Abuser masquerading as nice guy
Junta boss Min Aung Hlaing insisted on Wednesday that his regime “attaches great importance to fully protecting the rights of Myanmar women” and promised to “harshly punish those who commit violence against women.”
The occasion for this rare acknowledgment of the female population by the all-male military regime was Myanmar Women’s Day. The junta leader also burbled something about the need to empower women.
His regime has been doing exactly the opposite. Myanmar’s military has long been accused of using rape as a weapon. But its abuse of women has only worsened since the 2021 coup.
It has held women hostage, turned its guns on pregnant women, gang-raped both married and unmarried women, and arrested, jailed and tortured women who demand democracy. Women no longer feel safe even in broad daylight, as the crime rate has surged under military rule. Displaced women in conflict zones are bearing the brunt of this suffering.
Since the coup, the junta has killed 1,051 women, including students, teachers, nurses, civil servants, displaced persons and activists, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.
Another 5,500 women have been arrested by junta security forces, many of them tortured and subjected to other violence and abuse in detention.
In June, 80 women inmates including political prisoners in Bago’s Daik-U were beaten and thrown into solitary confinement.
The junta has also imposed mandatory military service for women aged 18-27 under the conscription law it enforced in February. It said forcible recruitment of women will begin in the fifth batch of conscripts. The regime has so far enlisted three batches since April.
Sweet sorrow for China’s envoy
Min Aung Hlaing praised Chinese ambassador Chen Hai for his efforts to deepen China-Myanmar friendship as the outgoing envoy bid farewell to the junta boss in Naypyitaw on Thursday.
Chen Hai was appointed ambassador to Myanmar in mid-2019 while the civilian government led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was in power. The diplomat was a focal point for relations between Myanmar generals and the Chinese government, which has supported the pariah regime on the international stage since the 2021 coup that ousted Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government.
As Beijing’s point man in Yangon, Chen oversaw the joint crackdown on online scam operations on Myanmar’s northern border with China. He also facilitated an addendum to the concession agreement on the China-backed US$ 8-billion Kyaukphyu deep seaport project in western Myanmar’s war-torn Rakhine State. Other highlights of his tenure included the regime’s loss of major towns and routes for border trade with China, and implementation of development projects under the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund.
Chen’s farewell tour also included visits to former military dictator Than Shwe and ex-president general Thein Sein.
In Wednesday’s meeting, he and Min Aung Hlaing exchanged views on diplomacy, friendship and cooperation between the two “strategic partners.” The two also discussed cooperation for border stability, while Min Aung Hlaing explained preparations for holding a “free and fair multiparty democratic general election,” according to junta media.
Cushy retirement for ruling generals and advisors
Members of the junta chief’s inner circle have been awarded political pensions as citizens struggle with rising inflation. Read more
Regime braces for Mandalay offensive
City residents say patrols have increased as anti-regime advances threaten Mandalay and Pyin Oo Lwin. Read more
Commander pays price for slaying of senior monk
Maj-Gen Kyi Khaing has been replaced by Maj-Gen Aung Khaing Win, formerly head of the Triangle Region Command. Read more
Banks punished for home loan spree
Executives at seven private banks in Myanmar face legal action for allowing their banks to exceed the limit the Central Bank of Myanmar set on the amount of home mortgages they can lend. Read more
Nationwide rice crackdown
Police tell owners of market stalls that they must sell rice at the reference rate set by the Myanmar Rice Federation and that they are not allowed to shut. Read more
