Current Events Related to Myanmar

ASEAN

ASEAN Supports Thai Plan to Supply Myanmar Junta With Humanitarian Aid

Critics say ASEAN should be working with the civilian National Unity Government and other anti-regime groups rather than legitimizing the junta.

With generals barred, Myanmar junta sends bureaucrat to Asean meeting

With generals barred, Myanmar junta sends bureaucrat to Asean meeting The Straits Times

Conflict

Arakan Army Fighting to Seize Rakhine Coast Town

The AA says fighting has restarted at Ramree town near Kyaukphyu Township’s special economic zone after days of heavy junta bombardments.

Karen army claims 5 dead after junta helicopter crash

The Karen National Liberation Army shot down a junta aircraft, killing soldiers onboard, a member of the ethnic force told Radio Free Asia. “Two helicopters flew in at around 2:30 p.m. today,” the Karen National Liberation Army member told RFA on Monday.

Myanmar military fending off attacks on several fronts despite ceasefire with Brotherhood Alliance

Myanmar military fending off attacks on several fronts despite ceasefire with Brotherhood Alliance myanmar-now

Three years on from Myanmar’s military coup, the junta is struggling to assert control

Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing facing criticism after months of battlefield losses, with an estimated two-thirds of the country gripped by conflict Three years after seizing power, Myanmar’s junta is struggling to assert control, with humiliating losses in recent months and growing criticism of its leader, Min Aung Hlaing, by pro-military figures. Images shared across social media show hauls of weapons seized from overrun military outposts in the north, exhausted soldiers surrendering en masse and even a military jet plunging from the sky after it was shot down. In one unprecedented image, brigadier general commanders are pictured raising a glass – apparently with their former enemies – after they were forced to concede defeat in the key town of Laukkai in northern Shan state, along with almost 2,400 men. Continue reading...

Karenni resistance group claims victory in Myanmar’s northeast

The Karenni Nationalities Defense Force captured a mineral-rich city in northeast Myanmar, the group announced, saying most junta troops fled from checkpoints and camps on Friday, two days before the ethnic army moved in. Karenni troops captured Mawchee city in Kayah state on Sunday with no subsequent battle, a spokesperson told Radio Free Asia.

Myanmar's junta doesn't have to 'win,' it just has to wait | Brookings

Myanmar's junta doesn't have to 'win,' it just has to wait | Brookings Brookings Institution

Entire Military Battalions of Myanmar’s Junta Have Agreed to Defect in Karenni State: KNDF

Ethnic army says a defection plan has been drafted for junta troops and commanders who came to the realization that they faced ‘meaningless’ death on the battlefield in the eastern state.

Junta Battalion Controlling Myanmar-China Trade Route Surrenders to KIA

Kachin Independence Army seizes another base in northern Shan State, cutting off regime troops in the border trade town of Muse.

Myanmar Military Now at War With Ethnic Pa-O Army And Allies in Southern Shan State

Regime is hitting a town in Pa-O autonomous region with airstrikes and shelling since an alliance of resistance groups began attempting to seize it on Wednesday morning.

Arakan Army Captures Key Town From Junta in Myanmar’s Rakhine State

Despite a massive land, air and sea campaign by the junta’s military to retain Pauktaw town, the AA took complete control of it on Wednesday, the Brotherhood Alliance said.

Military battalion camp seized by Kachin rebels in Myanmar’s Shan state

An ethnic army has captured the military camp of the junta’s Light Infantry Battalion No. 123 in northern Myanmar’s Shan state, residents and the rebel group said Thursday, capping months of fighting for control of a key trade route with China. Ethnic rebels began attacking Nam Hpat Kar township in late August, but the KIA only started the fight for control of the Light Infantry Battalion camp on Jan. 14.

Thousands flee capital of Myanmar’s Rakhine state as battle looms

Thousands of residents have fled the capital of western Myanmar’s Rakhine state in anticipation of a looming battle between the rebel ethnic Arakan Army and junta soldiers, local residents told Radio Free Asia. Several local residents told RFA that plane tickets from Sittwe to Yangon are fully booked until the end of March, and some people are chartering planes to get out.

Crime & Narcotics

Thai court drops drug-trafficking charges against Myanmar businessman with alleged junta ties

A Bangkok court dropped drug-trafficking charges on Tuesday against a Myanmar businessman with alleged links to the military junta who is under U.S. sanctions, and four Thai nationals, including the son-in-law of a Thai senator, citing insufficient evidence. Among the Thais who were freed was Dean Young Gultula, whose father-in-law, Sen. Upakit Pachariyangkun, has been charged in a separate case for suspected involvement in a transnational crime organization, illegal drugs and money laundering.

Myanmar Arms Dealer Acquitted in Thai Money Laundering Case

U Tun Min Latt was placed under sanctions last year by the United States for supplying drones and aircraft parts to the military regime in Myanmar.

Myanmar Junta Hiding Cyber Scam Bosses: Brotherhood Alliance

China issued arrest warrants for 10 cyber-crime chiefs operating in Kokang on the Chinese border but they are allegedly being sheltered by the regime.

Myanmar junta arrests 1,000 Chinese nationals in Shan state

The Chinese nationals may have been involved in online scamming gangs and fled to Namhsan on account of armed conflict between junta forces and ethnic armies and resistance fighters, and a crackdown on Chinese cybercrime rings in Laukkaing, Tachileik and Mongla — other towns in Shan state — residents said. Myanmar junta authorities arrested more than 1,000 Chinese citizens in Namhsan, in southern Shan state, who had possibly fled from online scam crackdowns in the north, the ruling military council and area residents said.

Economy

Military rule hurts Myanmar’s economy, nation scores zero in civil liberty index | Data

Military rule hurts Myanmar’s economy, nation scores zero in civil liberty index | Data The Hindu

Myanmar, Russia trade in national currencies to kick off in 2-3 months

Myanmar, Russia trade in national currencies to kick off in 2-3 months Al Mayadeen English

Ethnic Issues

Wa and Kokang leaders meeting in Panghsang

Wa and Kokang leaders meeting in Panghsang Burma News International

Junta No. 2 Fails to Persuade Allied Karen Armed Group to Stay With Myanmar Military

The Border Guard Force, heavily relied upon by the regime, has declared itself neutral in the Karen conflict despite a personal visit by deputy junta chief Soe Win.

Kayin Border Guard Force cuts ties with Myanmar junta

Earlier this month, Col. Saw Chit Thu, an ethnic Karen military officer and former leader of the insurgent Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, said his junta-affiliated Border Guard Force, or BGF, would no longer answer to the junta, which pays the group’s salaries, or fight against Karen people living in the state. The decision by the commander of the Border Guard Force in southeastern Myanmar’s Kayin state to cut ties with the ruling junta has dealt a blow to the regime’s military might and undermined its influence on the country’s ethnic groups, observers said Thursday.

Foreign Affairs

The Myanmar Junta Is Losing Its Foreign Backers

The Myanmar Junta Is Losing Its Foreign Backers The Diplomat

General News

Imposing Sanctions on Burma's Military Regime Three Years After the Military Coup - United States Department of State

Imposing Sanctions on Burma's Military Regime Three Years After the Military Coup - United States Department of State Department of State

US marks anniversary of Myanmar coup with further sanctions

US marks anniversary of Myanmar coup with further sanctions CNA

Australian-linked mining companies helping to prop up Myanmar military junta, report alleges

Activist group Justice for Myanmar alleges companies have continued operations in war-torn nation since the coup almost three years ago Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastAustralian-linked mining companies are continuing to operate in Myanmar, helping to support the military junta and the junta-dominated mining sector, a new report alleges. The activist group Justice for Myanmar released a report Tuesday detailing the activities of mining companies either linked to Australia or backed by Australian investors, which it alleges have continued their operations in the war-torn nation since the coup almost three years ago. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup Continue reading...

Preventing A Cycle of War in Myanmar’s Post-Junta Power Vacuum

Numerous armed organizations will claim victory if the regime falls – and each will be hesitant to surrender their hard-won territory.

Myanmar court orders sale of jailed Suu Kyi’s historic home

The court issued an order to allow junta officials to put the house up for auction on Mar. 20 for a reserve price of roughly US$90 million, the source said, asking to remain anonymous because he was not authorized to speak to the media. A Yangon court has ruled in favor of Myanmar’s junta selling jailed former State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi’s historic family home, a source close to the court told Radio Free Asia on Thursday.

Military

Myanmar's junta extends state of emergency as resistance mounts

Myanmar's junta extends state of emergency as resistance mounts Yahoo News

Propaganda Roadshow: Son of Ex-Admiral Defends Myanmar Coup in Delhi

Aye Chan follows in the footsteps of his father, Soe Thane, by again defaming the country’s democracy movement.

Politics

Sixty-Four Myanmar Business Leaders Added to Blacklist by Civilian Government

Move follows National Unity Government’s dissolution of Myanmar’s most powerful business lobby group in December and warning that its members could face charges under the Counter-Terrorism Law.

RCSS Affirms Commitment to Resolving Political Issues Through Dialogue

The Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) reiterated its commitment to addressing political challenges solely through meetings and discussions. This commitment was deliberated upon and reaffirmed during the annual conference, which took place from January 26th to 28th at Loi Tai Leng, the headquarters of the RCSS. During the conference, the annual process reports from […]

The post RCSS Affirms Commitment to Resolving Political Issues Through Dialogue appeared first on Shan Herald Agency for News.

MYANMAR As defeats mount, Buddhist extremists start to desert Myanmar's military regime

MYANMAR As defeats mount, Buddhist extremists start to desert Myanmar's military regime AsiaNews