Junta spends about USD 1 billion in violent crackdowns

 
A United Nations report said the Myanmar junta spent about USD 1 billion in buying arms mostly bought from Russia and China, to sustain its violent crackdown against resistance forces since it grabbed power in 2021.

The report said the junta spent about USD 406 million for fighter jets, including the Russian-made SU 30 and USD 267 million from China.
Moreover, they bought fighter jets and aviation equipment from Singapore worth about USD 254 million.

 

Up to 94 percent of the trading was directly carried out by the junta and the remaining 6 percent were transacted by junta-favored Myanmar business companies. India and Thailand also sold various technological equipment involved in the crackdown amounting to USD 51 million and USD 28 million, respectively.


Destructive cyclone Mocha

Cyclone Mocha initially hit Sittwe in Rakhine State and then barreled through Chin State, Magwe and Sagaing region and Kachin State on 14 May.

 

Then it moved from Katha in Sagaing to east-northeast of Bhamo and weakened in the China-Myanmar borderland. After three hours, it left Myanmar as it weakened further into a low-pressure area.

 

The United Nations’ OCHA Myanmar reported that Mocha caused massive devastation along its path and an estimated 5.4 million Myanmar people suffered from the storm.

 

The latest report of National Unity Government said that around 455 people have died due to the Mocha. It also destroyed an estimated 42,517 acres of agriculture field.

 

The junta specified 17 townships from Rakhine State and 21 townships from Chin State including Hakha, Paletwa, Matupi, Tedim as the townships worst hit by Mocha.

 

The civil society organizations claimed around 400 Rohingya people in Rohingya refugee camps and villages were killed by cyclone Mocha, but this was belied by the Rakhine State government. About 15 ancient pagodas and 8 antique buildings in Bagan were damaged by flood.

The NUG, Kachin Independence Organization, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA-Kokang) donated five hundred thousand Kyats to Arakan Army (AA) to help in the rehabilitation in Rakhine state.

Former NLD government minister passes away in Thailand

U Myint San, who served as a former minister of Agriculture and Irrigation in Tanintharyi Region, passed away in Thailand on 17 May.

The former minister fled to Thailand after the military takeover. He died of cancer at 68 years old.

His house in Min Yat village, Launglon was seized by junta in November 2021.

According to report from the NLD, until 29 December, houses of 605 people were seized including 206 NLD representatives and 371 party members.

Junta objects to political subjects in private schools

On 12 May, the junta said that discussions about party politics and political ideologies in private schools are highly restricted.

It warned that those who violate the edict would be sentenced to between six months and one year imprisonment or a fine of between 3000,000 to 5000,000 Kyats.

The committee within the education ministry has the power to issue permits for the opening of private schools, appointment of teachers and selection of course books.

That group is comprised of the education minister, deputy minister, secretary, director-general and members from other ministry and government offices.

Sim cards confiscation

The junta announced that mobile phone Sim cards that haven not been registered from 17 May would be confiscated after three months. Those Sim cards that were registered in another person’s name would receive a notification for re-registration within 30 days.

Those that failed to register would be blocked and then permanently deactivated.

Three private hospitals in Mandalay closed

After temporarily closing the City, Palace and Kant Kaw private hospitals in Mandalay, the junta seized licenses of these medical institutions on 15 May for their alleged failure to follow the government rules according to Section 19(A) of healthcare provisions.

Non-CDM medical superintendent shot dead

A 54 years old non-CDM medical superintendent, Dr. Tin Cho Cho, was shot dead by two unknown men on 15 May at her private clinic in Palate area in Mandalay.

After the attack, the junta troops immediately arrived and checked the guest registration list in nearby wards.

Father, brother of KNU leader released after day-long detention

The junta troops arrested KNU vice chairman Padoh Saw Hsel Gay 's father and brother in Yaetwinkonegyi village in Kyaukkyi township in Bago Region on 14 May but released them after detaining them for one day.  

Padoh Saw Hsel Gay is also in charge of the minister of Defense in KNU.

He also served as the coordinator in consolidating the ceasefire agreement before military take over.

Thai winning political party promises to implement Burma Act

In Thailand election, the leaders of the winning Move Forward Party promised to implement the Burma Act in cooperation with the international community.

Likewise, they also promised to provide humanitarian assistance to Myanmar.

US president Joe Biden signed the Burma Act of 2022 in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)on 23 December.

The Move Forward party is led by Pita Limjaroenrat and mainly composed of young people and elders supported them to lead a change in Thai politics.

Weapons law imposes capital sentence on violators

The junta enacted Weapons law on 11 May that can punish violators with capital sentence.

According to the law, stealing, selling, transferring state-owned weapons or ammunitions of government personnel will be punished from 10 years of prison to death sentence.

A person who purchased weapons with an intention to commit treason could be punished from 5 to 10 years of imprisonment.

The law is designed to restrict those who can carry, produce, sell and purchase arms.

The Weapons law (1878) that had used before the military takeover provides punishment of up to 7 years of imprisonment only.

 

Burma Associated Press