President Win Myint’s home under surveillance
Sources close to the regime in Naypyidaw told DVB that over 30 security personnel, including soldiers and police, are stationed outside of President Win Myint’s family rental home, located in the capital’s Ottarathiri Township, and have been assigned to monitor activities outside since Sunday following his release from Bago Region’s Taungoo Prison in a Myanmar New Year amnesty on Friday.
A source in Naypyidaw told DVB on the condition of anonymity that Ye Moe, the Naypyidaw Council minister for security and border affairs, leads the operation. President Win Myint, 74, was sentenced to 14 years after being convicted of corruption and violating Section 130-A of the Penal Code, which alleges he “exerted influence” over the electoral body the Union Election Commission (UEC) during the 2020 elections, which were overturned during the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021.
A source close to the National League for Democracy (NLD) party told DVB that Win Myint was placed under house arrest and visitors must register with an identity verification technology implemented by the regime called the Personal Scrutinization and Monitoring System (PSMS). President Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi were detained during the 2021 coup. Her 27-year sentence was reduced by one-sixth in the amnesty on April 17.
Thailand’s Foreign Minister visits Naypyidaw
Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow is in Naypyidaw today for the first official visit of a high-level diplomat from an Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) member state to Burma, since Min Aung Hlaing’s inauguration as president by a pro-military parliament on April 10 following highly controversial elections which ended on Jan. 25.
Nay Phone Latt, the National Unity Government (NUG) spokesperson, told DVB that visiting Naypyidaw doesn’t signal recognition for Min Aung Hlaing’s presidency by Bangkok. The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs referred to the amnesty granted to 4,514 prisoners on April 17 as “a positive step by the Myanmar government.” Sihasak congratulated Min Aung Hlaing on becoming president on April 3.
The Karen Community Organizations Worldwide, which represents an unknown number of Karen civil society groups globally, called on Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak to cancel his trip to Naypyidaw. Aung Thu Nyeen, an independent political analyst, told DVB that Thailand wants to revive border trade with Burma, via the Asia Highway in Karen State, as one of the main reasons behind Sihasak’s visit to Naypyidaw.
Read our latest DVB English News op-ed: Did Thailand recognize Min Aung Hlaing as Myanmar president?
Crackdown on fuel smuggling along Thai-Myanmar border
Authorities in Mae Sot, Thailand announced that they seized approximately 16,000 liters of fuel, valued at around 700,000 Thai baht ($21,212 USD), bound for Myawaddy Township, Karen State on Monday. Mae Sot is located along the Thai-Burma border across the Moei (Thaungyin) River from Myawaddy, 80 miles (130 km) southeast of the Karen State capital Hpa-An.
On April 12, Thai authorities reportedly seized nearly 400 liters of fuel in Kanchanaburi Province headed across the border to Kyainseikgyi Township’s Payathonzu town, located 150 miles (241 km) south of Hpa-An. This follows the seizure of 1,260 liters of gasoline in the same district on April 4. Thai PBS reported that more than 20,000 liters of diesel bound for Myawaddy were seized in Mae Sot on March 22.
Over 335,000 liters of “illicit fuel” shipments were confiscated nationwide in March and April as part of a broader crackdown on cross-border smuggling, according to the Thai authorities. The fuel seizures come amid shortages and rising global energy prices linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East since the U.S. war in Iran began on Feb. 28.
News by Region
BAGO—Regime media reported that its social welfare minister Soe Win and the region’s Chief Minister Myo Swe Win visited Gyobingauk and Zigon townships on Sunday to provide assistance totaling 91 million MMK ($22,300 USD) for 67 households damaged by a windstorm on April 17.
Residents told DVB that destruction and loss was “extensive.” At least 1,100 homes were damaged. But many said they didn’t receive any assistance due to alleged links to the People’s Defence Force (PDF). The towns are 20 miles (32 km) apart and 93 miles (150 km) northwest of the region’s capital Bago.
NAYPYIDAW—Min Aung Hlaing, who was inaugurated president on April 10, told his cabinet on Monday that he will invite ethnic armed groups for peace talks by July 31. He invited the People’s Defence Force (PDF) to “return to the legal fold” within 100 days to be allowed to join the talks.
He claimed on April 20 that 43 constitutional amendments, or “union accords,” have been agreed to by Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) signatories and will be submitted to parliament. The NCA is a peace deal between the military and 10 ethnic armed groups signed 2011-18.
SAGAING—Residents of Homalin Township told DVB that two people were killed and at least 11 others were injured in Naungpakyit neighborhood after boats transporting gasoline exploded on Monday. Homalin is located 331 miles (533 km) north of the region’s capital Monywa.
A Homalin resident told DVB that a loud explosion was heard after 22 boats, which were transporting gasoline to gold-mining sites in Homalin, caught fire. Two vehicles were also destroyed. The Fire Services Department announced that it sent four trucks to extinguish the flames.
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,135 MMK)
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