise even more as a result of the passport office closures and resulting suspension of new passports being issued. There have been almost daily reports in Thai media of Burma nationals being arrested for illegal entry into Thailand.

“You can just imagine that more than 150 people were crammed into a room with a capacity of 80 people. The CCTV [closed circuit cameras] are everywhere, [even] in the restrooms. The men watched the women shower from downstairs on the CCTV camera. Since we are not allowed to leave the center, we have to purchase supplies inside at expensive prices, such as phone cards and food. There is a water shortage. As a result, we became itchy. Since drinking water is also limited, we have to share,” said a Burma national being detained at the Ranong IDC on the condition of anonymity.

The IDC is where Burma nationals are held to await repatriation from Thailand. According to official procedures, there is no charge for repatriation to Burma, but those who pay a bribe are told they will be included on the priority list, according to Burma nationals held at the Ranong IDC. They claimed they had to pay bribes of 12,000 Baht ($ 366.75 USD) per person just to be included on a repatriation list. Or else they’ll be stuck even longer at the IDC. Many have already spent the last six months in detention there.

“What I can’t stand is that those who arrived later than us were included in the list of those who were sent back with priority by paying the bribe. People who have been waiting for their turn for six or seven months without being able to pay are still not on the list. It’s gone too far, so we conducted the protest,” added the Burma national being held at the Ranong IDC. Following Thai media reports of the protest at the Ranong IDC, Burma Embassy in Thailand officials visited its nationals being held there on Jan. 29. They were told by embassy staff that they will be repatriated to Burma next month. On Jan. 30, another 100 Burma national detainees arrived at the IDC.

World Bank forecasts Burma’s economy to grow by three percent in 2023; Detained Burma nationals at Thai IDC demand repatriation

English Editor

January 31, 2023

FROM THE DVB NEWSROOM

Burma’s deteriorating economic situation has slashed the incomes of Burmese households.

World Bank forecasts Burma’s economy to grow by 3 percent in 2023

Burma’s economy is expected to grow three percent in 2023, leaving the economy still smaller than it was in 2020, Nikkei Asia reported, citing the World Bank. The Burmese economy also grew three percent in 2022 but it is believed to have shrunk by almost 20 percent in 2021 due to the economic fallout after the military coup. “This would imply that per capita GDP remains about 13 percent below its pre-COVID-19 level,” the World Bank stated. High inflation, unemployment, and shrinking household incomes have also plagued Burma since the coup. Many international businesses and investors have pulled out of the country or have put projects on hold. The military’s haphazard economic policies have added further woes to Burma’s already precarious economic outlook. The World Bank forecasted that the country’s escalating civil war and electricity shortages will continue to disrupt the economy.

Detained Burma nationals at Thai IDC protest to demand repatriation

At least 655 Burma nationals held at an immigration detention center (IDC) in Thailand’s Ranong province have staged protests against substandard living conditions at the center since Jan. 28. They claim they’ve been waiting for at least six months to be repatriated to Burma since they had completed their sentences. They claimed they had to pay bribes of 12,000 Baht ($ 366.75 USD) per person to be included on a repatriation list. According to Thai media, Burma’s military junta will not accept its nationals despite Thailand’s desire to send all those who’ve completed their sentences home as soon as possible.

More Burma nationals arrested near Thai-Burma border

A total of 94 undocumented Burma nationals were arrested on Jan. 29 in Kanchanaburi district in western Thailand, Naewna Thai News reported. They are said to have paid brokers 20,000 to 30,000 baht ($613 to 917 USD) per person for transportation and other related expenses.

News by Region

KACHIN—Four jade scavengers were killed in a landslide at a jade mining site in Nam Maw village, Hpakant Township on Jan. 30, according to a rescue worker. “The four were killed while they were searching for stones in an old jade mine,” the rescue worker told DVB. Every year, jade workers lose their lives in landslide disasters in Hpakant. In December 2021, around 100 were killed. In 2020, at least 160 were killed in landslides.

SHAN—There were no reported casualties as the Burma Army and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) resumed fighting in Lashio Township on Jan. 29. “Fighting is occurring frequently. The most serious one was the battle in Namsan Township’s Kone Tha Village in December. We are defending ourselves and I don’t know what the motive behind the Burma Army’s shooting and offensive is yet,” Tar Aik Kyaw, a TNLA spokesperson, told DVB. Regime media has not yet reported on the fighting.

YANGON—The deputy general manager of the Shwewar Soap factory was killed in Hlaing Township on Jan. 30. “He was shot while he was buying food at a street shop,” a local said. Seven people have been killed, and 10 people have been injured, in at least 29 shootings and explosions in Yangon so far this month. This includes the high profile killing of four military personnel, including two intelligence (MI) officers, on Jan. 22. Local administrators, military officers, and alleged informants were reportedly targeted. “At the moment, the main targets of attacks are working in immigration and administration offices, as well as police stations,” said a source with the police on the condition of anonymity. Last year, 235 people were killed and 361 were injured in Yangon Region. This includes the murder of retired Burma Army Brigadier General Ohn Thwin. A total of 916 shootings and bombings occurred in 2022.

In the latest episode of DVB Reads, Mandy Sadan continues to discuss the book “War and Peace in the Borderlands of Myanmar” and mentions her 2013 book “Being and Becoming Kachin.” DVB English Podcasts are on-demand on all podcast apps: https://link.chtbl.com/dvbenglish