Police officers (background) take position along a road as protesters take cover behind makeshift barricades during a crackdown on demonstrations by protesters against the military coup in Yangon on March 16, 2021. (Photo by STR / AFP)
(by David Tun in Yangon)
March 16 – As Myanmar enters its 43rd day of protests, neither the people nor the military are willing to back off, while marches and city-wide protests are now absent from hub cities, such as Yangon, as security personnel continue their brutal campaign to quell dissent, several pockets of resistance remain.
As the death toll rapidly rose to over 180, people are now concentrating on bolstering the defenses of their neighborhoods, as well as providing food, water and other necessities to not only civil servants, who are part of the CDM, but also in places like Hlaing Tharyar, where martial law has been declared.
The Money Business
The Junta government, through the Central Bank, announced that all financial documents, especially for money transfers in and out of Myanmar, of all INGOs and NGOs are to be submitted to the government. Actions against large foreign entities are also due to increase, as the state-owned media claimed that the Open Society Foundation (OSF), funded by George Soros, is guilty of providing financial support to the CDM.
Arrest warrants have been issued for all 11 OSF staff members. The state-media reported that the foundation withdrew 1.4 million US dollars from its account, at the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank, just as the CDM started up, and the account has not been approved by the Central Bank for the deposit of around US$5 million. A number of accounts relating to the OSF in other private banks have been seized, confiscating total assets worth around US$3.8 million.
The military regime had also claimed that George Soros, and his son Alexander Soros, met with State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi multiple times, indicating that they will be pulling all strings to uncover financial connections to the National League for Democracy.
Meanwhile, several branches of KBZ Bank across Myanmar reopened Tuesday. The head office in Kamayut Township of Yangon was crowded. After a while, the bank stopped dispensing cash and closed its doors. There was an unconfirmed report that people left inside were arrested and taken away.
There has been no statement from KBZ, and no response to Thai PBS World’s enquiries.
Myanmar Buddhist group signals break with authorities after bloody crackdown
(Reuters) – Myanmar’s most powerful Buddhist monks’ association called on the junta to end violence against protesters and accused an “armed minority” of torture and killing innocent civilians since last month’s coup, media said on Wednesday.
Keep on the Pressure
As the CRPH (Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw) and international allies continue their efforts to bring the military generals before international courts, like the ICC, the CRPH announced that businesses paying taxes and other forms of dealings with the junta government will not be recognized by a legitimate civilian government.
The Sangha Mahayanaka, the governing body of Buddhist monks in Myanmar, issued a statement today saying that they will be ceasing all activities, due to the ongoing political turmoil, effectively joining the CDM.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres says that the military regime is acting against the wishes of the UNSC, to exercise control and find solutions through dialogue, urging UN member states to push harder on the military to allow access by a UN envoy team, as well as many other actions.
A total of 488 CSOs collectively issued a statement, expressing dismay over the UNSC’s failure to take action and condemning the stances of China, Russia, India and Vietnam, which have been blocking action by the Security Council.
The Global Centre for Responsibility to Protect (R2P), however, says that “Myanmar’s military has manifestly failed to uphold its responsibility to protect and bears responsibility for the commission of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.”
The Traitor
The State-media also announced, via its nightly news, that Dr. Sasa, the envoy to the United Nations for the CRPH, is now a traitor to the nation and that he has been indicted by a court in Nay Pyi Taw Township on a charge of high treason.
Dr. Sasa responded that he is proud to be declared a traitor by an illegitimate junta.