It has been three years already since the junta grabbed power in Myanmar. Words fail to describe the struggles of people under the military repression. Apart from the big cities, places nationwide were scattered by air strikes, massive killings, heavy artillery and arson.

 

As expected, the junta announced an extension of the state of emergency for six-months despite the strong objection of the Myanmar people. The junta announced the extension of the state of emergency on Wednesday after the meeting of the military defense council.

 

The Acting President of the military, U Myint Swe, said he agreed to extend the state of emergency so the administration could carry out anti-terrorism operations and due to the unstable political situation in the country.

 

Altogether, the junta extended the declaration of the state of emergency for five times since it seized power on February 1, 2021.

 

Silent strike

 

The Myanmar people expressed their anger against the February 2021 power grab by taking part in a Silent Strike on Thursday of 01 February, the third year of military takeover.

 

The silent strike was extensive and the impact was felt on most part of the country, forcing junta troops to arrest many protest leaders.

 

This year, most of the places across the country, including Yangon and Mandalay, participated in silent strike. But not like in the past years, there were few passengers on the road but more silent and less crowded than normal days.

 

On that day, the junta held some ceremonies and protests downtown.

 

Like in Myanmar, around 200 Myanmar people living in Thailand marched in protest against the junta in front of the UN embassy in Thailand calling for an end to the military rule.

 

Revolutionary forces said it would only meet with the junta if its members would promise not to intervene in the country’s politics.

 

On Wednesday, the National Unity Government (NUG) and allied revolutionary forces stated they are going to hold a political dialogue with the junta if the junta agrees on six common points including stopping its intervention in politics.

 

A few hours before the junta's decision to extend the state of emergency, the NUG, Chin National Front (CNF), Karenni National Progressive Party ( KNPP) announced the six conditions for the dialogue.

 

The NUG and the various ethnic armed groups want an end to military rule, the return of the military under the control of an elected government, the formulation of the federal democratic constitution, the building of the new union and providing justice for those who suffered injustice under the current unstable situation.

 

Junta sends a representative to ASEAN meeting

 

A permanent secretary of the junta’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs was sent to represent Myanmar at the ASEAN foreign ministers ( AMM) meeting on Monday.

 

The junta used to refuse to attend ASEAN meetings if it is not allowed to send its own representative But after three years, they sent Daw Marlar Than Htike as a politician.

 

Since the junta is reluctant to implement the five points consensus, the military leader and its foreign minister are not allowed to attend the meetings of the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in which Myanmar is a member.

 

One military jet was shot down

 

Last Monday, A military jet flying en route to the Light Infantry Brigade 355th was shot down at Thingan Nyinaung village near Myawaddy township in Karen State. Some news report said the attack was carried out by Karen revolutionary forces and it was the third military jet that crashed this month. The ill-fated aircraft was a Eurocopter AS365 and five people including a division chief were allegedly badly injured in the crash.

 

Junta hands over to China Kokang business tycoons

 

The junta handed over to Chinese authorities 10 Kokang businessmen wanted in China for operating online scam businesses.

 

The Kokang businessmen that were turned over to Chinese authorities at Nay Pyi Taw airport included the former chairman of Kokang Self-Administered Zone, Bai Suo Cheng and his son Bal Ying Cang. Also turned over to the Chinese authorities were  U Wai San from No.1006 Border Guard Force (BGF) and the owner of Kokang’s most well known company, Liu Zheng Xiang.

 

After the attack on Kokang by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), some news reported that the 10 suspected on-line scammers were flown out of the beleaguered area using a junta jet. But Chinese authorities allegedly pressured the junta to turn over the 10 suspects.