Russia welcomes Min Aung Hlaing as Myanmar head of state
Regime leader Min Aung Hlaing was officially welcomed to Russia as Burma’s “Head of State” on Monday, marking his first trip abroad since an Argentine court issued an arrest warrant on Feb. 13 against him, and 24 others, on allegations of genocide against the Rohingya. This is Min Aung Hlaing’s fourth visit to Russia and the second time he has met with Russian President Vladimir Putin since the 2021 military coup.
“Since the two governments recently signed a deal over the Dawei Special Economic Zone, I think economic affairs will be a focus of this trip,” Thein Tun Oo, the executive director of Thayninga Institute of Strategic Studies, told DVB. Naypyidaw signed an agreement with Moscow on Feb. 22 to construct a port, an oil refinery and a coal-fired thermal power plant in the Dawei SEZ, which is located in the Tanintharyi Region capital.
Min Aung Hlaing met with Putin in the Kremlin on Tuesday, according to a statement issued by the Russian President’s Office. The two discussed Russia-Burma relations, with plans to sign an unspecified number of agreements. But no further details were provided. Regime ministers and military officials were a part of Burma’s delegation. They will return to Naypyidaw on March 10, regime media reported.
Over 7,000 residents flee Myingyan Township in Mandalay Region
More than 7,000 residents from six villages of Myingyan Township in Mandalay Region have been forced to flee their homes due to fighting between the People’s Defense Force (PDF) and regime forces since Saturday. Myingyan is located 66 miles (106 km) southwest of Mandalay.
Around 100 military personnel and pro-military militias launched a counteroffensive in two villages of Myingyan on March 1. “There are aircraft waiting to support [regime] forces whenever they launch an offensive. We must be very careful about where we go and who we speak to,” a PDF spokesperson in Myingyan told DVB.
The regime is attempting to retake areas seized by resistance forces in Myingyan and Madaya townships. It also wants control of Singu Township, which was seized by the PDF in June. Regime air and artillery strikes have hit Madaya and Singu, which are located 24-57 miles (39-91 km) north of Mandalay.
Bangladesh secures EU aid for Rohingya refugees
The E.U. announced that it will provide 68 million Euros ($70 million USD) this year for the response to the Rohingya crisis, according to the Bangladesh interim government on Monday. This follows a meeting between Bangladesh Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus and Hadja Lahbib, the E.U. commissioner for equality, preparedness and crisis management, in Dhaka on March 3.
“The U.N. Secretary-General is coming [to Bangladesh]. We are trying to draw international attention to the Rohingya crisis,” said Yunus, referring to the visit of U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres to Bangladesh March 13-16. Yunus reaffirmed Dhaka’s support in resolving the Rohingya crisis, adding that it is a “big issue” for Bangladesh.
Nearly one million Rohingya fled their homes in northern Arakan State into Bangladesh during a 2017 military crackdown called a “textbook example” of ethnic cleansing by the U.N. and a genocide by the U.S. Over one million Rohingya now live in refugee camps located in the country’s southeastern Cox’s Bazar district.
News by Region
AYEYARWADY—Thabaung Township residents told DVB that 108 elephants, 80 mahouts, and 220 family members living at Mayancho village logging camp were evacuated to Ngapudaw Township Feb. 28-March 3, due to fighting between the Arakan Army (AA) and the military. Ngapudaw is located 50 miles (80 km) south of Thabaung.
“They have been evacuated to Myittaya forest reserve,” a source close to the regime administration told DVB. Fighting between the AA and the military has continued at Kinpunchin mountain in Thabaung since Feb. 28. The AA expanded its offensive from Arakan into Ayeyarwady, Bago and Magway regions in December.
CHINLAND—Residents of Chinland who fled their homes due to fighting between the military and Chin resistance forces since the 2021 coup told DVB that they have been suffering from a shortage of water at refugee camps in India’s Mizoram State. The cost for 2,000 litres of water there is 1,400 Indian Rupees ($16 USD).
“Even residents from Mizoram do not have enough water when the summer comes. It is very difficult for us too,” said a refugee from Burma staying at a camp in India on the condition of anonymity. Over 46,000 Chin people have fled into India since 2021, according to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
KAREN—An anonymous source on the frontline in Hlaingbwe Township told DVB that regime troops from the Aung Zeya column burned down 80 homes in Kawtnwet village after a battle with the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) on Feb. 24.
“They nearly wiped out the entire village,” said the source in Kawtnwet, which is located along the Kawkareik-Myawaddy stretch of the Asia Highway in Hlaingbwe 23 miles (37 km) northeast of the Karen State capital Hpa-An.
YANGON—A group called Rangoon Scout Network announced on social media on Sunday that it had organized nine flash mob protests last month. This includes hanging anti-coup banners, posters, photo campaigns, and distributing leaflets in townships around Yangon.
“We also monitored [regime] activities since it banned gatherings of more than five people after administrative officials were set on fire [by residents] during the census collection in Dawbon Township,” the group’s spokesperson told DVB. Three activist groups staged anti-coup protests on Feb. 1.
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