Timor-Leste hosts ASEAN civil society and people’s forum
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Civil Society Conference and People’s Forum is being held in Dili, Timor-Leste Sept. 19-21. Its motto is “Toward A People-Led Democracy and Sovereignty in Southeast Asia.” Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta will address the participants today.
“The three day event will feature four plenary [sessions], including four young women from Burma speaking, as well as 24 workshops. Seven of these 24 workshops will either focus exclusively on Burma, or include speakers from Burma,” said Debbie Stothard, the founder and coordinator of regional human rights group ALTSEAN Burma.
The Rohingya Maiyafuinor Collaborative Network (RMCN) will host an exhibit on the history, identity and contributions of Rohingya to Burma on Saturday. Regional human rights groups Fortify Rights and Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR) will also host events related to Burma. Stothard added that a solidarity rally with the people in Burma will be held in Dili on Sept. 21.
Free Burma Rangers assist in flood relief efforts
The humanitarian aid and advocacy organization Free Burma Rangers has launched flood relief efforts inside the country. Regime media reported on Tuesday that a total of 226 people have been killed and 77 others are still missing. Both the military regime in Naypyidaw and the civilian-led National Unity Government (NUG) have requested international aid to assist in the response.
“We are providing assistance to flood victims on both sides of the [Thai-Burma] border,” David Eubank, the FBR founder and director, told DVB. “We started last week during the height of the flood in Karen State, parts of Bago [Region} and in Karenni State, so we have ongoing efforts for flood victims.”
The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) has documented that flooding has impacted an estimated 631,000 people across nine states and regions in Burma. Over 300 people have been killed due to flooding and landslides since the remnants of Typhoon Yagi arrived in the country on Sept. 9.
International experts call for cross-border aid
The Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M), a group of human rights experts focusing on Burma, called on bordering countries to allow humanitarian aid to be delivered into the country to anti-coup resistance groups and civil society organizations working on-the-ground in communities impacted by floods and landslides.
“Resistance actors have greater control in more of the country than the military and, along with civil society, have experience in administering humanitarian assistance to people in their areas and beyond,” wrote SAC-M in its press release on Sept. 17.
It went on to state that China, India, Thailand, Laos and Bangladesh must “act in solidarity with the people of [Burma]” and open their borders to allow international aid into the country. The U.N. states that there are over 3.4 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and 18.6 million people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance and protection.
News by Region
CHINLAND—The Chin National Army (CNA) and Chinland Defense Force (CDF) seized a guesthouse occupied by the military in Thantlang Township, located 22 miles (36 km) west of the Chinland capital Hakha on Tuesday.
“The seized Lai Villa guest house is one of four locations that was held by the military. The number of casualties is still unknown,” a CNA member told DVB. The Chin resistance has taken control of nine military outposts in Thantlang since it launched an offensive on July 22. The military still occupies Thantlang’s police station, National League for Democracy (NLD) party office, and a CB Bank branch.
ARAKAN—Forty members of the military’s Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 271 – based in the Ayeyarwady Region capital Pathein – have gone missing since they were deployed to Arakan State on Aug. 21, according to sources close to the LIB. A total 65 LIB members, including the 40 who are missing, were sent to fight the Arakan Army (AA).
“Some of them can be contacted, but 40 remain missing,” a military source told DVB on the condition of anonymity. “I was able to reach him four or five days after he was sent [to Arakan]. I lost contact with him since then,” a relative of one of the missing soldiers told DVB.
KAREN—Two people drowned in floodwaters in the Karen State capital Hpa-An as of Monday. Around 11,000 residents displaced from their homes by flooding have been relocated to 12 temporary shelters, according to rescue workers.
“The water level is still above the critical thresholds,” a Hpa-An resident told DVB. The water levels of the Thanlyin (Salween) River in Hpa-An were still above critical thresholds of 750 cm on Monday.
KARENNI—Flash flooding was reported in the Karenni State capital Loikaw after the water levels of a creek also exceeded critical thresholds on Tuesday. “People are now moving to monasteries and other areas with less water to escape the flooding,” a Loikaw resident told DVB.
Rescue operations to assist flood victims may face challenges due to ongoing fighting between the military and Karenni resistance forces in and around Loikaw. Win Naing, an independent meteorologist, has warned that the remnants of a tropical storm could cause further floods and landslides nationwide in the coming days.
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