Onslaught under cover of ceasefire
Myanmar’s military has once again proven that it cannot be trusted, declaring a ceasefire only to breach it repeatedly within 48 hours.
On Wednesday, the regime announced it would halt military operations until April 22 to aid quake-relief efforts. A few hours later, it unleashed artillery strikes on Nyaung Chay Htauk village in Shwekyin Township, Bago Region. The next day, regime airstrikes targeted Thabeikkyin Township in Mandalay and Mu Township in Bago Region’s Nyaunglebin District.
Junta forces have conducted dozens of attacks since the devastating March 28 earthquake, and at least 14 since the truce was announced this week, the UN said Friday.
The UN Human Rights Office “has received reports that the military has carried out at least 53 attacks, including strikes by aircraft and drones, artillery and paramotors in areas affected by the earthquake,” spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told reporters.
For Myanmar’s people, these assaults were hardly unexpected. The military has a long record of attacking ethnic armed organizations under cover of “peace talks”.
But the regime achieved new levels of brazenness by breaking a truce while the country mourns over 3,000 quake victims and rescue & relief teams from two dozen countries grapple with the disaster’s aftermath.
Meanwhile, the junta boss declared at the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok on Thursday and Friday that his planned election would go ahead despite the earthquake. He has promised to hold a national poll in January and hand over power to the winning party.
In a country shattered by four years of civil war and with over 3.5 million people displaced even before the quake, a national election is not feasible. However, the junta is clinging to a poll as its only path to legitimacy on the international stage.
‘Murderer!’ Protests greet junta chief in Thailand
BANGKOK—Protesters displayed a banner calling Myanmar’s junta chief a “murderer” as he joined a regional summit in Bangkok on Friday, a week after a huge earthquake killed thousands, leaving desperate survivors pleading for food and shelter.
More than 3,000 people are confirmed dead after the 7.7-magnitude quake, and the United Nations estimates that up to 3 million may have been affected in some way—many left without shelter after their homes were destroyed.
Many nations have sent aid and rescue teams, but on the ground in some of the worst-hit areas.. Read more
Regime warplanes blast moratorium
Myanmar’s regime conducted airstrikes on Sagaing Region and Kachin State on Thursday, hours after it declared a ceasefire for earthquake relief operations.
Five days after the 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, claiming over 3,000 lives, the junta on Wednesday announced a 20-day ceasefire until April 22.
The ceasefire declaration came before junta chief Min Aung Hlaing’s trip to Thailand for a seven-nation BIMSTEC regional summit after China urged the regime to ensure the safety of earthquake relief workers and supplies. Read more
Officials abandoned under Naypyitaw rubble
Myanmar’s administrative capital Naypyitaw was among the hardest hit parts of the country when the powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck last Friday.
Many buildings collapsed at the military regime’s nerve center, killing people and trapping them under the rubble, according to government employees.
But even there the regime failed to carry out any effective rescue and relief operations, leaving civil servants and their families buried under the collapsed… Read more
Military opens fire on Chinese relief trucks
Myanmar’s junta admitted its troops fired on a Chinese Red Cross convoy carrying aid supplies to earthquake-stricken regions late Tuesday night, claiming it had failed to notify authorities of its travel plans.
The nine-vehicle convoy was heading to Mandalay when it came under fire in Ohnmattee village, Nawnghkio Township, northern Shan State at 9.21 pm.
Junta spokesman Major-General Zaw Min Tun admitted on Wednesday that regime troops had fired shots, but insisted they were… Read more
Happy New Year? Thingyan Festival gets go-ahead
Myanmar’s military regime has given the go-ahead for traditional Thingyan New Year festivities this month, despite the rising earthquake death toll and ongoing civil war.
In a statement on Tuesday, the junta acknowledged the severe impact of the March 28 earthquake, which caused thousands of deaths and widespread destruction across Naypyitaw, Sagaing, Bago, Magwe, Mandalay, and Shan State.
Despite the national mourning, Thingyan celebrations would proceed, though without the usual singing and dancing, the statement said. Read more
Quake photo opportunities
Just hours after last week’s devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake, junta boss Min Aung Hlaing made an appearance at affected areas in Naypyitaw, accompanied by his personal photographer, a former army officer best known for undersea photography, and other officials.
The coup leader visited a site where injured victims were being treated, posing for photos for handpicked pro-junta media outlets and select foreign media.
Many observers conclude that Min Aung Hlaing’s response has been less about genuine humanitarian concerns and more about… Read more
