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Junta Watch
Coup chief Min Aung Hlaing pays respects to ex-president U Thein Sein on March 27, 2022.
By The Irrawaddy 2 April 2022
Affected by desertions and casualties, junta eyes police to fill hole
Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing enacted a brand new legislation on March 25 making it obligatory for legislation enforcement officers to battle alongside troopers on the entrance traces, whereas increasing their powers to limit residents’ civil liberties.
A provision within the new legislation states: “On the vital time, police should be concerned within the state’s protection and safety affairs.” This implies police, who carried out brutal crackdowns on anti-coup protesters, will if vital must battle alongside Myanmar’s navy, which is struggling heavy casualties on battlefields in central Myanmar and ethnic minority areas.
The brand new police legislation additionally authorizes legislation enforcement officers to look buildings with out a search or arrest warrant, and permits them to take motion towards anybody who bangs pots and pans, a well-liked type of collective protest towards the regime.
Practically 7,000 police have joined the Civil Disobedience Motion (CDM) because the coup, based on Myanmar Police CDM channel.
USDP units up obelisk for slain members
The navy’s proxy Union Solidarity and Improvement Occasion (USDP) unveiled an obelisk in reminiscence of members who had been killed for allegedly appearing as informants for the navy regime on the nation’s resistance motion, on the social gathering’s headquarters in Naypyitaw on March 26.
USPD chairman U Htan Htay, who’s himself a former brigadier-general, expressed sorrow that the social gathering members had been, as he put it, victimized within the chaos attributable to the Nationwide League for Democracy (NLD)’s starvation for energy. Greater than 1,300 USDP members have been killed for allegedly being navy informants because the coup final 12 months, based on U Than Htay.
The USDP backed by ex-generals suffered resounding defeats to the NLD in each the 2015 and 2020 common elections. As a substitute of attempting to win the help of the individuals with goodwill and onerous work, it solely labored hand in glove with the navy to smear the NLD, which enjoys common help.
USDP vice chair U Khin Yi, who can be the immigration minister within the present regime, organized rallies focusing on the NLD and the Union Election Fee earlier than and after the navy coup in 2021.
Among the regime’s cupboard members are from the USDP, and lots of social gathering members actively labored with the regime in its arrest of NLD members and brutal crackdown on anti-coup protesters.
Amongst those that have contributed money to the fund to help members of the family of slain USDP members are the previous president of the USDP authorities, ex-general U Thein Sein, to whom junta chief Min Aung Hlaing paid respects on annual Armed Forces Day on March 27; Min Aung Hlaing’s son Aung Pyae Sone; and their cronies.
Junta chief says anti-regime forces pose risk to free, honest election
Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing stated the non-existence of “terrorist teams” is a precondition for a free and honest election.
The teams should be eradicated to carry a free and honest election with out threats and intimidation, stated Min Aung Hlaing at a gathering of the State Administration Council, the governing physique of the navy regime, on March 29.
By terrorist teams, he means the parallel Nationwide Unity Authorities (NUG), its parliamentary physique the CRPH, and armed wing the PDF. In his speech on Armed Forces Day on March 27, Min Aung Hlaing additionally stated he wouldn’t negotiate, however would wipe out terrorist teams.
Nonetheless, many democracies have proven their help for and are participating with the NUG and CRPH. And a minimum of within the eyes of the bulk in Myanmar, the PDF usually are not terrorists, however teams risking life and limb to battle the regime.
It seems, nonetheless, that Min Aung Hlaing is healthier at barking than biting; many junta troopers are being killed in battles in central Myanmar and ethnic minority areas. The navy has been combating a mounting variety of defectors in addition to a drop in recruitment because it turns into an object of common hatred.
His promise of a free and honest election with out threats and coercion is in marked distinction to his coup, which he nonetheless can’t justify.
Junta mouthpiece praises Min Aung Hlaing as Myanmar’s savior
In successive intervals below navy rule, Myanmar’s navy has repeatedly used the identical narrative to justify its coups—that it has no alternative however to take duty for the state because the nation is on the breaking point and falling below the management of international powers.
An editorial revealed within the March 30 subject of the navy’s mouthpiece, Myawady Each day, repeated the identical narrative, portraying the NLD, which received majorities in each the 2015 and 2020 common elections, as puppets of international powers and Min Aung Hlaing because the rescuer.
It argued that navy chief Min Aung Hlaing saved the nation simply because the puppet of international powers was about to take management of the state via dishonest means; that the individuals heartily welcomed Min Aung Hlaing’s rescue; and {that a} handful of terrorists teams, that are the puppets of international powers, are failing day-to-day.
Myanmar’s navy has all the time labeled democracy and human rights activists as stooges of international powers, and destroyers of Myanmar’s tradition and faith.
Whereas your complete nation is cursing and swearing at Min Aung Hlaing, the editorial claimed the alternative—that Min Aung Hlaing was heartily welcomed by the individuals. Although the editorial says PDF teams are being subdued day-to-day, the truth that the regime has to rely more and more on air raids in Sagaing and different components of the nation due to heavy casualties, that junta troopers are being compelled to cower behind sandbag-fortified outposts in cities together with Yangon, and that junta troopers and police dare not exit alone in public of their uniforms, simply point out the alternative, exhibiting that the Myawady Each day is filled with lies.
Completely different generations of generals present solidarity
A ceremony to pay respects to retired navy officers was held on March 27 as a part of the annual Armed Forces Day. Min Aung Hlaing attended the ceremony for the primary time because the coup, and former president and ex-general Thein Sein, who was as soon as thought-about a reformist, attended the ceremony for the primary time.
Twenty-five retired navy officers from the eras of former navy dictators U Ne Win and U Than Shwe attended the ceremony. Coup chief Min Aung Hlaing respectfully bowed down earlier than the retired navy officers. Thein Sein, who served as prime minister in Than Shwe’s regime, and former Main Common Thura Noticed Phyu, the Air Power chief of employees below Ne Win’s regime, gave recommendation. What Thein Sein suggested on the day is unknown.
The looks of ex-generals from the earlier Myanmar navy regime on the Armed Forces Day commemoration and subsequent ceremony hosted by the present regime on Sunday show that they’re all in solidarity with junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, who staged a coup that has to this point killed 1,700 individuals.
The ceremony could effectively have been a method for Min Aung Hlaing to make a pretense of unity—even when solely with the previous troopers—throughout the military, which has been demoralized within the face of public denunciation and rising defections because the coup.
As they left the corridor after the ceremony, Min Aung Hlaing and retired navy leaders cordially and respectfully greeted one another, displaying their solidarity. As traditional, former navy dictator Than Shwe and his deputy Maung Aye, who’re Thein Sein’s neighbors in Naypyitaw, didn’t attend the ceremony.
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