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Rohingya activists accuse AA of rights abuses, EU reaffirms opposition to death penalty

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FROM THE DVB NEWSROOM

Rohingya activists accuse the Arakan Army of rights abuses against Rohingya

The European Rohingya Council (ERC) accused the Arakan Army (AA) of committing “atrocious crimes” against the Rohingya community in northern Rakhine State on Oct. 10. This statement claimed that both the AA and the Burma Army have deliberately targeted Rohingya villages and civilians. The ERC stated that an AA sniper killed 48-year-old Sheikul Islam, a prominent Rohingya teacher and relative of human rights activist Wai Wai Nu. “Besides widespread arbitrary arrests, abductions and extortions, there are serious allegations and crimes of sexual abuses and rapes that Arakan Army has committed against Rohingya women and girls before and after the fighting erupted between the two armed groups,” the ERC claimed. The Netherlands-based ERC called on the international community to protect the Rohingya, who have faced genocide at the hands of the Burma Army, in Rakhine State. The AA has recently claimed that it seeks to build a more inclusive society in Rakhine. 

The European Union reaffirms its opposition to the death penalty

The European Union (EU) in Burma reaffirmed its opposition to capital punishment, calling it “a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment violating the right to life” on Oct. 10, the World and Europe Day Against the Death Penalty. The EU condemned the executions of Phyo Zeya Thaw, Ko Jimmy, Aung Thura Zaw and Hla Myo Aung carried out by the junta on July 23, 2022 – a day of infamy as Burma ended its 34-year moratorium on the use of the death penalty. The EU stated these unlawful executions contributed to the further dismantling of the rule of law in Burma. The country is now one of 18 worldwide that carries out executions against the global trend of ending the death penalty, according to the EU. 

News by Region

CHIN—A Hakha city police officer defected to the Chinland Defense Force (CDF) Santhang on Oct. 8, the CDF announced. The group said the officer was awarded K10 million ($4,760 USD) and is now in a “safe place.” 

KAREN—The Karen National Union’s KNU-Mutraw News issued a statement on Oct. 8 claiming that a civilian was killed by the Burma Army near Tane village, in the KNU’s Brigade 5 territory of Mutraw District in Hpapun Township.  The statement said the death occurred on Oct. 7. The victim is reported to be a 43-year-old man. 

KACHIN—A police officer was killed by an unidentified gunman in Hpakant town on Oct. 10. “He was shot dead near a restaurant…I don’t know which group conducted the attack,” a local told DVB. A narcotics police officer was killed in the town last month.

MANDALAY—An administrator was shot dead in Maha Aung Myay Township on Oct. 10. The 56-year-old administrator was killed by three unidentified armed men in a car.  Locals also said that the admin was the one who shot the protester Thu Thu Zin during an anti-coup protest last year, but DVB has not been able to verify these claims.

RAKHINE—The Arakan Army (AA) attacked and captured a border guard post controlled by the Burma Army in Maungdaw Township on Oct. 10. “It was part of an offensive and was occupied [by the AA] in the early morning. I don’t know the number of casualties yet. There are around 70 border guard troops stationed at the camp. The camp was set on fire,” a source close to the AA told DVB. 

SHAN—The Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) aims to reduce “misunderstandings” between armed groups and find political solutions to problems “for the benefit of the public and the country.” It has offered to hold a meeting between all Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAO) in Shan State. Following the 2021 coup, the RCSS engaged in conflict with the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP), and attended junta leader Min Aung Hlaing’s “peace talks” in Naypyidaw.

TANINTHARYI—The Launglone People’s Defense Force (PDF) reported that the PDF and its allies killed a Pyu Saw Hti member and a drug dealer in Maung Ma Kan Village of Launglone Township on Oct. 9. In the attack, the group claimed it seized a firearm, along with K1.4 million (US$670). 

DVB Picks—Al Jazeera English’s People and Power television program documents the life of a Kachin People’s Defense Force (KPDF) fighter on the frontlines of the resistance to military rule. DVB Picks selects and recommends the best documentaries on Burma in the English language every week. Stay tuned!

UN in Burma Urged to Publish What You Have Signed with the Junta

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Guest Contributor

Igor Blazevic

In August and September 2022, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UN International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), UN Food Agriculture Organization (FAO), and UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) all signed new agreements and presented credentials to the terrorist Burmese junta, which calls itself the State Administrative Council (SAC). 

According to the internal UN rules for the UN Country Team (UNCT) engagement in post-coup context, “official meetings and public events with senior officials newly appointed by the de facto authorities should be avoided.  In case the UN is invited to such meetings, appropriate representation needs to be consulted with the Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator who will decide if further consultations with UN Headquarters are necessary.”

Based on this we are safe to conclude that above mentioned UN agencies have not acted on its own, but that they have consulted their move with the UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr Ramanathan Rama Balakrishnan, and that signing of the memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and Letters of Agreement (LoA) with the junta has been a carefully coordinated and calibrated joint action. 

At the same time, the UN Resident Coordinator and the UN Heads of Agencies have not signed or in any other way publicly engaged with the National Unity Government (NUG). This has understandably raised a lot questions and concerns from the people of Burma about what the UN is doing in coordination with the junta. 

The junta is an illegitimate power usurper which is neither de jure nor de facto government of Burma. The junta is the one who is waging the war against the civilian population of the country and is the only reason why the there is a dramatic humanitarian crisis in the country. 

The junta’s airforce, helicopters and soldiers have burned and destroyed over 28,000 civilian houses and properties since February 2021, and more than one million people have been displaced. Those villages and houses have not been destroyed and civilians have not been forced from the land because of some “clashes” (as UN OCHA updates call it), but because the Burma Army’s purposeful, intentional and systematic “clearance operations” targeting civilians. “Clearance” is how it calls its operations, in the language of the Geneva convention and fundamental UN human rights documents, it is called war crimes and crimes against humanity, taking place intentionally and on a mass scale.  

Numerous recent cases have been documented showing junta soldiers and affiliated “blood-thirsty” militias (as they proudly name themselves) deliberately destroying food stocks, killing domestic animals and preventing aid to reach villagers forced from their properties and land. 

Everybody in Burma, including the UN Heads of Agencies, are aware that the “Four Cuts” policy is the junta’s and army’s modus operandi to prevent any food, medicine, fuel, information or aid to reach the territories that are regarded as supporting the resistance. That is today over 80 percent of the country.  

The ‘Four cuts’ strategy was first used in the 1960s when the military was fighting with the Karen National Union (KNU), Burma’s oldest ethnic armed group. The military has also used four cuts in Kachin State in 2011 when about 100,000 people have been forced out of their homes and land. It was also used in Rakhine State between 2018 and 2020 when about 230,000 people were displaced. The Rohingya genocide took place in two waves, from October 2016 to January 2017 and again in August 2017 and forced over one million Rohingya to flee to other countries.

Naw Htoo Htoo from the Karen Human Rights Group has described to Al Jazeera what the ‘Four Cuts’ include: “They fired indiscriminately at Karen villages, destroyed every food and aid item they thought was meant to support the KNU… restricted medical aid in conflict-affected areas, arrested people they suspected of providing aid and food, and arrested their family members. They also used widespread sexual violence and forcibly relocated entire communities.”

Being painfully aware of what the Burma Army’s “Clearance Operations” and “Four Cuts” policy mean and include, the people of Burma have been seriously alarmed by the UN agencies signing the memorandums of understanding (MoU) and letters of agreement (LoA) with the junta. The question that has arisen is what the UN agencies have agreed to do in agreement with the junta and what they have accepted not to do – under the diktat and blackmail of the junta. 

This is a serious concern and the best and easiest way for the UN agencies to dispel suspicion and mistrust is to make their Memorandums of Understanding public. If UN agencies are neutral actors providing purely humanitarian aid at their own discretion, then surely this is not a difficult demand by the Myanmar public. 

UN agencies have agreed and signed something with an illegitimate and genocidal force that is waging war against civilians The UN agencies have done that claiming that their intention is to serve the interests of these same civilians so it can meet the humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable in across the country. The UN agencies are doing that with the financial resources provided by the donor countries to serve the needs of Burma’s peoples. 

There are well founded reasons to be suspicious of what exactly the UN agencies have agreed with the junta. What will these international aid organizations do and under which conditions? It is also important to question what constraints the UN agencies have accepted to follow. Next, a critically important question is how they will implement their agreed activities and with whom exactly. 

The people of Burma have the right to require transparency from the UN agencies in these times of grave national crisis, when they are being brutalized by a military that conducts atrocities as standard operating procedure. They have the right to demand from these UN agencies to publish what they have signed. The onus is on the UN in Burma to clarify what role they are playing and how it is, or is not, supporting the junta.

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Igor Blazevic is a senior advisor at the Prague Civil Society Centre and lecturer at the Educational Initiatives.

DVB publishes a diversity of opinions that does not reflect DVB editorial policy. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our stories: [email protected]

NUG calls for humanitarian cooperation with UN, U.S. sanctions arms brokers

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FROM THE DVB NEWSROOM

National Unity Government calls for humanitarian cooperation with UN

The National Unity Government (NUG) announced that the United Nations (UN) and other international organizations may communicate directly with its Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration Department. The NUG wants to improve humanitarian aid delivery to areas under its control in Sagaing and Magwe regions, unlike in junta controlled areas where humanitarian agencies are unable to reach conflict-affected communities. The NUG claimed that the junta’s Pyu Saw Htee militias are disguising themselves as People’s Defense Forces (PDF) and have been attacking UN staff trying to deliver aid. It said the UN and international organizations should contact its ministry at [email protected] for further information.

The sanctions are the latest enacted by the U.S. since last year’s military coup. 

The United States sanctions regime official and arms brokers

The United States issued sanctions against former Chief of Police and Deputy Minister for Internal Affairs, Than Hlaing. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the sanctions on Oct. 6 to “promote justice and accountability in Burma.” Than Hlaing was targeted due to his involvement in the unlawful killings of peaceful demonstrators and other human rights violations following the 2021 coup. The former minister served as a Chief of Police and Deputy Minister under the junta from 2021 to 2022.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions on Aung Moe Myint, Hlaing Moe Myint, Myo Thitsar, and Dynasty International Company Limited, for procuring Russian-made weapons for the Burma Army through Belarus. “We remain committed to supporting the people of Burma and call for the protection of human rights, unhindered humanitarian access, and return to inclusive, multiparty democracy in Burma,” the statement added.

CDM nurse dies along Thai-Burma border after fleeing from Thai police

A nurse who joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) and fled her home to avoid arrest, died in the river along the Thai-Burma border. The 26-year-old was escaping a Thai police raid. “The Thai police got the information and chased them…They ran into the boat first. But the boat sank near the shore…,” her friend told DVB. The victim’s husband survived. “She and her husband decided to go to Thailand to work,” the friend added. The nurse had a 3-year-old son.

News by Region

YANGON—Two anti-coup protest groups, the Yangon Revolution Force (YRF) and Soft Strike Community, held a flash mob protest during the Thadingyut festival at Shwedagon pagoda on Oct. 9. They unfurled a banner reading “the revolution must prevail.” The Spring Revolution groups have warned people not to participate in the junta-organized celebrations. 

A man was wounded at a restaurant on Dapin Shwe Hti Road in Mayangone Township on Oct. 6, according to locals. “A man shot [at the victim] and ran away. He [the victim] was wounded in the chest. He is a retired officer from the army,” a resident said. Ten people were injured in attacks in Shwe Pyi Thar, South Okkalapa and Dagon Seikkan townships on Oct. 6.  

Khayan People’s Defense Force (PDF) claimed that it fired four grenades at an administration office, sports venue, and a checkpoint in Khayan Township on Oct. 7. It fired at two locations on Phayar Road. “The office was attacked twice and I heard it was heavily damaged. However, the staff are not injured. A check-point gate was also attacked but I don’t know the casualties as there are many soldiers in the area,” a resident told DVB. Khayan PDF fired at a township administration office and killed a security guard at the Dagon Dairy Plant (Pyinmabin Dairies Industrial) – owned by the Burma Army – in Mingaladon Township last month.  

MANDALAY—Two explosions occurred in townships of the city. One person was injured. The Thadingyut festival on Oct. 8-9 was held under tight security at Yadanapa Park in Aung Myay Thazan Township. 

Aye Thein Ko, a farmers’ rights activist jailed at Mandalay’s Obo Prison, received an additional sentence of 21 years in prison. He was charged under Sections 50(J) and 51(C) of the Counter-Terrorism Law at the Mandalay District Court. Aye Thein was arrested at a home in Chan Mya Tharsi Township in September 2021 and was initially charged under Section 505 (A) of the Penal Code for “conducting public mischief.” The prison court sentenced him to three years on May 17.

SAGAING– There have been reports of protests to mark the festival in Taze and Ayartaw townships. The locals carried out the protests holding the light candles and banners: reading “Revolutionary Thadingyut. Worship Justice. Burn the Injustice.” It is the second time the country’s annual lighting festival was held during the military coup.

KACHIN—A Mogaung Township court handed prison sentences to three men and one woman allegedly involved in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM). “She was charged under Section 52 of the Counter-Terrorism Law and the young men were charged under Sec.505(A) of the Penal Code. They are now being held in custody,” the source said. At least ten members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) party were arrested by the Burma Army in Mogaung, Kachin State, following the coup.

SHAN—Yarzar Min Soe, a Muse township judge, was killed on Oct. 6, according to locals. “He was shot downtown and died on the spot,” a local government official told DVB. Two unidentified men on a motorcycle shot the judge inside his vehicle. The 30-year-old judge was later sent to a hospital. While attacks occur often in the border town, this is the first time a judge has been killed, according to locals.

RAKHINE—Six soldiers and their wives stationed at 539th Light Infantry Battalion base in Kyauktaw Township were arrested on Oct.5 by the Burma Army for alleged connections to the Arakan Army (AA). They are currently held at a military base in Sittwe. Thirty-eight soldiers from a military base in Kyauktaw Township reportedly defected to the AA last month.

DVB Reads: Episode 9 (Mayyu Ali on “Exodus” & “The Erasure” – Part 1)

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https://soundcloud.com/dvb-reads/mayyu-ali-on-exodus-the-erasure?si=f41aef4fc43a4ab4b839c372b2ec51af&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

The NUG claims “the decisive year of the final battle” with air defence capabilities

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NUG Minister Htin Lin Aung.

The NUG Minister of Communications, Information and Technology Htin Lin Aung claimed on Oct. 7 that it had installed air defence weapons to shoot down junta planes in various locations inside Burma.

“To be precise, we are in a position to protect people. Yes, we do have defence weapons from the danger of air raids. We don’t have them at all places but some places. Frankly, we will shoot them down if there are air raids in those places. We have to understand that this is for the protection of people,” said Htin Lin Aung.

Military planes

The spokesperson of the NUG President’s Office, Kyaw Zaw, said it is procuring drones and other air defence weapons from abroad. “As all know, buying those weapons legally is difficult. I would like to say that we have proper weapons,” said Kyaw Zaw.

People’s Defense Forces (PDF) based in Khin-U Township of Sagaing Region have announced a temporary suspension of operations as many of its drones have been shot down by the Burma Army. It is requesting assistance from the NUG.

PDF fighters welcomed in Sagaing Region

“We have decided to fight until we win. The military council is taking advantage of [the situation] by using air attacks. I would rather think about how we will fight back [against] those air raids. We have a government and Ministry of Defense. We also have people who perform well on the ground,” said Bo Nagar from Myanmar Royal Dragon Army PDF. 

Following the NUG announcement of its new air defence system, junta spokesperson Zaw Min Tun shot back, stating that it had acquired anti-drone weaponry to continue to shoot down PDF drones. “It is time to persevere and fight together,” said the NUG’s Htin Lin Aung, and he added that this will be the “decisive year of the final battle.” The NUG Ministry of Defense stated that it had acquired $5.5 million USD to continue to fund the PDF in its “People’s Defensive War” against the junta.

Sithu Aung Myint sentenced to 3 years by Insein Prison court but still faces sedition charge

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Courtesy of RFA.

A court inside Yangon’s Insein Prison sentenced journalist Sithu Aung Myint to three years with hard labor, the very same sentence handed to BBC producer Htet Htet Khine, whom he was arrested with in August 2021. The Frontier Myanmar columnist was convicted of violating Section 505(A) of the Penal Code for “inciting crimes against civil servants,” sources close to his family and the court told Radio Free Asia (RFA). “His health is good but he lost weight. Being a writer, he writes what he sees and there is nothing else to say. I don’t have any updates about the other charges he is facing,” a source close to his family said.

Sithu Aung Myint is still facing a charge of sedition under Section 124 of the Penal Code. The maximum punishment is life imprisonment. Htet Htet Khine is still facing a charge of violating the colonial-era Unlawful Associations Act. Since the 2021 coup, 135 media personnel have been arrested with 70 being released. Twenty-nine journalists have been sentenced to jail terms of up to 11 years. 

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