Blog Elements – Page 96

Throughout October, the regime routinely targeted civilians in an ongoing campaign to undermine their fundamental freedoms. Despite the daily challenges, the people are resilient and have not given up their fight for democracy. The Burma Army knows that they are losing the war they have waged, and in response, they have scaled up attacks to try and instill terror and fear.
The Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) remains committed to documenting the assaults and attacks indicative of military impunity. Evidence is necessary to ensure justice for victims and survivors.
While carrying out these horrendous attacks, the junta is trying to present an illusion to the international community that the situation in the country is normal when, in reality, it is anything but the contrary. The junta invited government officials, diplomats, ethnic revolution organizations, and even NGOs to an event commemorating the eighth anniversary of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA). The NCA is not a successful pathway or platform to peace in Burma, but in their attempts to appear legitimate and committed to ‘peace,’ the junta held a lavish ceremony.

Download (English Version)

Among those who have fled their homes in northern Shan State, several hundred people have reportedly crossed the border into China seeking safety

Thousands of people are feared to have been displaced by four days of fighting in northern Myanmar, including several hundred who reportedly fled to China, the United Nations (UN) said on Monday.

On Friday, three powerful ethnic armed organisations attacked junta troops across a swathe of northern Shan State, home to a planned billion-dollar rail link, part of Beijing’s Belt and Road infrastructure project.

The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Arakan Army (AA) and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) have since said they have seized several military posts and key roads.

The three groups—which analysts say can call on at least 15,000 fighters between them—have fought regularly with the military over autonomy and control of resources.

“As of 30 October, over 6,200 individuals have reportedly been newly displaced” by the fighting, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a statement.

“Additionally, several hundred people have reportedly crossed the border into China in search of safety.”

It said it expected more people to be displaced amid ongoing clashes.

One man in the town of Hsenwi—which sits on a vital road to China—told AFP on Monday that he was sheltering with around 100 others in a Buddhist monastery.

“We did not have a place to escape,” said the man, who requested anonymity for security reasons. “We tried to leave but we could not drive out of the town as there was ongoing fighting.”

China’s foreign ministry said on Friday that it was “closely following” the fighting and called on all sides to prevent the situation from escalating.

Myriad ethnic armed organisations operate across Myanmar’s ethnic states and have for decades clashed with the government.

Since the military seized power in 2021, several of these groups have allied with People’s Defence Forces that have sprung up to battle the junta.

More than 1.6 million people have been displaced by the violence that has flared since the military ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government, according to a UN estimate.

Myanmar Now News