Myanmar junta pressures citizens abroad to pay taxes

 

Myanmar embassies in foreign countries started collecting 2 percent income tax from Myanmar citizens abroad since 11th December. The Myanmar embassies in Singapore and Korea announced the levy of income tax on 11 December and the Myanmar Embassy in Thailand issued the same notice on 13 December.

 

According to the statement from Myanmar Embassy in Singapore, if the people who are holding PJ passports fail to pay their income tax, the embassy would not extend the term of their passports. Some critics complain about the long queue of people in front of the Myanmar embassy in Singapore.

 

In the Myanmar Embassy in Thailand, nationals who pay their income tax could get incentives, including deduction from their income taxes the amount they pay for the purchase houses, flats and vehicles in Myanmar.

 

The military council announced the levy of income tax for Myanmar nationals working abroad after amending the taxation laws in October and forced the Myanmar workers abroad to transfer 25% of their income to be remitted to their families through official channels.

 

Junta seeks ceasefire with the Northern alliance

 

Military spokesperson general Zaw Min Tun said Myanmar officials are holding dialogue with the Northern Alliance composed of Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Arakan Army (AA) and Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) with the help of China.

 

Zaw Min Tun, however, did not disclose details about the dialogue or the location of the meeting. He added there would be another round of talks soon.

 

On the other hand, the Brotherhood alliance reported the battles have been occurring to bring an end to military dictatorship.

 

After the news of dialogue, the NUG defence minister U Yee Mon wrote a post on social media about the mutual understanding and common attitude between the Northern Alliance and NUG.

 

On the other hand, China stated the parties met up in Kunming, China and agreed on the subjective peace outcome.

 

NUG court in Mintaingpin hit by airstrikes

 

In the afternoon of 12 December, junta troops launched airstrikes at Mintaingpin village in Pale and killed five people.

 

According to the statement from Public Administration of Pale, the attack killed the judge U Paw Pyae Aung (CDM from police officer), Ma Thae Nu Myint Zaw (education volunteer), a PDF comrade Moe Moe and a one-year-old child from Zigon and his mother. The child’s father also suffered severe injuries.

 

Resistance forces seize more cities, junta outposts

 

The Hnonebu junta outpost in Paletwa township in Chin State was seized by the Arakan Army (AA) on 10 December after 27 straight days of fighting. The resistance forces recovered several bodies of dead junta troops, including a tactical operation commander. It also seized assorted firearms and ammunitions.

 

The AA attacked junta's two stronghold outposts, one in Tarunaing and another one Hnonebu towns since 14 November and seized Tarunaing town on 04 December.

 

The allied armed forces seized Maw Luu village in Indaw township in Sagaing on 13 December.

 

All Burma Students' Democratic Front stated around 10 thousand people were displaced due to junta airstrikes after Maw Luu battle.

 

Nyaung Pin Tha police station in Phyu township, Bago was attacked also by KNLA and PDF forces in the early morning of 13 December and killed 30 military soldiers.

 

Shortage of food by truck drivers in Asia road

 

A truck driver said told Burma Associated Press that on 11 December, truck drivers and about 200 family members are stuck in Myanmar-Thailand Asia Highway Road near Kawkareik and are suffering from lack of food.

 

The drivers have been stuck on the road for 16 days and there is still no schedule on when they can continue their journey.

  

Fighting in Kawkareik started on 01December and one male and female residents have been killed. The areas near Kawkareik have no access to mobile networks and thousands of people have left their home.

 

Myanmar becomes world's top producer of opium

 

A United Nations report released on 12 December said that despite of the ongoing violence, Myanmar has become world's largest producer of opium surpassing Afghanistan.

 

"Although Myanmar opium production reached its peak in 2013 with 58,000 hectares (143,300 acres) planted with to opium poppy, the areas devoted to opium poppy plantations rose by 18 percent to 47,100 hectares between 2022 and 2023 with 47,100 hectares (116,400 acres), according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC).

  

The UN agency said that one of the contributing factors in the rise of opium poppy cultivation is the continuing political stability in the country.

 

The representative of UNODC, Jeremy Douglas said the unstable political economy, security and deficiency in administration after 2021 military takeover pushed the farmers in rural areas to resort to opium poppy farming.

 

Myanmar military detained two news reporters without warrants

 

Two news reporters from Myeik-based Dawei Watch news agency were arrested by junta troops on 11 December.

 

Ko Aung San Oo and Ko Myo Myint Oo were arrested allegedly because of their critical coverage of the junta administration.

 

"At the time of arrest, troops seized two laptops from agency and the mobile phones of the news reporters and their family members," Dawei Watch said.

 

The junta troops do not disclose where the two journalists were being held. Dawei watch is seeking for the immediate release of the two reporters.

 

Data collected by BAP shows that over 60 news reporters were detained since the junta seized power in February 2021.  One journalist was killed under interrogation while another one was killed covering the fighting between resistance forces and junta troops.

 

According to the World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Myanmar ranked 173 out of 180 countries and territories included in the index. Myanmar is the second country with the most number of detained news reporters, next to China.

 

Sanctions imposed by different entities

 

On 08 December, the United Kingdom, United States and Canada announced sanctions to nine   individual and entities including colonel of Karen BGF Saw Chit Thu and five institutions for alleged human trafficking, forced labor and human rights violations.

 

The individuals include Karen BGF leader Saw Chit Thu, director of Chit Lin Myaing Company Saw Min Min Oo, shareholder of Myanmar Yahtike Zhijiang and the rest are from Cambodia and Laos.

 

Furthermore, a military appointed minister, two members of SAC and a military commander responsible for the aerial bombings, as well as two companies that import arms were also blacklisted by the European Union on 11 December.

 

EU also slapped sanctions to Star Sapphire, a company that imports equipment used by armed forces and Royal Shune Lei company.

 

Burma Associated Press