Hello, and from this moment on, we will be reading and presenting m.CDM’s domestic news.
The news we will present today includes:
In northern Ye, a junta military column was ambushed, with about 20 soldiers killed or wounded; in Seikphyu and Peinzalot as well, junta troops were attacked and 8 were killed.
The CRPH says it will cooperate in implementing measures under Article 33 of the ILO Constitution so that all those connected to the terrorist military regime can be held accountable.
Burma Campaign UK warns that the junta’s announcement that State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been moved to house arrest is merely a public relations offensive and political maneuver.
The Myanmar military has reportedly hired Donald Trump’s associate Roger Stone as a lobbyist, along with other news we will present.
- Junta column ambushed in northern Ye; around 20 soldiers killed or wounded
m.CDM, May 1
The Mon Liberation Army announced that a junta military column was ambushed between Aung Thayar village and Kanin Tamot village in northern Ye Township, Mon State, and around 20 soldiers were killed.
According to the statement, at 12:03 p.m. on April 28, joint revolutionary forces ambushed a junta column of about 400 troops advancing from Light Infantry Battalion 106.
The attack was reportedly carried out jointly by Special Regional Military Strategy (33), Battalion 8001, Ye Guerrilla Force (YGF) assault unit, Mon State Revolutionary Force (MSRF), Ramanya Mon Army (RMA) Battalion 901, and the Mon Liberation Army.
It said that during the battle, about 20 junta troops were killed or wounded, while the revolutionary allied forces were able to carry out the operation successfully without casualties. - Junta troops attacked in Seikphyu and Peinzalot; 8 killed
m.CDM, May 1
In Seikphyu Township, Magway Region, a junta column that had come out on patrol from KaPaSa 22 was attacked with landmines by joint revolutionary forces.
The attack took place at 10:40 a.m. on May 1, when a junta column of about 50 troops reached near Chaung Sone junction, where resistance forces had been lying in wait with pipe mines and pressure mines.
According to Pauk Township Ground News Information, 6 junta soldiers were killed on the spot, and many others were seriously injured.
It is reported that because the junta side sent additional reinforcements of about 80 troops in 3 vehicles, the resistance forces were unable to clear and seize weapons and ammunition.
The attack was jointly carried out by Bo Nyar Pauk group from southern Pauk Township, the township PaKaPha group, and the Seikphyu Lone Tiger group, and they reportedly withdrew successfully without casualties.
At present, revolutionary forces have temporarily blocked travel along the Seikphyu–Pauk road and the Pathein–Monywa road because junta troops are frequently conducting operations there.
In Peinzalot town, Bago Region, the Spring Warriors Column reportedly raided the Ywar Ma checkpoint near Infantry Battalion 264.
The raid took place at night on April 27, and junta troops, including a sergeant major, fled for their lives.
Then, on the morning of April 29, the resistance forces re-entered and cleared the checkpoint, where they were able to visually confirm the bodies of 2 dead junta soldiers. - Six civilians, including five children, killed in Falam airstrike; bombing also carried out in Depayin, Ye-U, and Shwebo
m.CDM, May 1
In Falam Township, Chin State, the junta carried out airstrikes on Khawpuichhip village and Zimpi village in the Hualngoram area, killing 6 civilians, including 5 children.
The attack took place shortly after 3 p.m. on May 1, when a jet fighter from Tada-U Air Base dropped two 500-pound bombs, damaging at least 10 houses.
As a result of the bombing, 5 children between the ages of 3 and 10 and a 29-year-old young man were killed, while at least 10 others suffered serious injuries.
In addition, the junta was reportedly burning down Thlanrawn village in Falam Township on the afternoon of May 1.
Similarly, in Depayin Township, Sagaing Region, the junta carried out an airstrike near Phoktat Taw village at around 4 p.m. on April 30, the full moon day of Kasone.
A MiG-29 jet fighter from Meiktila-Shante Air Base reportedly carried out four consecutive strikes from the air. No civilians were injured, but some houses were damaged.
Likewise, at around 12 noon on May 1, a jet fighter dropped two bombs on Zin Gyi Kone in the western part of Shwebo Township.
Later that afternoon, the junta also reportedly bombed villages in the western part of Ye-U Township with two jet fighters. - Kim Aris calls for proof that detained State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is alive
m.CDM, May 1
Kim Aris, the son of detained State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, has called for proof that his mother is still alive.
He made the call because he remains concerned about her current condition.
Although the junta announced that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s prison sentence had been reduced and that she had been moved to a designated house, Kim Aris said it is still impossible to accept or trust that information.
On May 1, Kim said that moving her is not the same as releasing her. A sentence reduction and a transfer to an undisclosed location do not change the situation. He said his mother remains a hostage, still detained and cut off from the outside world, and that as her son he has received no information at all.
He also stressed that a sentence reduction is not freedom, and that she is still being held hostage.
“My request is simple,” Kim Aris said. “Provide credible proof that my mother is alive, allow contact with her, and release her. If she is alive, show reliable evidence to confirm it.” - Burma Campaign UK warns junta’s house-arrest claim is merely a PR offensive and political maneuver
m.CDM, May 1
Burma Campaign UK has warned that the terrorist military regime—repackaged under a new name—announcing that State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been moved to house arrest is simply a public-relations operation and a political game.
Although the junta says she has been transferred to house arrest, Burma Campaign UK pointed out that in reality she remains illegally detained, and only the place of detention has changed.
It said that junta leader Min Aung Hlaing, after sham elections in which he appointed himself president, has been releasing some political prisoners in a calculated, quota-based manner for political gain, while more than 14,000 political prisoners still remain in prison.
At the same time, Burma Campaign UK criticized the military for continuing to intensify airstrikes targeting healthcare facilities relied on by the public and civilians.
It also said that the military has recently begun using a new “double-tap” bombing tactic, carrying out repeated strikes and deploying larger numbers of aircraft.
“The Burmese military is using its usual old tactic of taking one step forward and two steps back in order to win praise,” said Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK.
It noted that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi had previously spent 15 years under house arrest, which world leaders strongly condemned, and said that no government would seriously regard this latest move as progress.
Burma Campaign UK also explained that while the junta is trying to present Myanmar as if it were governed by a new civilian administration, in reality 86 percent of ministers leading ministries are from the military or its proxy party, and 30 percent of them are individuals under sanctions for human-rights violations and involvement in the 2021 coup. - CRPH says it will work to implement Article 33 of the ILO Constitution to hold all those linked to the military regime accountable
m.CDM, May 1
The Committee Representing the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) has announced that it will cooperate in implementing measures under Article 33 of the ILO Constitution so that all those connected with the terrorist military regime can be held accountable, for the sake of workers from all walks of life.
This was included in a message issued by the CRPH for the 136th International Workers’ Day, which falls on May 1.
In its message, the CRPH also said that together with workers inside and outside the country, it will strive to completely eradicate the authoritarian terrorist system and build a federal democratic union in which just societies can flourish.
It also said that this is a time not only to learn lessons from the changing circumstances of successive eras in the past, but also to jointly and practically shape the future of the country and its people.
For that reason, the message emphasized its firm belief that the collective unity of all people, including workers, is the greatest weapon capable of breaking any form of repression and restriction.
Since the military coup, workers across the country have been facing daily labor-rights violations, including fewer job opportunities, oppression in the workplace, wage exploitation, excessive overtime, sexual harassment against women workers, unsafe working conditions, lack of social protection, soaring living costs, and declining incomes. - CRPH and the Karenni State Democratic Party meet to discuss future work plans
m.CDM, May 1
The CRPH announced that it met with the Karenni State Democratic Party to discuss the current political situation and future work plans.
According to the statement, the meeting took place on the morning of April 30 via video conference as an initial discussion on the current political landscape and future processes.
At the meeting, CRPH Chair U Aung Kyi Nyunt delivered opening remarks, while Secretary U Tun Myint gave greetings, and Karenni State Democratic Party Chair Khun Thei Yal also delivered remarks.
Afterward, attendees from both sides held a cordial discussion and exchanged views on the current political situation and on future work plans for mutual cooperation between the CRPH and the Karenni State Democratic Party.
The CRPH said the initial meeting was attended by CRPH Chair U Aung Kyi Nyunt and members of the committee, as well as Karenni State Democratic Party Chair Khun Thei Yal and party members. - NUG issues policy on prevention, protection against, and eradication of forced labor
m.CDM, May 1
The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Social Welfare and Labor under the National Unity Government (NUG) issued a policy on the prevention, protection against, and eradication of forced labor on May 1.
It said that forced labor in its various forms constitutes a serious violation of human rights, labor rights, and children’s rights.
The statement explained that the policy was issued in order to protect people from forced labor that harms an individual’s freedom, dignity, and security.
It added that the policy was drafted in accordance with existing domestic laws and directives, as well as the provisions of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
It also said the policy is based on United Nations Security Council resolutions concerning violations against children in armed conflict.
According to the statement, the policy must be respected and followed not only by NUG government bodies, but also by all defense and security personnel.
Likewise, local administrative bodies, business owners, and humanitarian organizations have also been instructed to comply without fail.
The NUG said that this is a legally binding policy, and that any violations can be reported and will be effectively investigated and prosecuted.
It also said that victims of such violations will be provided with physical, psychological, social, educational, and livelihood rehabilitation.
The statement added that these protections will be carried out in cooperation with relevant departments. - JFM urges Thai authorities to investigate and block Thai public company’s share transfer to companies linked to Myanmar arms broker Kyaw Min Oo
m.CDM, May 1
Justice For Myanmar (JFM) has called on Thai authorities to block and investigate a Thai public company’s transfer of shares and investment approval to companies linked to Myanmar arms broker Kyaw Min Oo.
JFM made the call after shareholders of Advanced Connection Corporation Public Company Limited (ACC), a company listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand, approved on April 27 the sale of major stakes to two companies in the Sky Aviator network, which is led by Kyaw Min Oo.
The decision to approve the private share placement reportedly passed with 87.16 percent in favor and 12.84 percent against.
JFM pointed out that the approval went through despite concerns about money laundering, unanswered questions about the ultimate beneficial owners of the investors, advice from the company’s financial adviser not to approve the deal, and instructions from Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requiring ACC to provide more sufficient information about the shareholders.
In a detailed statement on the deal between ACC and the Sky Aviator network, Justice For Myanmar said that Sky Avia Trading Pte. Ltd. and Heli Asia Trading Pte. Ltd., both Singapore-based companies, would become the largest shareholder bloc in ACC through recently established Thai nominee companies operating under the same names.
JFM also warned that unless Thai regulators intervene, the two companies in the Sky Aviator network would acquire a combined 23.25 percent stake worth 300 million baht, or about US$9.3 million.
It is understood that this share sale forms part of a broader private placement totaling 350 million baht, or about US$10.8 million, involving Thai individual investor Wichai Wanavit. - Myanmar military hires Donald Trump associate Roger Stone as lobbyist
m.CDM, May 1
The terrorist military regime has reportedly hired lobbyist Roger Stone in an effort to rebuild relations with the U.S. government and have sanctions lifted.
According to Bloomberg, Roger Stone—widely known as a close associate of Donald Trump—was hired through DCI Group AZ LLC.
This appears to be an attempt to address the international payment difficulties and blocked weapons purchases caused by tough U.S. sanctions.
Roger Stone is well known in American politics as a self-described “dirty trickster”, infamous for spreading disinformation and smearing opponents.
In 2019, he was prosecuted on seven charges, including lying to Congress, obstructing justice, and threatening witnesses in connection with the 2016 election.
He was sentenced in 2020 to 40 months in prison, but was later spared jail after receiving clemency from President Donald Trump.
The Myanmar military had previously hired the Canadian Dickens & Madson group for US$2 million, and the Washington-based DCI Group for US$3 million per year, but those efforts did not produce the results it had hoped for.
Political observers say that hiring a political fixer with a criminal record is an attempt by the military to cover up its crimes and mislead the United States.
It is reported that in the first quarter of this year alone, Roger Stone received nearly US$1.2 million in fees through Drake Ventures.
Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department has issued a warning advising against all travel to Myanmar because of armed conflict and lawless conditions in the country.
The news presented above was contributed by Ko Thit and Lu Lay.