Deaths and Arbitrary Arrests
As of 31 May 2021, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a total of 5,554 people have been arrested whereas 4,424 people are still under detention, 1,881 people have been issued with warrants and 840 people ruthlessly murdered by the military since 1 February 2021 when the military unleashed systematic and targeted attacks and violence against innocent civilians.
Already more than 119 days have passed since the coup; the military terrorist group has not stopped its inhumane acts and arbitrary arrests against the unarmed civilians until today.
Brutal Killings and Irrational Actions of the Military Junta
On 23 May 2021, during the raid at the football ground in North Dagon Township, Yangon, the junta forces opened fire and a youth was shot while he was trying to run away by climbing on the wall. News reported that he got headshot and died.
Similarly, at that night, a man from Myaung Kone Village in Kani Township, Sagaing Region was dead with head shot. A villager from Kone Thar Village in Kayah State was also killed with a shot in the stomach while he was driving a motorbike. A man from Taungdwingyi Township was shot dead while he was returning home by driving.
Mr. Mae Gyi (a.k.a Soe Moe Hlaing), a former member of All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF) and former political prisoner was arrested on 22 May 2021 at Zaung Tu in PhayarGyi Town in Bago Region. He was killed on 25 May 2021from brutal torture during the interrogation by the terrorist junta.
At the night of 25 May 2021, the military came to the Taw Seint Village in Salin Township, Magway Region and opened fire in response to a “No to Military Slavery Education” sticker campaign at a local school. A woman was shot dead in that incident.
News reported that on 25 May 2021, the security forces killed a man in Thaketa Township, Yangon who suffered from mental health.
On 27 May 2021, the terrorist military group shot and killed the two youths from Demoso Township in Kayah State while they were bringing food for Karenni IDPs.
On the same day, a 14-year-old boy was shot dead in the head as he ran away from junta forces, who had entered Kayan Tharyar Village, in Thabyay Kone, in Loikaw Township, Kayah State.
On 27 May 2021, at night, a man was shot and left injured during unprovoked shooting by the military in Kyet Sar Pyin Ward, Dawei Township in Tanintharyi Region. Junta forces then took him away by car, and he later died.
On 28 May 2021, at Pauk Taw Wa in Insein Township, Yangon, a military vehicle intentionally crashed and killed Mr. Htet Aung, an actor and a model as he did not stop his motorcycle to be checked by the security forces.
According to the local news, the terrorist group has used heavy artillery and tanks and shot into the Narnat Taw Ward and Yayo Village, Loikaw Town in Kayah State, since 24 May 2021. On 29 May 2021, in Narnat Taw Ward, the terrorists entered a religious building compound where IDPs had fled to, and shot the former Hundred Household Administrator of Yayo Village to death.
In early morning of 30 May 2021, in Bagan Myothit, Nyaung-U Township, Mandalay, the junta raided the Yonetan Ward and Hman Cho Ward to arrest six youths. As they opened fire to the house of Mr. Moe Myint Aung, he was shot in the stomach and died. The rest 5 youths were arrested.
On 30 May 2021, a 30-year-old man in Phal Khon Township, Kayah State was detained inside the military compound. The security forces arrested him after checking his phone. Local people informed the news agency that he was active on social media regarding the military coup and the following situations. Similarly, two people from Bal Khal township were arrested after their mobiles were checked by the military groups on that day.
On that same night, in Pyingyi Village, Launglon Township, Tanintharyi Region, while the villagers were guarding the village, the junta patrolled by motorbikes and opened fire. When they ran away, two women and a five-year-old girl were shot and they were taken by the junta.
Unlawful Acts by the Military Junta
Taking hostages: On 23 May 2021, in Thegon Town in Bago Region, parents and a younger brother of a CDM staff from the Fire Department were detained as hostages when the junta forces did not find him.
On 27 May 2021, in Taungdwingyi Town in Magway Region, a mother of a political activist Mr. Pyae Phyo Paing was taken as hostage when the junta forces could not find him.
Targeting the journalists and media personnel
The military group has continued to target the journalists and the news media sector. According to the news, on 24 May 2021, Mr. Daniel Fenster, Managing Editor of Frontier and Mr. Super (a.k.a Kyaw Zin Win), a freelance reporter in Mandalay were arrested.
Similarly, Mr. Aung Mya Than, a reporter of Ayeyarwaddy Times News Agency was arrested on 25 May 2021.
Mr. MyoThiha Kyaw, a photojournalist for the Myanmar Pressphoto Agency was arrested in Mandalay on 28 May 2021. On 29 May 2021, a poet called Mr. Kyaw Swar (a.k.aYarsuthit) and one man were arrested in Magway. On 30 May 2021, Mr.Min Min, a photography enthusiast from Kyaukme Township in Shan State, was arrested at gunpoint.
Arresting the members of NLD Party and Lawyers
On 24 May 2021, Ms. Kay Jar Naw, NLD member of Tanai Township in Kachin State, was arrested. On 28 May 2021, Mr. Myint Aung, Minister for Labour, Immigration and Population of Magway and NLD Chairman of Kanma Township in Magway Region, was arrested at his home.
The military group has recently targeted on the lawyers representing the arrested individuals. On 24 May and 27 May 2021, Mr. Thein Hlaing Tun, a lawyer of Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairman Mr. Myo Aung, and Mr. Ayar Linn Htut, a lawyer of political prisoners at Hinthada District Court, in Ayeyarwady Region were arrested respectively.
Actions against the CDM Staff
The military has still continued arresting the CDM staff. On 28 May 2021, a teacher, who was involved in the Civil Disobedience Movement, and two villagers, were shot to death when junta troops raided Yehla Village in Gangaw Township, Magway Region.
On 29 May 2021, at Nayin Village, Yesagyo Township in Magway Region, a village administrator, who was involved in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), was arrested.
On 30 May 2021, aCDM teacher from B.E.M.S (4) in Thingangyun Township, Yangon Region, who later returned to work, was arrestedfor encouraging students not to enroll at school.
Bomb Explosions across the country
In recent days, several bomb explosions occurred across the country. Although most of the explosions mainly caused injuries to the unarmed civilians, in the past weeks, a few were killed. Of those incidents, two bomb explosions in Phayar Thonesu, Kayin State on 29 May 2021 have damaged school buildings. A child was injured at the bomb explosion in Shwepyithar Township, Yangon on 30 May 2021.
On 25 May 2021, a parcel bomb exploded at a wedding reception in Thingangyun Township, Yangon. Due to the explosion, three people including the bride died and around 8 people injured.
On 28 May 2021, a bomb went off in Muse, Northern Shan State which killed one18-year-old boy and injured a few people. Local news stated that the bomb exploded when the boy picked up a package on the street.
Clashes between the Military Forces and People’s Defense Force (PDF)
Clashes between the military terrorist troops and the civilian fighters from People’s Defense Force (PDF) broke out in Kani Township in Sagaing Division, as well as in Monywa-Kalaywa and Kani-Mingin Highways in Kani Township on 23 May 2021.
According to the residents, 10 PDF fighters were injured, four civilian fighters were missing, and 30 motorbikes were fired. Due to the shoot-outs and clashes, within the townships of Kani, Mingin and Yinmabin, about 5,000 residents from 45 villages have fled.
On 30 May 2021, clashes occurred between the military troops and local PDF fighters in Bahmaw-Kathar Highways in Kathar Township, Sagaing Division. Due to these clashes, the residents reported that five soldiers died and 13 were injured, and four PDF fighters died and two were injured.
It was also reported that the shoot-outs between the military troops and Chin Defense Force (CDF) continued during the last weekend of May, and the military used the artilleries.
According to the credible reports, the civilian resistance forces in several regions and states including Sagaing, Mandalay and Magwe Regions and Chin and Kayah States, have been triggering armed resistance against the terrorist military group.
International Pressure on the Illegitimate Military Group
In response to the Military’s continued brutal repression of the people of Myanmar, on 20 May 2021, Mr. Thomas Andrews, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, welcomed a new set of sanctions against the military of Myanmar, recently imposed by the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. He also urged the countries that have not imposed any sanctions on the junta to take action.
In the joint leaders’ statement of the United States and the Republic of Korea issued on 21 May 2021, it condemned the violence by the Myanmar military and police against the civilians, call for the immediate cessation of violence, the release of the detainees and a swift return to democracy. It urged all nations to join them in providing safe haven to the people of Myanmar and prohibiting arms sales to Myanmar.
In addition, at the Press Conference at White House on 21 May 2021, the President of the United States remarked that multilateral cooperation is particularly important in pressuring the Myanmar military junta to restore democracy for the people of Myanmar.
On 28 May 2021, the U.S State Department called for the immediate release of the American journalist Mr. Daniel Fenster, Managing Editor of Frontier Myanmar, who was detained and had been transferred to Yangon’s Insein Prison, and urged the Military to grant consular access and proper treatment during his detention. It also stated the arrest and violence by the military against other journalists as an “unacceptable attack on freedom of expression”.
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Date: 31 May 2021
Permanent Mission of Myanmar, New York