WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW IN MYANMAR?
PLEASE DONβT SCROLL DOWN. EVEN REBLOG IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED
Disclaimer : I am just a regular student and donβt know a lot about politics. But I educated myself on this topic now but some of the words may be not the correct for political use. And please ignore my verb tenses.
Feb 1
It was supposed to be a normal regular day for us. But I woke up to my brother waking me up at 6 in the morning with the news of our President U Win Myint, our State Counsellor, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and many other members of the parliament were detained by the military in the early hours of the morning.
It was a very shocking news. Never in my life I had imagined this situation happened to me. Many people were panicked and panic buying on the streets and in the market. Then,οΏΌ suddenly, all our Internet connections and telecommunication services were cut off. Also, our national news news television channels were being compromised. The only television channel that was broadcasting was οΏΌMWD television channel. οΏΌAnd it was controlled by the military and it only broadcasted the brainwashing songsοΏΌοΏΌ and anthems about military.
οΏΌ And the breaking news came in and they said they said that our country has been declared a state of emergency and the military will take over the country for a year. The junta, Min Aung Hlaing, said that the reason for the military coup was because of the οΏΌalleged election vote fraud that was held on November 8, 2020 in which NLD had won by landslideοΏΌ. He stated that the vote fraud was over 10 M votes. He had repeatedly said to recount of votes but he had been rejected by the Union Election Commission and that is why he had to take over the country.οΏΌ
At the time I thought all our hope is lost and we will be in under the dictatorship for forever because I donβt believe the one sentence that came out of his mouth that he would only take over the country for a year. I think that he would continue to do so for many more years.
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Some backstory
We actually just got our hint of democracy back in 2015 when National Legue for Democracy (The party led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi) were elected. All of our restrictions were lifted little by little and the country was not isolated anymore.
Before that, it was ruled by the military and we faced many oppression. Some examples are ; we had to pay about 1000$ just to get one sim card and had to pay penalty bill for about 2000$ for leaving the country if you are working under the government. (not even immigration, just visit) They also suck the country dry by stealing and selling national resources. And their sons, daughters and relatives were treated like a royalty and given privileges wherever they go.
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There was also an 88uprising which is against the military coup. At the time, many were hurt and murdered unfairly. The military used armed weapons on innocent civilians mercilessly. The military starts the violence on purpose. There was even a history that blood ran river and beheaded heads were displayed on spike.
Back to Feb 1
The junta expected us to go out and protest as we did in 88uprising, but this time, Myanmar people chose not to do just that, because we believe it will give the same result.
So what do we do?
The military gave back our internet and telecom services about 4 hours later but he bombarded us with fake news. Some blue marked accounts were controlled by them. We were waiting for any news and orders from the members of NLD party and from international. But none came except that they strongly condemn the military coup and want the arrested persons free. So, we took matters to our hands and start shouting into the world about whatβs happening in Myanmar through our social media platforms.
Still, the junta kept on doing what he want and replaced our Ministers with the ones he can control. Our Ministers of health, Finance, Foreign affairs, etc were replaced.
Police, soldiers, tanks, armed forces were stationed all over the country.
He also stopped all arrival flights to Myanmar. We no longer received Covid 19 vaccine we were supposed to get.
The day passsed with uncertainty and fear
Feb 2
Everything is still the same.
We are still calling for help on social media, praying our voices be heard.
But the doctors and nurses started the βCivil Disobedience Movementβ by no longer going to the hospitals. They stated they will not work under the military dictatorship. And urge the others to join the movement. The purpose is that, the military canβt control the country if it no longer operates normally.
But on that day, only very few, numbers in ten were joined. The military kept on detaining more ppl
We also started our kinda ritual βPot bangingβ to shoo away the devils (the military) at 8 pm everyday. It shows our rejection to the military
Feb 3
There were news that our president and state counsellor were forced to attend law courts under ridiculous crimes. The junta wanted to keep them detained as long as possible.
We continued to urge people to do Civil Disobedience Movement. More have joined.
We are still calling for help on social media. We feel very helpless.
We also made a Scoutβs Honour Sign / Three Finger Salute that shows our rejection to the coup.
Feb 4
The military gave order to ban Facebook from Myanmar. Well, you see, over tens of millions of people in Myanmar use facebook. It is our main social media app. Banning causes blockage of news and freedom of speech. We still use it with VPN. And many moved to twitter and Instagram.
Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) is getting momentum now that a lot of health care professionals have joined. We urge more to join.
Feb 5
UN Security council called for immediate release of all those arbitrarily detained but still no response from Junta.
He knows that our voices are now heard through social media so he decided to ban Twitter and Instagram again, essentially blocking us out.
Feb 6
The military now released an order to cut down our internet for 2 days. It actually happened.
People started to protest on the streets, they are all peaceful protests.
There were fake news of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi being released. We had no ways of confirming it was real or fake but we all assumed it was fake.
Feb 7
People are still doing peaceful protests.
We got our internet services back at 2 pm that day.
We urged more people to join CDM since Feb 8 is monday and urged to not go to work.
Feb 8
The military starts to crack down the peaceful protesters using violence. They used water cannons on peaceful protesters in Nay Pyi Taw. Many were injured.
CDM is getting momentum. Other departments have also joined.
The Junta released a law 144, that says no gathering of over 5 people, and curfew between 8 pm and 4 am. But we rejected that because they are not our legal government.
Feb 9
A lot of departments have joined CDM and most services have almost stopped.
We are still protesting peacefully but the military used Water Cannons, Tear Gas Bombs to crack us down. They hit the protesters. And some fired rubber bullets to protesters. Violence broke out all through the country.
One police fired live ammunition in Nay Pyi Taw and shot a young lady in the head, causing brain death. It was headshot, it was intentional. It was murder. He also shot other protesters, 3 others were injured. I will never forget this day. How can armed police shoot defenseless civilians?
Neither the military or the police said anything regarding that case.
Feb 10
People were very angry on what happened to the young lady but still resolved not to do any violence. We protested peacefully.
Almost all of the country have joined CDM and the military is demanding them to get back to work, once with a threat, once with a bait.
Our news channels MWD and MRTV aired all false news. They were controlled by the military.
A draft of a new Cyber Law was released. It basically controls all our rights to have freedom of expression. It is designed so that they can arrest anyone. We will not have any cyber security. Or freedom. Or privacy. We shouted our disagreement on social medias and I believed we were heard.
Feb 11
We kept on doing peaceful protests. There were no brutal crackdown. Things were relatively quiet. Or so we thought.
Our CDM is almost at its success. So, the military tried another tactics. They arrested people leading CDM and UEC members at night without reason. They came in the middle of the night. And some even entered the house by climbing fence or breaking doors. This is violence. The police are using violence to arrest innocent citizens. People were living in fear of what would happen to them at night.
There were also news of the votes being burned and replaced with false ones. The junta is trying every way to maintain his coup.
Feb 12
It was a very eventful day. We woke up to the news of over 23,000 prisoners being released. Now, it is clear that the military wants us to do the same actions as ppl did back in 1988 uprising, which is violence.
In the afternoon, police arrested students in front of the Mawlamyine University and trapped many inside it. There are armed soldiers blocking the entrance to not let them go out. People protested peacefully to release students but they pushed them and fired rubber bullets. People keep on protesting and in the evening, they had come to agree that they would release everyone. Just then, they fired another round of bullets, which fortunately were rubber, but still hurt many students and civilians. One man was shot 13 times.
Now, there is no police or traffic control police or none on the streets. People were given no protection. We only have each other. Illegal midnight arrests without warrant are double / triple times of Feb 11. Though a lot less got kidnapped/arrested due to the unity of people.
Morever, as the prisoners were released that day, more violence and arson threats were seen. From two that were caught that day, one carrying a long sword. People said those who were caught seem to be high or on drugs. It has yet to be confirmed. There are threats/news of sticks coated with gasoline being thrown into houses after lighted. 5 houses were burned down that night, cause still unknown.
A shot of politics : UNHRC holds a special session for Myanmar involving 47 countries. They know everything that has been happening in Myanmar. They have come to a draft resolution regarding the situation of Myanmar. Just then, the so-called UN representative of Myanmar said we dissociate from the resolution. He never mentioned about the military coup. All he said was about COVID-19. He is controlled by theοΏΌοΏΌοΏΌοΏΌ military. As you csn see, how can a Myanmar representative disagree and turn a blind eye to everything? There are six countries who dissociate with the resolution.οΏΌ
Feb 13
Protests are still peaceful. There is no brutal crackdown today.
We had news of thugs (released prisoners) drugging the water tanks of our neighborhood. People banged pots and pans to alert others. It happened just after 8 pm. People chased them and tried to detain them but only caught 3 of 5. Location of 2 of them are unknown.
Then, the neighborhood across our road ( I live on the main road) banged their pots again and there were shouting all through out. They chased away one thug. He casually walked passed our houses and joined others and drove away. After that, more alarms go out twice.
It is now 2:30 am in the morning. I canβt sleep because I thought I heard something in front of our house. Like the sound of water pouring. I was afraid it would be gasoline ( there are many places where they tried to set fire on) I also headd some scratching sounds. My brother came to me with the same concern and we waited in silence for a while until we decided it is either bird, cat or rat. But still I canβt sleep because I am afraid something would happen while I was asleep.
Feb 14
Everything is relatively peaceful. Until it isnβt.
We had news that our internet services and electricity will be cut down starting from 1 am Feb 15.
Our CDM is almost at its success so the military has planned to kidnap everyone who led CDM and other staffs to get to work on Monday.
We saw trucks carrying soldiers in various places.
A giant fireball came down from the sky and set a building on fire.
There are news of thugs everywhere.
And in MyitKyiNa, the police and soldiers raided the electricity power cooperation (EPC) and tried to cut down electricity. And they opened around 40 rounds of bulllets on civilians. Rubber or live ammunition, still not confirmed. But seemed to be live ammunition.
We are living in constant state of fear. The police are arresting people at night. The fired innocent people. There are criminals roaming our streets freely. They set houses on fire. We are not safe. We need help. Please hear us. Please help us.
Feb 15
We had news that six flights were recorded from Kunming to Yangon during internet cut down in this early morning. Many flights from China were recorded before, and they said that they are importing seafood. But we were suspicious that it was armed weapons. The fact is remained to be confirmed. But China and Russia has been actively supporting Junta since the start of the coup.
Since morning, military trucks, police cars, tanks, water cannon vehicles and armed forces were patrolling around the cities.
In the afternoon, they arrested students who were peacefully protesting in Nay Pyi Taw, but released them in the evening.
But they did a brutal crackdown of protesters in Mandalay. The police and soldiers used air force guns on protesters who are running away and hiding. They beat them down, stepped on them and arrested some. One of the police was disguised as a civilian and he was actively shooting people with air force guns. Many people were injured.
In Keng Tung, the police beat up and arrested four students without reason. They were going home from a protest. One of them is suffering from a heart disease, so people pleaded to let them go but they didnβt.
It is said to have another nation-wide internet cut down again from 1 am to 9 am. We are living in fear of what would happen to us in the night.
We also had rumors that the drafted Cyber Law is going to be published. It is only 15 days and he has been manipulating the whole country as he wants. We need justice. Please hear us.
