People’s Defence Forces have also increased their bomb attacks on military targets.
A former Chief Minister of Myanmar’s Sagaing Region, who was in jail in seven corruption cases since two years, gets 3-year imprisonment in each case.
Monitoring Desk
Yangon
Two military helicopters opened fire on Thapyay Aye Village in Yinmarbin Township Sagaing Region on 28 February, burning down houses in the village.
“As far as we know, one person was shot and wounded,” he said. “No other casualties have been reported. All people are fleeing,” a local resident told Mizzima.
Four helicopters flew over Thapyay Aye Village and two of them fired at the village. The other two helicopters carried some 60 junta troops, purportedly to set fire to houses in the village.
A local resident said that houses and a monastery in Thapyay Aye village, where more than 200 households live, have been burning since 2 p.m. on 28 February, and all villagers have fled. The residents of Kyauk Pyot, Moe kaung and O Ba villagers have also fled.
Meanwhile, People’s Defence Forces have increased their attacks on military targets.
Since the Military Council took power in the February 2021 coup People’s Defence Forces (PDFs) made up of civilians opposed to junta rule have been bombing Military Council targets.
In the last week bombing attacks against the junta have increased and they have suffered more casualties than normal. As a result, the junta has been retaliating causing a rise in civilian deaths too.
In Yangon, PDFs started what they called the Pyan Hlwar Aung operation, attacks that targeted military-linked entities. Pyan Hlwar Aung translates as swallow and like the bird the attacks are supposed to be fast followed by a fast withdrawal.
The Pyan Hlwar Aung operation has caused alarm amongst Military Council personnel. They have built and are manning sandbag bunkers with peepholes for guns in front of police stations, administration offices and schools.
As part of the Pyan Hlwar Aung operation A local defence force, the Wolf Warriors STF (WWSTF) attacked a Military Council vehicle with a hand grenade on the Myin Taw Thar main road in Yangon’s Thaketa Township on 19 February. At the same time, they threw a grenade onto Thaketa Football field where Military Council troops were stationed, said a member of the group. Two Military Council soldiers were killed and four were injured, according to WWSTF claims.
Following these grenade attacks the Thaketa Seven market on Myin Taw Thar Road was set on fire by soldiers because they claimed that the perpetrators of the hand grenade attack were hiding in the market.
According to the WWSTF the soldiers set fire to the market because they had suffered losses, just like they do in ethnic areas. They said that the soldiers want people to blame the anti-junta forces for the market fire because they had hidden there. The group added that when justice and injustice face off there will be suffering. But, people have seen this before and have been aware of the military’s barbarity for over 70 years.
There are many Military Council security checkpoints in Mandalay and these are frequently targeted for ambushes.
On 21 February soldiers stationed at Mandalay’s Yadanarbon University were bombed twice. The second bomb attack, carried out by a Mandalay-based urban guerrilla group, killed a soldier.
A ward administration office between 115 street and 116 street in PyigyiTakon Township, Mandalay was burned down on 22 February. The fire brigade recorded the value of the 20 by 30 feet building as being 450,000 kyats.
Also on 22 February the Ward Administration offices in Mandalay’s Maha Aung Myay, Aung Myay Thar Zan and Pyi Kyi Ta Kon townships were burned down.
Ward Administration offices are occupied by junta troops who coerce people into reporting any overnight guests and control who gets letters of recommendation from the ward, which people need for their work and when they travel. People believe that ward administrators are the Military Council’s biggest informants.
There has been intense fighting in Sagaing Region, where there are many members of the Pyu Saw Htee, a military aligned armed militia. There are also more informants than in Yangon and Mandalay, but local defence forces are strong and the military are still suffering losses.
Sin Inn and Sate Kon police stations in Sagaing’s Shwebo Township had bombs dropped on them by local PDF drones on 21 February.
The groups that carried out the attacks were the People Defense Force-Shwebo, C&T (Shwebo), SNAKE-EYES (PDF), Fighter One and other local defense forces. They said that there were 50 Pyu Saw Htee troops stationed in both Sin Inn and Sat Kone villages. The groups claimed that three junta soldiers were killed and another six were injured in the two attacks.
In the hills on the border between Karenni and Shan states a Military Council encampment of troops from the Kalaw based 7th infantry battalion of the 55th light infantry battalion was attacked by PDF forces on 22 February. Five soldiers were killed and two guns, an MA2 and an MA3 along with ammunition and a BA100 mortar were also seized by the groups according to the PDF.
Military Council forces and their allies are shooting at people and oppressing them. They are opposed by the National Unity Government (NUG) in exile, and the PDFs. Unfortunately, the NUG is finding it hard to communicate with the PDFs inside the country, who despite being poorly equipped are doing their best to fight against the military with some sacrificing their lives to the fight.
According to another report, Sagaing Region’s former Chief Minister Dr. Myint Naing, who is being detained in Monywa Prison, was sentenced to 21 years in prison at the regional court in Monywa Township on 28 February.
“I am not upset because I expected it in advance. I have no plan to appeal,” said Chu Chu, the Chief Minister’s wife.
He was sentenced to 21 years in prison for seven counts of corruption, three years for each case and was previously sentenced to two years in prison under Section 505 (b). This brings his total imprisonment to 23 years.
In addition, the Chief Minister faces another charge under Section 171 (f) of the Electoral Law, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison.
The 71-year-old Chief Minister, who had a heart valve replacement, is regularly taking blood thinner drugs and is taking medication for hypertension.
Dr. Myint Naing won the 1990 General Election and was sentenced to 25 years in prison under Section 122 in September of that year, 1990. He was eventually released.
He won the 2012 by-elections, 2015 and 2020 general elections and served as Sagaing regional chief minister in 2016.
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Courtesy: MIZZIMA
