Junta troops intensify anti-resistance operations while celebrating ceasefire anniversary

 

Eight years ago in October 2015, former junta leader U Thein Sein signed nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) with eight ethnic armed groups. Some politicians viewed that event as the political exit.

 

Among the notable developments in the celebration of the 8th NCA anniversary are:

 

(a) Three signatory armed groups including Karen National Union (KNU), Chin National Front (CNF) and All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF) boycotted that event. These parties opted to support the resistance forces in fighting junta troops.

 

(b) Three members of ABSDF including the deputy chairman were terminated for violating the rules and regulations of ABSDF, by attending the 8th NCA anniversary without the consent of the ABSDF leadership.

 

(c) The former chairperson of KNU, Saw Mutu Say Poe attended that event and the junta recognized him as the Karen leader and asked him to lead in the peace process.

 

(d) The chief-in-commander General Min Aung Hlaing invited the non-signatory groups to sign the NCA.

 

Two officials from UWSA were issued warrant

 

On Wednesday, the military council issued warrant against two top officers of the ethnic armed group United Wa State Army (UWSA) for leading online betting services who were also warranted by 500,000 Yuan.

 

A junta newspaper said construction minister Chen Yanban and mayor Xiao Yanquan were convicted for operating online betting services, enticement, abduction, and threatening the people.

 

Chen Yanban is the nephew of UWSA head, Bao Youxiang and Xiao Yanquan is his son-in-law. They have been expelled from UWSA.

 

Phaung Taw Oo Pagoda festival to be held after three years suspension

 

The Phaung Taw Oo Pagoda festival in Inle would be held within this week after three years of suspension due to the Covid-19 outbreak and the political crisis.

 

As the tradition in Inle, four Buddha images would be paraded on royal barge and would passed by 21 villages in Inle and would be held from 15th October to 1st November. Rowing competition would also be held like in the previous years.

 

The activists in Inle urged the people not to participate in the celebration, which is being sponsored by the junta.

 

Seven prisoners in Naypyitaw escaped

 

According to local press reports, seven prisoners escaped from Kinthar production camp 2  in Tatkon township in Naypyitaw on Tuesday.

 

The escapees were convicted of drug and rape cases and who are still serving jail terms between two and six years. After the military takeover in February 2021, jailbreak has become common in Myanmar prisons.

 

Floods submerge thousands of acres of paddy fields in Bago

 

Due to heavy rains in Bago township in Bago Region, hundreds of thousand of acres of paddy fields were destroyed by floods.

 

The floods started on 08 October. The junta reported around 260,000 acres of paddy fields have been submerge in flood waters in Bago and around 4 percent of these flooded paddy fields have been completely destroyed.

 

The destruction of their crops have created so much trouble for the farmers who have no money to repay their loans.

 

Participants in Monywa hunger strike prosecuted

 

In Monywa prison, Sagaing, 25 political prisoners including Ko Wai Moe Naing are being prosecuted for taking part in a hunger strike last month.

 

The junta punished Ko Wai Moe Naing and nine political prisoners with no reduction of prison days for a year and the remaining 17 people were under Section 147 of the penal code.

 

Including the prison chief, five prison staffs were dismissed and other four prison officers were demoted for 6 months.

 

The Hunger strike started since the staffs seized the belongings of prisoners including blankets, clothes, foods, books and family photos .

 

Six days after that strike, the prison authorities agreed to the demands of the prisoners.

 

Burma Associated Press