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Junta Watch
Min Aung Hlaing and Russian Overseas Minister Sergei Lavrov in Naypyitaw on Aug. 3. / Cincds
By The Irrawaddy 20 August 2022
Regime to exchange Fb with its personal social media platform
Unable to unfold propaganda on the social media platform Fb, which is synonymous with the web in Myanmar, the regime is looking for another.
On the junta’s most up-to-date press convention on Wednesday, spokesman Main-Normal Zaw Min Tun revealed the regime’s plan to ban Fb and substitute it with a homegrown social media platform.
Fb has barred Min Aung Hlaing from its website since 2018, and took down the official web page of the Myanmar navy and the accounts of senior navy leaders following the coup. Navy-owned companies had been additionally barred from promoting on Fb, and nationalist posts and pages had been additionally eliminated.
Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun has referred to as Fb the primary channel utilized by anti-military forces to instigate instability and violence.
Following the coup, the Myanmar navy shut off the web and phone traces and lower entry to main social media websites together with Fb. Additionally it is amending the Cybersecurity Legislation to incorporate a punishment of three years in jail for utilizing a digital non-public community (VPN) to entry the web.
Furthermore, the regime is routinely violating residents’ privateness by demanding to examine their telephones for VPNs or any content material deemed to be anti-military. Telephones are seized and homeowners detained if VPN apps are discovered—a severe human rights violation.
China, which has big affect over the regime, additionally bans Google, Fb, Twitter and Wikipedia and criminalizes unauthorized use of VPNs. It will not be stunning if the regime is taking cues from Beijing.
Junta to monopolize Myanmar’s gasoline market
Amid severe gasoline shortages and value hikes in Myanmar, the navy regime has shaped a committee to import gasoline from Russia chaired by former Lieutenant Normal Nyo Noticed, chairman of the military-owned conglomerate Myanmar Financial Company (MEC), in an try and monopolize the market.
Nyo Noticed is a long-time trusted aide of junta chief Senior Normal Min Aung Hlaing. As the person who manages the Myanmar navy’s companies, he performs a key position in financing the navy regime.
The committee additionally consists of military-linked cronies similar to Maung Maung Naing, CEO of Yetagon Power Co, who fronts companies owned by Aung Pyae Sone, the son of junta chief Min Aung Hlaing.
The committee is tasked with buying, storing and distributing Russian gasoline to the home market in addition to to the Myanmar navy and junta-controlled ministries.
At a regime assembly on Wednesday, Min Aung Hlaing blamed suppliers for the hovering gasoline costs in Myanmar, accusing them of manipulating the market. He informed the Myanmar individuals to not fear as a gradual provide of gasoline bought from Russia would arrive quickly. Time will inform.
Spokesman confesses coup
Min Aung Hlaing has repeatedly insisted to Myanmar’s individuals and the worldwide group that his ouster of the elected authorities on Feb. 1 final 12 months was not a coup, however a takeover consistent with the regulation. However junta spokesman Main Normal Zaw Min Tun appeared to depart from that line when he informed a regime press convention on Wednesday that the Nationwide League for Democracy had compelled the navy into staging a coup.
Because the putsch, the Myanmar navy has repeatedly mentioned the takeover was a authorized step that it was compelled to take after the NLD authorities failed to reply to its grievances over electoral fraud. However now, the regime has admitted that it was actually a coup.
As post-election tensions between the navy and the NLD escalated in January final 12 months, it was Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun who refused to rule out the opportunity of a coup.
Greater than 18 months for the reason that coup, the regime is confronted with rising resistance throughout the nation and a faltering economic system. In the meantime, persons are affected by a rise in the price of dwelling, together with hovering meals costs, because of the mismanagement of Min Aung Hlaing.
Myanmar, Russia to open consulates
Amid the worldwide condemnation of the Myanmar navy for its coup and of Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, Moscow and Naypyitaw are planning to open consulates in one another’s international locations, junta spokesman Main-Normal Zaw Min Tun informed a regime press convention on Wednesday.
Russia has supported the navy coup, and the Myanmar navy regime has returned the favor by backing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Recently, the 2 international locations have been selling financial cooperation along with navy and diplomatic ties.
With arms provided by Russia, the Myanmar navy has been combating resistance forces and killing civilians. Myanmar can be working to import gasoline from Russia to handle the nation’s gasoline disaster.
The regime can be planning to open Russian-language programs for resort and tourism workers because it hopes to draw Russian vacationers to Myanmar.
Simply because the navy regime was drawing worldwide ire over its hangings of 4 pro-democracy activists, Russian Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Naypyitaw in early August to point out Moscow’s assist for the junta. Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing additionally urged the Russian international minister to maneuver the Russian Embassy from Yangon to Naypyitaw.
In brief, Russia and the Myanmar navy have actually turn into companions in crime.
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