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“Time has come for soldiers and police members to stop dancing to the tune of the power-hungry man and turn the gun on him as this is the final battle in which the public shall win a victory and which shall root out the dictatorship and power-hungry men”.
This is the excerpt from a video message “defection of soldiers to the public” given by Prime Minister Mann Win Khaing Than of the National Unity Government (NUG) on October 7th. From September 8th to October 6th, nearly 700 soldiers and police joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) through the People’s Embrace group which is in cooperation with the NUG. A total of 404 soldiers and 295 police members have joined the CDM.
This week, the Myanmar Peace Monitor‘s weekly review mainly focuses on the civil servants who joined the CDM, especially the role of soldiers and police members.
Finding
According to the daily news, it is found that more than 3,500 soldiers and more than 1,500 police members have joined the CDM.
On the morning of February 18th, Sergeant Clerk Than Lwin (Service No.550096) from Light Infantry Battalion-16 (Monywa) joined the anti-coup protest column in Monywa of Sagaing Region. He gave a speech to the public in front of General Aung San’s bronze statue. The people welcomed his defection. The next day, the military council released a video file, accusing that the protestors persuaded him to participate in the protest drunkenly.
On February 13th, 70 out of 240 police members in Karenni State joined the CDM, defying the coup. The military council released a propaganda that they were not members of the Myanmar Police Force.
During over 80 days of the coup from February 2nd to May 16th, the total number of CDM police members across the country exceeded 800—208 in Chin State, 158 in Karenni State, 87 in Nay Pyi Taw, 73 in Mandalay Region, 73 in Tanintaryi Region, 60 in Kachin State, 36 in Sagaing Region, 31 in Yangon Region, 27 in Magway Region, 22 in Ayeyawady Region, 22 in Bago Region and 11 in Mon State.
It is found that more and more soldiers and police members who want to join the CDM after the statement on the nationwide revolt on September 7th make contact.
During this month, the personal assistance of the Deputy Commander of the North-West Command based in Hakha, and the driver defected from the military, confessing the situation in the army, according to the statement by the Chin Human Rights Group. The military council denied that statement.
According to the daily news, the military council arrested and interrogated the family members of two defectors. Thura Title Holder Corporal Zwe Man from Light Infantry Division-66 under the Light Infantry Battalion-5 Inma joined the CDM, according to the statement by the People’s Soldiers formed with defected soldiers on October 12th. According to the daily news, it is found that more than 3,500 soldiers and more than 1,500 police members have joined the CDM.
What are they doing?
On February 1st, two senior military officials forced President U Win Myint to resign. According to Section 122 (1) of the Penal Code, power grab is the offence of high treason and the violation of the military codes of conduct.
The People’s Soldiers group is formed by the soldiers who oppose the military council’s inhumane acts such as brutal oppression, arrests and killings of the people during the coup. The group is inviting the soldiers who will defect from the military, helping them and sharing information.
On the other hand, the People’s Soldiers is inviting soldiers and police members who will defect to the public by forming the People’s Embrace in cooperation with the NUG. On August 25th, the Karenni State Police (KSP) was formed with 320 CDM police members in Karenni State in order to provide services for security and rule of law. The KSP will work for the interest and life security of the public under the political leadership of the Karenni State Consultative Council (KSCC).
The NUG’s Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration announced on October 7th, that it formed the Temporary Administrative Council of the CDM People’s Police. The council is aimed at ensuring the safety and security of the CDM police members and their families, helping solve their difficulties and forming the future federal people’s police force through the collection of CDM police members. On October 13th, the People’s Soldiers group announced that it terminated the duties of Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and military heads who committed high treason, based on the testimony of President U Win Myint at the court hearing in Nay Pyi Taw.
On February 1st, two senior military officials forced President U Win Myint to resign. According to Section 122 (1) of the Penal Code, power grab is the offence of high treason and the violation of the military codes of conduct.
Review
The public still extend a joyful welcome to the civil servants, especially soldiers and police members who can differentiate between right and wrong and between order and duty.
Since the military coup on February 1st, hundreds of thousands of civil servants from health, education, railways and other governmental departments have defied the military coup and joined the CDM in cooperation with the public.
The public are providing assistance to the CDM staff which face the lack of employment and income as much as they can. It is found that in practice, many CDM staff have not received any assistance although the NUG is systematically providing aid to the CDM staff. Similarly, the NUG need to be cautious about the leakage on the management of the CDM soldiers and police members.
The public welcome CDM soldiers and police joyfully. At the same time, the public are concerned about the danger of the spies who will drive a wedge systematically.
We have witnessed that there are many incidents committed by the junta’s followers such as the brutal crackdown on and arrests and killings of the unarmed people. The military council is making constant efforts to demolish the pillars of the Spring Revolution using fabricated news, spies and informants. The NUG is required to have a systematic counter-espionage program while inviting the soldiers and police members to join the CDM.
Nonetheless, the public still extend a joyful welcome to the civil servants, especially soldiers and police members who can differentiate between right and wrong and between order and duty. To be sure, CDM activists have become more and more powerful, but the mechanisms that support them have become weaker, and leaders are paying close attention.
What happened in the week?
Chin State
The military council is monitoring the areas near the headquarters of the Chin National Front (CNF) by military helicopters. The military council is carrying out reinforcements with tanks and military convoys. The CNF is the ethnic armed organization which firstly made cooperation with the National Unity Government (NUG). The CNF is an organization which has better cooperation with the Chinland Defence Force (CDF).
According to the statement of the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO), Sergeant Clerk of the Hakha Tactical Operation Command and the personal assistant to the Deputy Commander of the North-West Command Tin Lian Biak and driver private Gan Hmun Thaup defected to local CDF on October 9th. The military council’s troops arrested five family members of Sergeant Tin Lian Biak. His wife and children have gone into hiding. The military council’s troops entered some homes at the entrance to Heinzein village on Kalay-Teedim road in Teedim Township and took some properties.
Locals from Heinzein village fled to safer places as more than 20 military vehicles including two vehicles arrived from Kalay and the military council’s troops fired shots into the village. Fighting took place between the CNF and the military council’s troops on Falam-Hakha Road between Falam Township and Hakha Township. Due to fighting, locals from five villages near the incident have fled to the forests. The CNF issued a warning on October 13th, that the terrorist military council’s troops are increasing deployments of tanks, military vehicles and troops in Chin State. As the military council’s troops arrest travellers and use the people and cars as human shields, the people should avoid travelling along Falam-Reed Road and Falam-Hakha Road apart from a matter of life and death.
Arakan State
The Arakan State Administration Council told the Narinjara News that it had not distributed Covid-19 vaccine yet as it was working on the Union-level peace affairs.
Locals told the DMG that the military council’s troops are stationed in the historic pagodas in MraukU and Minbya Townships in Arakan State. Stationing troops in pagodas amounts to violating the Geneva Convention, said U Khaing Thu Kha, Spokesperson of the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA).
Shan State
Fighting took place between the military council’s troops and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) (Kokang) near the military strategic hill in Mongkoe in the northern Shan State on October 12th. At least six locals were severely wounded by artillery shells. Many locals have fled to China-Myanmar border, according to the KNG. The fleeing IDPs from Phawjonepar village and 411 locals from new Phawjonepar village are likely to move to other places again. On the evening of October 8th, fighting took place between the military council’s troops and the MNDAA near Nambartat village in Panghseng on China-Myanmar border. A Chinese local got a gunshot wound. On October 11st, the military council’s troops killed a civilian from Hulaung village which is adjacent to Mongkyat and Mongyaw villages in Hseini Township where fighting is taking place between the military council’s troops and the MNDAA, a local man from Hulaung village told the Shan Herald News Agency.
At around 10.40 am on October 7th, a bomb blast occurred near Asia World Toll Gate on 105th mile to Lashio in Muse Township, damaging a vehicle. At around 4 pm on October 11st, one person was killed and three children wounded by artillery shell in Namsan village in Tunhome village-tract in Namhkan Township, according to the Shan Herald News Agency. An armed organization told the people who have connection with the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) to get out of Manlwal village in Hsipaw Township.
The total number of the IDPs in Mongkai Township where the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP) and the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) are active, has exceeded 5,000. The IDP camps are in need of basic foodstuffs and COVID-19 protective materials. Among more than 200 IDPs taking shelter in Mongngaw in Kyaukme Township are five pregnant women. Pregnant women and the women who recently delivered babies are in need of food and cash assistance, according to the Shan Herald News Agency.
At around 12 pm on October 12nd, a group of people including old veterans and the military council’s troops entered and destroyed the house of U Naing Lin Tun, the NLD Township Information Officer in Phalkhone Township in southern Shan State.
On the evening of October 11st, the military council’s troops arrested U San Win Maung, ex-administrator of Aungchantha ward in Hsisaing Township. The police have arrested an arrest warrant for him under Section 505 of the Penal Code. He got arrested while doing philanthropic works after returning to his home from hiding, according to the Shan Herald News Agency.
Karenni (Kayah) State
During fighting from October 8th to 12th, three members of the Karenni Army (KA) were injured and 13 soldiers of the military council killed in the fighting between the military council’s troops and a combined force of the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) and the KA at the upper Htarlae village in Markhyawshae village-tract in Phruso Township, according to the statement by the KNDF. Due to fighting, around 1,000 locals from five villages near the incident are taking shelter in the forests. They are in urgent need of water-proof sheets, food and medicines, according to the Kantarawaddy Times.
A pregnant woman from an IDP camp in the west of Demawsoe Township died while being transported to a clinic in downtown Loikaw.
A pregnant woman from an IDP camp in the west of Demawsoe Township died while being transported to a clinic in downtown Loikaw. On October 9th, the military council’s troops arrested two local men from 6th mile Model village who went back to the village to take rations. The military council’s troops killed one man. The rest is receiving treatment as he got severe injuries, according to the KNDF.
On the morning of October 13th, three men were wounded after stepping on a landmine planted by the military council’s troops in Konethar village in Loikaw Township. On October 14th, a member of Free Burma Ranger-Karenni was killed after a car carrying ration for an IDP camp in the east of Demawsoe Township fell into a ravine.
Kachin State
On the morning of October 9th, the military council’s troops carried out at least four bomb attacks by two fighter planes in Indawgyi and Mongnaung villages in Mohnyin Township, a local from Mongnaung told the KNG. The place where the fighting took place is under the control of the Battalion-26 under the Brigade-9 of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA).
The KIA has directed all gold mining projects which benefit the People’s Militia Group based in Model village under the LIB-297 of the military council near Shaduzwat village on Tanai-Ledo road to stop their operations as from October 15th. The affected gold mining sites are Wakhar, Jarwan, Lordjar, Kaingtaw and Yuzana located near Shaduzwat village.
The KIA ambushed a military convoy of around 50 soldiers at around 4.30 pm on October 12th in front of a school at the entrance to Moemauk Township in Bhamo District, according to the KNG.
South-East (Mon, Kayin and Tanintaryi)
On the morning of October 11th, a bomb exploded in the compound of EPC office in Paung Township, Mon State. It is a warning as the EPC office is carrying out forced collection of power bills and power cut in accordance with the directive of the military council, according to a statement by the Paung Township People’s Defence Force.
Belin-PDF issued a warning letter on October 16th, calling on the officials from the electricity office in Belin Township to stop the collection of electricity bills. It would take effective action if the office continues to put pressure on the public.
On October 11st, Yay PDF carried out bomb attacks near the artillery unit of Military Operations Command-19 under the military council on Mawlamyine-Dawei road in Yay Township. Two soldiers who were doing fencing near the artillery unit, were wounded in the attack, according to the statement by the Yay PDF.
According to the statement by the Kyaikto Revolution Force (KRF), it ambushed a military convoy on Mawlamyine-Yangon Road near Mokepalin village in Kyaikto Township, on the afternoon of October 12th. At night on October 13rd, bomb blasts occurred near Mon State parliament and the inspection gates in Nyaunglebin and Mawlamyine.
The officials from the BGF’s Battalion-1011 which is active in Hlaingbwe Township met the officals of villages and told them that the villagers were to undergo the military training for the security of villages and to send the list of the villagers who would attend the training course
Tin Win, No-2 company commander of the military-backed BGF-Battalion-1014 met townelders from Gyopinseik, Myaing, Konetangyi and Meepone villages in the KNU-controlled area (KNU-Brigade-1 Thaton District) in Hpa-An Township in Karen State, in Meikhtilar village and pressured them to appoint the village-administrators. In the recent days, the officials from the BGF’s Battalion-1011 which is active in Hlaingbwe Township met the officals of villages and told them that the villagers were to undergo the military training for the security of villages and to send the list of the villagers who would attend the training course, according to the KIC.
At around 11pm on October 7th, an unnamed group attacked the Border Guard Force (BGF) between Naungmyalwel and Kaweainhsaing in Paingkyone Township. Four persons including a family were killed in the attack. On October 11st, the BGF asked for a fine of Ks-30 million from the people in Naungmyalwel and Kaweainhsaing villages, according to the Than Lwin Times.
On October 12th, the Light Infantry Division-556 of the military council stationed in Htankone between Kyaikdone junction and Kawnwe village on Asia Road in the south of Kawkareik Township, fired light and heavy weapons to the Karen National Liberation Army’s (KNLA) Battalion-18 and the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) Splinter group in Ywahthit village, all the day. Fighting took place between the military council’s troops and a combined force of the KNLA and the DKBA Splinter group, killed seven soldiers of the military council, according to the KIC.
On October 11st, two soldiers of the military council were killed in the fighting between a military column of around 70 members and a combined force of the KNLA’s Battalion-18 and the DKBA Splinter Group near Kawnwe village in the south of Kawkareik Township.
On October 11st, more than 100 soldiers of the military council searched for the PDF members in the forests near Sawphyar village in Thayetchaung Township in Tanintharyi Region, locals told the Than Lwin Times. On October 10th, two soldiers of the military council managed to defect while searching for the locals hiding in the forests near Sawphyar village.
On October 5th, the military council seized a committee fund of over Ks-14.3 million set up by Kanpauk locals, a bank passbook and over Ks-3.5 million left in the hands of the committee members, in Yayphyu Township in Dawei District, according to the NMG.
Upper Myanmar (Mandalay, Magway and Sagaing)
U Kyaw Nyein, Chair of the Mahlaing Township State Administration Council appointed by the military council in Mandalay, was shot dead by a gunman in the Monhinkha shop near the Township General Administration Office on the morning of October 11st. Two others were also injured in the shooting. A bomb exploded in the compound of Natogyi Township Court in Myingyan District at 10.15 am on October 12th, injuring two police members. On the morning of October 13th, a bomb blast occurred at the junction of railway station at No.5 ward in Natogyi Township, killing a captain of the military council, according to locals.
Kyaukpadaung Defence Force (KDF) told the Mizzima that it carried out attacks on the Development Affairs Office in Kyaukpadaung Township at 3.35 am on October 12th with four bombs.At around 7 am on October 14th, an explosion occurred at the rail track at the exist of Palake in Kyaukse District, killing at least ten soldiers of military council, according to locals. A mine exploded on the Mandalay-Yangon railroad section between Palake and Sal village. Some soldiers of the military council who rushed to the incident to check the explosion died due to the explosion of second bomb, according to the Mizzima News.
On October 11st, fighting took place between the military council’s troops and the People’s Defence Forces in the villages between Myingyan Township in Mandalay Region and Yesagyo Township in Magway Region, killing one soldier from the military council and wounding four others, according to the Myingyan People’s Defence Force.
The military council’s troops heading from Gangaw in Magway Region arrested around 50 locals from Saingdu village in the north of Gangaw Township and took them to the Hakha junction using as human shields
A bomb explosion occurred at the police staff housing on No.8 Road in No.15 ward in Pakokku Township in Magway Region, at around 7 pm on October 10th, leaving two family members of the police injured. At around 9 pm on October 12nd, a combined force of Myaing PDF and the North Pauk PDF attacked Zeepyar police outpost between Pauk Township and Myaing Township. Two police members were killed and many others injured in the attack, according to the Mizzima News.
On October 7th, the military council’s troops heading from Gangaw in Magway Region arrested around 50 locals from Saingdu village in the north of Gangaw Township and took them to the Hakha junction using as human shields, those freed told the KNG.
The military council is recruiting veterans in Taungdwingyi by offering a salary of Ks-300,000 in addition to the pension. On October 10st, a villager was killed and four others injured in Kanthargyi village, Model village and new Aungchanthar ward in Pwintphyu Township as the military council’s troops shot and arrested the villagers. On October 13rd, the military council’s troops arrested seven local youths in Chauk Township, according to the DVB. Pale Township PDF carried out mine attacks on a military convoy heading to Pale from Gangaw twice in Pale Township in Sagaing Region, Bo Nagar, Head of the Pale PDF said. Fighting took place between a combined force of the military council’s troops and PyuSawHtee and local PDF between Laungpyae village and Thanpauk village in Minkin Township. On the morning of October 7th, a military convoy was ambushed near Tagaung junction on Mandalay-Bhamo in Htigyaing Township. A military vehicle was destroyed in the attack.
On October 11st, around 20 soldiers of the military council were killed in a mine attack on a military convoy of two military vehicles and 15 motorbikes near Phowintaung in Yinmarbin Township. The military council’s troops temporarily closed Chindwin Bridge (Monywa). Two police members were killed in a bomb attack on No.2 police station in Monywa, at around 11 pm on October 11st, according to the statement by the PDF-South Monywa. Many soldiers of the military council were injured in a mine attack on two military vehicles heading from Monywa near Wardan village in Ayardaw Township, according to the Ayardaw Revolution Army (ARA). At midnight on October 8th, a bomb exploded near Mongkai region police station in Namtaw model village in Homalin Township, according to the Shan-Ni Athan News Agency.
The military council torched and destroyed the house of U Kabarkyaw in Kyauktan village in Minkin Township and also torched other abandoned houses in the village. More than 1,000 locals from seven villages near Kyauktan village have fled to safer places. The military council’s troops arrested nine shopkeepers in Katha Township for no apparent reason on the evening of October 8th, according to the KNG. The military council’s troops arrested 17 locals including a ten-year-old child in downtown Htigyaing at around 8 pm.
On October 9th, around 100 soldiers of the military council raided Dauntgyi village in Tanze Township and arrested ten locals for no apparent reason, according to the RFA. All villagers from more than 700 households have fled to safer places as the military council’s troops are stationed and firing shots in the village.
Lower Myanmar (Yangon, Bago and Ayeyawady)
A soldier and a civilian were injured in an explosion at the traffic police outpost near the Thamine Junction City Mart in Mayangone Township in Yangon, at around 2 pm on October 11st. Explosions occurred near the military-owned garment factory in Mingaladon Township at around 8.30 pm and near Township General Administration Office on October 10th. There were 65 explosions in late September in Yangon, accounting for 34 per cent of the total number of explosions, according to the statement by the NUG on October 8th.
The Interim Public Administrative Body (Temporary) was reformed with relevant representatives in Kayan Township on October 12th after the abolishment of Kayan Township Public Administrative Body formed on February 28th.
The 18-member Interim Public Administrative Body (Temporary) is composed of town-elders group, the MPs group, the PDF group, CDM staff group, activist group, judicial group and the health group, with three representatives from each group. Plan is under way to form the ward/village-level interim public administrative body step by step.
Two bombs exploded in front of the electricity office in Kyaiklat Township in Ayeyawaddy Region at around 8 am on October 10th, according to the NMG. A bomb blast occurred near the pub on Myothit 7th Street in Maubin Township on the morning of October 11th. The military council arrested 15 villagers including a 14-year-old child accusing of being PDF members after a military informant was killed in Thabyaygone village in Myanaung Township. The revolutionary forces in Ayeyawaddy Region told the Mizzima News that the news statement about the seizure of Turkish-made guns in Thitseintkone village in Kyangin Township was just a propaganda.
Two security police members were killed and two others injured in a bomb attack on the security checkpoint in Zeegone Township in Bago Region at around 11 pm on October 10th.
National Unity Government
- The NUG forms the temporary administrative committee for CDM People’s Police Force.
- Myanmar junta suffers bloodiest month with 1,562 soldiers killed: NUG
- Termination of the Military Chief who committed high treason is announced.
- President U Win Myint said he was forced to resign on the day of coup.
- The NUG collects the personal data of fallen heroes killed in the revolution.
Military Council
- The military council issued a statement, accusing that the countries which allow the NUG to open the representative offices encourage terrorism.
- The military council puts the General Administration Department under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- A planned meeting between the Asean Special Envoy and some political parties is cancelled.
- The military council organizes movie actors by paying money.
- The military council met some political parties to discuss the PR system.
International
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) welcomed the France Senate’s decision to recognize the NUG as an official government. On October 13th, the EU issued a statement calling on the military council to allow the ASEAN Special Envoy Erywan Yusof to engage freely with all he wishes to meet during his tour to Myanmar. The UE underlines that a meaningful political dialogue must include all relevant stakeholders, including the Committee Representing the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), the NUG, ethnic groups, political parties and other pro-democracy forces committed to working towards a peaceful resolution of the current crisis.
At the press conference at the UN Headquarters on October 12th, Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson of the UN Secretary General called on the international community to make more donations as the funds necessary for the humanitarian aid program and the temporary response program which kicked off after the coup in Myanmar.
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) from India exported air-defense weapons with the remote-controlled system to the military council in July. China expelled the IDPs who fled to China-Myanmar border due to the fighting between the military council’s troops and the MNDAA (Kokang) in Mongkoe in northern Shan State.
Discussions are being made to exclude coup leader Min Aung Hlaing from the Asean summit. The UN Chief delayed the ASEAN meeting to avoid Wunna Maung Lwin who is the envoy of the military council.