Military Coup and Local situation

Sagaing Region Tamu township, Namphalong, Ward No - 12 (A) Temporary address: Ward No -2 Moreh, Manipur, India Email: ksdfburma@gmail.com

Situation Update in Tamu District on the India-Burma border after the February 1 military coup (February-July 2021)

Summary This briefing paper gives an overview of the escalating conflict situation in Tamu District of Sagaing Region, bordering India, after the military coup.

After the military unlawfully seized power on February 1, 2021, and formed their ruling council, the authorities have forcefully and unlawfully arrested activists, women, youth and community group members.

Due to the blocking and then banning of public protests, people have turned to armed resistance against the military dictatorship; some have died or been seriously wounded.

Almost daily attacks on civilians’ houses in Tamu town have caused many to flee and seek refuge across the Indian border in neighbouring Moreh, as well as to flee and hide in their farms.

People have used all available weapons to fight against the military, even in the town. However, unable to match the regime’s weaponry, they have had to flee to Moreh, where they have been helped by the Hill Tribal Council and the Kuki community.

On June 1, in accordance with the demand of the NUG Defence Ministry, the Kuki National Army (KNA-Burma) gave military training to the People’s Defence Force (PDF). Since June 20, the PDF has been carrying out guerrilla activities.

The number of those who have suffering abuses including unlawful arrest, beating, interrogation, extortion and killing at the hands of the regime’s troops has been increasing day by day.

The Kuki Youth Network urges the government of India, the world’s largest democracy, and the Manipur State government to allow provision of humanitarian aid to those fleeing from the unlawful killings of the military regime. We also urge them not to bargain away our rights, and to stand firmly on the side of the struggle to return Burma to the path of democracy.

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(Location of fighting and displacement in Tamu District)

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Introduction On February 1, 2021, Commander in Chief General Min Aung Hlaing unlawfully seized power, and the next day announced the formation of the new State Administration Council, fully imposing military dictatorship.

Since then, we Kuki student and youth groups have joined with local people in struggling to overthrow the military dictators. Starting on February 6, under the name of the Students’ Strike Committee, we held peaceful demonstrations in Tamu town and surrounding villages. On February 20, we started holding sit-in protests in front of the General Administration Department offices – the regime’s ruling apparatus – and the Myanmar Economic Bank.

However, former USDP MP U Khin Maung Shwe (aka U Baw Ka) and other USDP leaders urged the military commanders to replace their local troops, complaining they were not able to maintain order. As a result, from February 17 onwards, the tactics of the military and police began to change.

On February 25, at 8 pm, the regime’s troops looted the Nilar Win gold shop near the main Tamu market, and then began shooting at people coming out to see what was happening. One person was killed and seven injured. A general store in the centre of town, which had refused to sell to military families, was set on fire by the troops.

Starting on March 11, security forces in Tamu began destroying the sand-bag barricades and bunkers on the town’s main roads, which had been put up as protection by protesters.

Unable to withstand the military’s superior weaponry, on April 5, the Tamu Security Group (TSG) and student protest leaders fled across the border to India.

On June 1, in accordance with the demand of the NUG Defence Ministry, a committee of six people, led by elected MPs, arranged for the Kuki National Army (KNA-Burma) to give military training to the Tamu Security Group, students, CDM officials, and other local youth.

These trainees have carried out guerrilla attacks along the Tamu-Kuntong-Pantar border against the military council’s forces and local informers.

(The general store in Tamu set on fire for refusing to sell to the military)

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Timeline of conflict and human rights violations by the Military Council’s forces During the six months since the coup, from February 1 to July 31, 2021, the regime’s security forces have killed at least 13 people, arrested over 19 people, and injured at least 9 people.

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March 25: At about 8 pm, the regime’s troops looted the Nilar Win gold shop near the Tamu market, then opened fire on bystanders, killing a 33-year-old man called Ko Myo Min Aung (aka Ko Phyo Kular). Further shooting by the regime’s troops that night injured seven people, including Ko Naing Naing Tun, age 31, who was injured in the groin; Ko Nan Oo, age 23, shot with 7 bullets in his kidney, leg, arm, and thigh; and Ko Po Zaw, age 32, shot in his stomach.

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March 26: The regime’s troops shot into Nanpalong quarter at night, injuring a 50-year-old woman, Daw Lim Lam, in her thigh, as she was sleeping in her room.

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April 2: KNA-Burma and CDM joint forces attacked the regime’s troops based at the Nanpalong fire station. One CDM member, Maung Thong Hao Gin, was killed in the fighting.

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April 10: A villager from Vokso called Maung Thang Ko Hao and a friend were riding a motorcycle in Tamu to buy medicine, when they were shot at by the regime’s troops. Both men were killed.

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April 13: In the morning, when a man and his wife were selling milk, they were shot at by the regime’s troops. Both were shot in the head and died instantly.

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April 14: Five people were unlawfully arrested by the regime’s troops in Nanpalong quarter of Tamu, and were tortured.

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April 16: Maung Let Min Hao and two friends were returning to Kyauk Nae Kyi quarter after going to withdraw money in Tamu, when they were arrested by the regime’s troops, who extorted 500,000 kyat from them before releasing them.

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April 19: Maung Thongkhohao, aged 35, was going out to buy medicine from his house in Nanpalong quarter, when he was arbitrarily arrested by the regime’s troops.

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April 22: U Kaw Lin Htoo, an employee of Kawbawza Bank in Tamu, was unlawfully arrested and beaten by the regime’s troops.

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April 26: Two villagers from Witon village and Pantar village and two CDM officials, who were in hiding, were captured and unlawfully charged by the regime’s troops.

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April 27: The regime’s troops fired gunshots in Kuntong village, and then tortured and beat a 60-year-old villager called U Thang Hao in his house.

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May 3: Gunshots were fired at the house of the administrator of Witon village, which killed his daughter and granddaughter.

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July 9: At about 9 pm, four youth from Teijang (Kyunbintha) village were sitting talking beside the road, when soldiers from the Mintha army base blindfolded and interrogated them, then arrested them for using Indian sim cards. When they reached the Tamu army base, they were charged with carrying explosives.

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July 10: At about 10 pm, a group of youth had gone out after work as it was Saturday evening, and were returning home near the bridge between Mintha and Kyunbintha villages, when they were shot at by the regime’s troops. Four people were killed on the spot, one was injured and arrested, and one managed to run away.

July 17: At about 4 pm, during fighting between the PDF and the regime’s forces at the Tamu-Moreh border, gunfire from the regime’s side hit a local border trader, killing him on the spot.

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July 25: At about 4 pm, there was fighting between the Tamu PDF and the regime’s troops near the Tamu BOC bypass road. Nine people were killed on the regime’s side, including three soldiers, an armed Pyuzawti member, and a Manipuri insurgent member.

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July 26: At 7:20 pm, U Saung Min (aka Min Aung) and his child were riding a motorcycle from their farm to their home, in front of the No. 2 School on Haymar road (Aukkyin) quarter, when they were shot at by the regime’s troops. The motorcycle was hit, and U Min Aung was hit in the thighs and groin, and had to be sent to Kalaymyo Military Hospital for treatment.

Note: For security reasons, we have not been able to provide full details. Some cases have also not been included. However, we hope that the evidence compiled can give an insight into the extent of the brutality of the regime’s security forces in our area.

Shooting injuries inflicted by regime troops on March 25, after looting of Nilar Win gold shop

A disabled woman shot in the thigh by regime troops while sleeping in her bed

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Forced displacement On March 25, the regime’s troops began forcibly dispersing protests in Tamu town and shooting into civilians’ houses. They also unlawfully arrested civilians travelling between villages. As a result, local villagers did not feel safe staying at home. Some started fleeing to hide in their farmlands.

Many fled to take refuge across the border in India. However, regrettably, on March 28, soldiers and police on the India side began pushing back refugees, without respecting humanitarian principles.

Even though there had been an official statement on March 10 from the Manipur government that refugees would be accepted, this was not put into practice. Some of the refugees who had fled across the border were arrested by the authorities and handed back to the Burmese military authorities. After this, most Kuki villagers, including women, children and the elderly, chose to hide in their farms and surrounding forest.

However, the regime’s troops, together with Manipuri insurgents staying in the Kabaw Valley, began conducting operations in the countryside, placing these IDPs in great danger. Kuki community groups in Moreh therefore appealed to the local Manipur government authorities to provide humanitarian refuge to those fleeing.

Amongst those hiding after the military coup were democracy and human rights activists, and women and youth groups, including from Myitkyina, Homalin and Kalaymyo, who had reached the India border area after much difficulty. Altogether there are now about 2,000 refugees from Burma sheltering in Moreh, including dozens of activists.

Refugees from Burma being pushed back by Indian police and soldiers at the border on March 28

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Large-scale military reinforcement by the regime Before the coup, there were about 50 Burma Army troops under IB 266 stationed in Tamu district along the India-Burma border, under the Kalaymyo Regional Operations Command. They were assisted in maintaining security in rural areas by Manipuri insurgents (who have long been permitted to use Burmese soil as a staging ground for attacks against the Indian security forces in exchange for helping the Burma Army quell local resistance).

After the February 1 coup, during March, about 1,000 troops from elite Infantry Divisions 99 and 101 were brought in as reinforcements, and stationed at schools and fire stations.

Conclusion For decades, the SPDC regime sucked the lifeblood of the people, buying advanced weapons and ammunition from abroad and using them against ethnic resistance groups demanding equal rights, branding them rebels and terrorists.

Since the coup on February 1, 2021, we have been experiencing the same repression as under the SPDC. If the regime’s troops meet youth in Kuki areas, they ask them what ethnicity they are. Those replying they are Kuki, have been beaten and tortured, and some killed. It is clear the Kuki people are being discriminated against and targeted for persecution.

Unable to crush the people’s resistance forces, the regime’s troops have been targeting civilians and CDM officials, causing great suffering.

Many rice fields have not been able to be planted this year, as so many villagers have fled for their lives after the military coup. As most people in the Kabaw Valley along the India-Burma border are farmers, this had a huge impact on local livelihoods.

With the NUG Defence Ministry planning increased armed resistance, the regime’s forces are sure to increase their oppression and targeting of local civilians. We therefore make the following recommendations:

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Recommendations

To the SAC regime: 1. To immediately stop targeting Kuki people and villages for persecution, including killings and torture 2. To step down from power, and accept the establishment of a genuine federal democracy under a new constitution

To the Indian government: 1. To recognize and provide protection to refugees fleeing attacks and persecution by the Burmese military regime’s forces 2. To allow humanitarian aid agencies to access and provide assistance to these refugees 3. Not to exploit the refugee situation for political benefit

To international donors: 1. To provide humanitarian aid to refugees fleeing conflict and persecution 2. To stop providing any form of support to the Burmese military regime 3. To stop providing support to the failed NCA peace process

Contact persons • Ko Seigin - +919362658704 • Ko Seipu - +917085376167 • Email: ksdfburma@gmail.com

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