Myanmar Spring Chronicle – September 20
Published by MoeMaKa on September 21, 2023
The Sinking of Hkamti-Monywa Flat Ship Raises Concerns of Tribalism
On the afternoon of September 19, a tragic incident unfolded along the Chindwin River, where approximately 100 civilians traveling with a convoy of military vehicles from Hkamti to Monywa saw their vessel, a flat-bottomed boat commonly referred to as “Flat Gyi,” sink. This devastating accident resulted in the disappearance of over 90 people from the vessel, including those aboard for transportation and trade purposes.
The ship’s tragic fate occurred near numerous villages known for their support of the military-backed USDP party. Among the passengers on board were individuals working for military council departments in the region, students en route to universities in Monywa, and individuals seeking medical treatment in the city. The convoy leaving Hkamti consisted of military council logistics vehicles, civilian vehicles, and cargo transports. It has also been reported in certain sources that the ship was carrying jade mined in the Hpakant area, destined for transportation to Yangon.
According to news reports, the vessel’s sinking was attributed to it striking a submerged rock, exacerbated by the substantial weight of the cargo it carried. News reports have referred to the missing individuals as civilians, while some sources have designated them as “Pyu Saw Htee” members. In the context of the incident, Pyu Saw Htee Village generally pertains to communities supporting the military and the USDP party. Furthermore, the term “Pyu Saw Htee” can also allude to members of the Pyu Saw Htee armed group. In the Upper Anyar region, Pyu Saw Htee armed groups are primarily formed in Pyu Saw Htee Villages. In contrast, villages supporting the PDFs are recognized as PDF villages or communities backing the NLD party. These villages are currently facing military council offensives.
Remarkably, the sunken vessel was civilian in nature. According to some local residents, not enough rescue efforts were undertaken by the authorities. This unfortunate incident, involving nearly 100 passengers, qualifies as a major maritime accident. However, in the midst of political turmoil, the victims are predominantly perceived as supporters of the military council and the USDP party, and residents of Pyu Saw Htee active villages, rather than as civilians and passengers. The military council has been conducting clearance operations against villages supportive of the PDFs, treating them as if they were enemy territories and properties. This situation underscores the viewpoint that those who perished in the accident were not mere civilians but supporters of the military council, escorted by a security convoy provided by the military council.
This incident exemplifies the ongoing discord in areas like Sagaing and northern Magway, where the majority of Burmans reside. Here, attacks and blockades are contingent on the political allegiances of each village. Similar situations are being observed in Gangaw and Pauk Townships in Magway Region and Mingin, Hkamti, and Kanbalu Townships in Sagaing Region.
The disparities in political support that emerged after the military coup have sowed discord between villages. Residents have been compelled to relocate to areas that share their political sympathies, and there have been recent reports of attacks and looting in certain villages. Such events, instead of being divided along group lines, may foster tribalism, blurring the line between civilians and armed forces. Among Burmans, these actions could be likened to attacks on different ethnic groups based on differences in political support. Recognizing the parallels between these behaviors and this concept is a point of concern in the construction of a future democracy. It is crucial to identify and discard notions that divert from the goals of those striving for a democratic federal state and the ideologies that may deviate from the main objective.