8th June 2021 The Tatmadaw are intent on wreaking havoc and taking revenge for the setbacks they have had during the past few days. They have initiated airstrikes and artillery barrages against villages in the vicinity of areas where they had recent adverse contact with guerrillas. In Kyar Pin in
7th June 2021 Finally, some good news, in a way. I have heard that one of my friends and sources who I hadn’t heard from for a couple of weeks has managed to get out of Myanmar and is safe and well. They were a well-connected person in the
5th June 2021 The latest information coming from people in Nay Pyi Taw is that the Senior General Min Aung Hlaing is under severe pressure from his colleagues in the higher echelons of the Tatmadaw. There are whispers of his being replaced because of incompetence, both in the mismanagement of
30th May 2021 I have managed to reconnect with useful sources and the situation is getting complex. In protests against the previous coups, the opposition tended to gradually fade away after a few weeks as the military turned the screws and imposed their will on the people. The current coup
26th May 2021 I would like to thank all the readers who have indulged me over the last few months as I have tried to keep you up to date with events in Myanmar, many of which haven’t been covered by the MSM. I am having to stop writing
25th May 2021 Well, it had to happen. Another hero bit the dust today with the arrest of Danny Fenster at Yangon airport as he was about to board a plane to Kuala Lumpur. Danny is the managing editor of Frontier, which along with the Irrawaddy are the only two
24th May 2021 Daw Aung San Suu Kyi appeared in court today. Although it was only a first 30-minute hearing, the legal process could lead to her eventual imprisonment and the dissolution of her political party, the National League for Democracy (NLD). Suu Kyi stands accused by the military of
23rd May 2021 Following on from yesterday’s action in Demoso two artillery shells landed in the town today; Ooredoo (one of the telecom suppliers, based in Qatar) the internet is disconnected; Telenor (telecom supplier, Norway based) only ‘E’ is available and you can’t connect any apps. There has
22nd May 2021 I have been commenting that this rebellion is unlike previous ones in Myanmar in that if it spread to the cities then the regime, even though it won’t lose, will be in trouble. Well, it is happening. Sanchaung township is a relatively well-off district and a
20th May 2021 Demonstrators are leaving the cities and secretly making their way to the ethnic conflict zones. They are looking at two options after training – either to swell the ranks of the EAOs or to develop guerrilla actions within the cities. The Myanmar regime has objected to the provision
19th May 2021 It seems hard to believe but this is the 100th piece I have written on Myanmar. I have tried to give background and not just concentrate on the endless round of demonstrations, slaughter, brutality, pillage, looting, illegal detention, and torture. I have had a request to comment
18th May 2021 The resistance is getting interesting. By attacking the supplies of avgas they will restrict the availability of the air force to provide ground support. The civilians have taken the armed action into the heart of downtown Yangon and assassinated a district administrator. The Kachin Independence Army (KIA)
17th May 2021 I was in the fortunate position today of making contact again with some of my sources who have gone underground. The thing that came across was the anger that is bubbling away inside them. They are angry that one man has killed the country that they were
16th May 2021 The homeless situation is growing. In the conflict zones, civilians have been bombed out of their homes, with no assistance from aid organisations available. Refugees are in need of food and medical assistance in Mindat, Chin State. Mindat civilians fled for safety after clashes between the military
15th May 2021 We have reported previously on interviews that Radio Free Asia have carried out with defecting officers and their relatives. Today we have an interview that they carried out with two defecting regular soldiers which demonstrates the control that the Tatmadaw officers have over rank-and-file soldiers. Notwithstanding that,
14th May 2021 It is difficult to understand the real reasons for the coup in Myanmar, but the following assessment is probably close to the truth (independent sources of mine have agreed with it) and one that you won’t read about in the MSM. It actually gives a glimmer
