Schools run by the National Unity Government (NUG) in Sagaing Region have resumed classes after they were forced to shut down following the brutal murder of six students and three teachers during a Burma Army attack on Let Yat Kone village school, located in Depayin Township, last month.
“We have to be extra cautious with the children after the Let Yat Kone incident. We made sure to dig trenches at every school and sometimes we put young children in the trenches and teach them just in case of an emergency. Some teachers told me that only 20 percent of the students went back to school after the Let Yat Kone incident. They (Burma Army) can come at any time and shoot at us. So, this is how we are preparing and getting ready to protect ourselves from their atrocities,” said a school teacher and member of the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) in Watlet Township.
The UN, ASEAN and the international community condemned the murder of innocent children and teachers, carried out by the Burma Army. Burma’s representative at the UN, Kyaw Moe Tun, warned that childrens’ lives are being lost as the international community delays taking action against the Burma Army for its atrocities.
“We face many difficulties. We are not able to teach peacefully and we have to listen to the sounds of helicopters. We have to learn ways to ensure it is safe for us to teach kids when the military doesn’t spare children. In particular, we look for a safe place to teach. We hid ourselves from the walls, trees and taught children in places that nobody can see us in in case of an emergency. It is not okay to teach inside trenches especially in the rainy season. It is also inconvenient for the children to flee into jungles and have to gather again,” said a teacher in Yinmabin Township.
On Oct. 8, the Burma Army conducted airstrikes on two villages in Watlet Township with two jet fighters. It arrested around 200 civilians and destroyed a school. The Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA) announced on Sept. 10 that schools in 13 states and regions of Burma were attacked at least 190 times in 2021. It also stated that schools and universities are being used by the Burma Army for military purposes
Aung San Suu Kyi sentenced to three more years; Now 26 years in prison and counting
A Naypyidaw court sentenced ousted leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to another three years in prison for two corruption charges today. She was convicted for allegedly receiving a $500,000 USD bribe from businessman Maung Weik. Although she was sentenced to three years each for two corruption charges, the court ordered the two charges to be served concurrently, resulting in a three-year sentence. Suu Kyi has now been sentenced to a total of 26 years in prison. She has five pending corruption charges, which together carry a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison.
Japan’s Kubota sentenced to three more years in prison; Now facing 13 years total
Japanese filmmaker and journalist Toru Kubota received an additional three years in jail for violating Burma’s Immigration Law, Reuters reported. Kubota, 26, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for violating sedition and communications laws at an Insein Prison court last week. Kubota was arrested at an anti-coup protest in Yangon in July.
The ousted mayor and deputy mayor of Naypyidaw were sentenced to another three years in prison under the Anti-Corruption Law. “Dr. Myo Aung was sentenced on five counts under Article 55 of the Anti-Corruption Law, and two counts [under the same article] for Ye Min Oo,” a source close to the prison court said. Former Naypyidaw Mayor Dr. Myo Aung has been sentenced to a total of 22 years in prison. Ye Min Oo has received a total of 23 years.
Regime forms committee to crack down on financial support for resistance
The junta formed an 11-member committee called the Mobile Financial Inspection Team. This team will consist of officials from the Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM), military intelligence (MI), Criminal Investigation Division (CID), Bureau of Special Investigation (BSI) and other government departments, according to sources. It was formed to investigate mobile financial services being used to send financial donations to the National Unity Government (NUG) and People’s Defense Forces (PDF), a source close to Internal Affairs said. Dr. Lin Aung, the vice chair at the CBM, was appointed to lead the team. The Brigadier General of Military Intelligence will be its secretary. “This might be the idea of Khin Nyunt. He met with Min Aung Hlaing last month and then this happened,” a source close to military intelligence told DVB. The CBM has recently shut down accounts suspected of donating to resistance forces.
News by Region
KAREN—An 18-year-old man was killed in a bomb blast at a store in Myawaddy town on Oct. 11. The shop was damaged. There have been frequent attacks and explosions in Myawaddy, located near the Thai-Burma border.
MON—Three were killed and 13 were injured as gunmen opened fire on a police outpost near the Kyaiktiyo mountain gate in Kyaikhto Township on Oct. 12. The injured were taken to Kyaikhto Hospital. Junta media blamed the attack on the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) Brigade 1 and the People’s Defense Forces (PDF).
RAKHINE—Over 1.3 million ecstasy pills worth more than K2.6 billion ($1.2 million USD) were seized in Ngapali town, junta media claimed. There have been increasing reports that drug usage has surged across Burma since the coup.
YANGON—An explosion occurred at the home of a Burma Air Force pilot in North Okkalapa Township on Oct. 11. “We heard a loud explosion at 8 p.m. We later found out that it was at the house of a lieutenant colonel from the air force. I don’t know if anyone was hurt but the house was damaged,” a local source told DVB. On Oct. 8, the names and addresses of 15 Burma Air Force pilots living in Yangon were leaked as a part of “Operation Spitfire” – meant to expose Burma Air Force personnel.
The junta auctioned motorcycles seized by police. “Previously, we could get them [motorcycles] back after paying a fine. But, now they [the military] are clever. Good motorbikes are not allowed to be returned and are sold at auctions in Bago. There is no need for auctions to give [the motorcycles] to those close to the military,” a motorbike trader told DVB. New restrictions imposed by police are designed to control the movement of resistance fighters, who often conduct attacks using motorbikes. “My seized motorbike was not returned even after paying a fine,” a resident of Hlaing Tha Yar Township told DVB. “Two or three soldiers chase them on motorcycles. If you flee, they even shoot at you,” Shwe Pyi Thar Township residents added. According to sources close to the junta, some seized motorcycles go to Burma Army-backed militias to use to investigate alleged members of the People’s Defense Force (PDF).
DVB Picks—Watch the latest video from the DVB Doh Pyay Doh Myay (DPDM Global) team in Toronto, Canada. It tells the story of Burmese-Canadians working together to support the Spring Revolution. DVB selects the best digital content in English on Burma every week. Stay tuned!
Private banks have raised concerns after the junta’s Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) recently announced that they must deposit 2.5 percent of their cash reserves at the CBM and 0.5 percent of all money stored at private banks must be kept as cash.
Before the new directive, banking industry experts say that only 2.25 percent of cash had to be deposited at the CBM, and the remaining 0.75 percent could be retained by the banks as cash.
Therefore, banking industry experts suggested that the CBM’s new orders are aimed to reduce the amount of cash held by banks. “To be clear, the Central Bank is saying that it is not reliable to keep cash in your [the private banks] hands…I think the Central Bank’s purpose is to give itself more cash than it previously had,” a banking expert told DVB. If a bank refuses to comply with the orders, the CBM has warned that it will have to pay a fine.
“When the decision is enacted to keep 0.25 percent more [cash] than the previously set amount at the Central Bank, it may cause [private] banks to have a liquidity crisis,” another expert in banking and finance said.
Burma’s banking sector has been in crisis since the military coup. Banks have recently eased regulations on cash withdrawals, but people in the country have been still experiencing cash withdrawal restrictions.
Toru Kubota convicted of sedition by military court in Burma
Japanese filmmaker and journalist Toru Kubota received an additional three years in jail for violating Burma’s Immigration Law, Reuters reported. Kubota, 26, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for violating sedition and communications laws at an Insein Prison court last week. Kubota was arrested at an anti-coup protest in Yangon in July.
A Naypyidaw court sentenced ousted leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to another three years in prison for two corruption charges today. She was convicted for allegedly receiving a $500,000 USD bribe from businessman Maung Weik. Although she was sentenced to three years each for two corruption charges, the court ordered the two charges to be served concurrently, resulting in a three-year sentence. Suu Kyi has now been sentenced to a total of 26 years in prison. She has five pending corruption charges, which together carry a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison.
HRW’s report comes as fighting rages in Rakhine State
FROM THE DVB NEWSROOM
HRW says Burma Army used Japanese donated ships in Rakhine operations
Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported that the Burma Army used ships in combat operations that were donated by Japan. These ships were intended for civilian use in Rakhine State. “The Myanmar junta’s misuse of Japanese development aid for military purposes effectively makes Japan a backer of the junta’s military operations,” said Teppei Kasai, the Asia program officer at HRW. He called on the Japanese government to redirect its aid to Burma through non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and to take stronger measures to hold the junta accountable for its crimes. Japan has not enacted sanctions against the junta in Burma.
Mon armed group announces allegiance to the junta
The Mon Peace and Defence Force (MPDF) issued a statement declaring that it will “work together with” the Burma Army. A ceremony to mark the MPDF’s transformation into a pro-junta militia was held at its headquarters in Mawlamyine. MPDF Brigadier General Nai Aung Tun has replaced Nai Shaung as its commander-in-chief. The MPDF stated that it strongly condemns “acts of terrorism” and will work “to carry out peace and defend against terrorist threats.” The MPDF is a faction that split from the Mon National Liberation Army (MNLA), which is the political wing of New Mon State Party (NMSP).
News by Region
MON—The New Mon State Party (NMSP) participated in the junta’s second round of “peace talks” despite objections from civil society organizations (CSOs), according to junta media. It reported that an NMSP delegation arrived in the capital Naypyidaw on Oct. 10 to meet with coup leaders.
MANDALAY—Wundwin Township Revolution Force (WTRF) stated that it had “assassinated” the acting police chief of Wundwin Myoma police station on Oct. 9. The group said the man was killed in Wundwin town.
KACHIN—MPT phone lines have been shut down in Chipwi town since Oct. 10, the Kachin News Group (KNG) reported. “Most of the locals use MPT. Now only Telenor [now known as ATOM] is still available, but I don’t know when Telenor services will also be cut,” a local told KNG. Residents said that electricity has been cut entirely since Oct. 11. Internet and electricity cuts usually occur when the Burma Army is staging operations in an area. The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and People’s Defense Forces (PDF) have been fighting against the Burma Army in Kachin State.
RAKHINE—The Arakan Army (AA) confirmed it seized a Burma Army border outpost in Maungdaw Township on Oct. 10. The AA stated that Leik Ya outpost was captured after the Burma Army used heavy weapons. The outpost housed the border guard police and Burma Army troops. The AA reported that heavy fighting with the Burma Army is continuing across Rakhine State.
SAGAING—Depayin Township schools are back in session following the Burma Army’s massacre of school children at Let Yat Kone Village. “We made sure to dig trenches at every school and sometimes we put young children in the trenches and teach them just in case of an emergency,” a local teacher said.
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