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Junta Watch
Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing inspects a cowshed on the naval base in Coco Islands on April 9.
By The Irrawaddy 15 April 2023
Junta boss prays for longevity
Min Aung Hlaing and his spouse Kyu Kyu Hla let loose two turtles as a part of yadaya, or the Burmese type of voodoo, throughout their go to to the Coco Islands on Sunday. Extensively practiced in Myanmar, yadaya refers to rituals performed to delay, neutralize and stop misfortune. A succession of Myanmar navy leaders, who’re superstitious as could be, have been large followers of yadaya. Min Aung Hlaing isn’t any exception.
Since turtles are an emblem of longevity in lots of cultures, Min Aung Hlaing and his spouse are believed to have performed their newest yadaya ritual within the hope of having fun with lengthy lives, free from the hazard of being arrested.
The junta boss was a eager follower of yadaya lengthy earlier than the coup he led in February 2021. He’s identified to obey the prescriptions of his astrological adviser, Vasipake Sayadaw U Kovida, who is legendary for his vows of silence. Not too long ago, feminine members of the family of junta troopers have been barred from sporting cheik htamein (a mode of ladies’s sarong), whereas a whole lot of royal poinciana timber alongside Aung San Suu Kyi highway in Mandalay have been minimize down. Observers seen each strikes as yadaya rituals geared toward cursing jailed State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
Coco Islands journey rings hole
Amid reviews that China is behind the Myanmar regime’s improve of navy installations within the Coco Islands, junta boss Min Aung Hlaing traveled to the islands on Sunday to unveil a monument marking the assembly level of the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal.
It has lengthy been rumored that Beijing is constructing a spy base on the Coco Islands to observe India – which can clarify why Min Aung Hlaing performed down his presence on the ceremony, merely saying the islands play a vital position in worldwide maritime commerce and the marine pursuits of Myanmar.
Earlier, junta spokesman Main Basic Zaw Min Tun insisted that claims China is concerned within the buildup of infrastructure on the islands are baseless. China has additionally rejected Indian reviews that Beijing is utilizing the Coco Islands as a “listening put up” within the area.
Regime chief seeks divine blessings for his crimes
Whereas some 100 folks, together with youngsters as younger as two and pregnant girls, have been being killed in a junta air strike on Sagaing Area’s Kantbalu Township on Tuesday, junta boss Min Aung Hlaing and his air pressure chief Tun Aung have been consecrating a pagoda in Lashio in northern Shan State.
Boasting of himself because the defender of Myanmar’s Buddhism, Min Aung Hlaing has been consecrating one pagoda after one other for the reason that coup. He apparently has two motives for doing so. First, he hopes to win the hearts and minds of the nation’s spiritual majority. Given that he’s overseeing a brutal navy marketing campaign in opposition to his personal folks marked by common atrocities in opposition to civilians, this ambition is unlikely to bear fruit.
Second, he’s searching for divine blessings to maintain his rule.
He may be hoping that as a Buddhist, consecrating pagodas may assist offset his sins.
On Monday, his regime additionally killed 9 civilians in air raids on Chin State’s Falam Township.
Junta will increase navy funds to US$2.7 billion
The navy received the lion’s share of the funds and the rise got here after the regime chief’s vow to crush resistance to navy rule. Learn extra right here
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