Summary of News

1. Acting President criticises the military junta for expelling Timor-Leste’s Diplomat and his family from Myanmar, stating it a shameful and dishonourable act on the international front

Acting President Duwa Lashi La stated about the military junta’s expelling of Timor-Leste’s Diplomat and his family from Myanmar at the 29th Cabinet Meeting of the National Unity Government held virtually on August 29.

“The losses they are suffering from various sides have caused the military council to act irrationally. The expulsion of East Timor’s diplomat and his family was a shameful and dishonourable act for the military council on the international front. I would like to express my deep sorrow over the expulsion of the East Timor diplomat and his family by the military regime. East Timor’s position on democracy and human rights is an outstanding model for others to follow,” Acting President Duwa Lashi La stated.

The Acting President expressed his gratitude towards the government of Timor-Leste and its citizens: “Myanmar and its people will always remember the President, Prime Minister of East Timor, as well as the entire government and the people of East Timor, who stood as a good friend to return Myanmar to the path of democracy and human rights, especially when Myanmar is facing suppression of democracy and human rights and various oppressions.”

2. The NUG’s Ministry of Human Rights promptly reported the beheadings of four individuals, including a pregnant woman who was raped before being beheaded, to IIMM

U Aung Myo Min, Union Minister of Human Rights of the National Unity Government, stated on August 29 that the incident of beheading four internally displaced persons, including a pregnant woman who was brutally raped and tortured before being murdered, was reported to the United Nations’ Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) in a timely manner.

On August 26, 2023, a column of roughly 100 soldiers from the 33rd Infantry Division invaded Kyee Kan (north) village and Kyee Kan (south) village in Wetlet Township, Sagaing Region, took the belongings of the residents, and abducted some of the internally displaced persons (IDPs). Moreover, the junta’s military column also beheaded four individuals, including three men and a pregnant woman who was brutally raped and tortured before being murdered.

Union Minister U Aung Myo Min stated that the information collected regarding the incident has been sent to the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) in a timely manner.

The Union Minister affirmed that the Ministry of Human Rights would make every effort to hold the terrorist military accountable for its crimes while firmly upholding the objectives of achieving equality, peace, and justice for the entire people.

3. Deputy Minister U Maw Htun Aung says that the personnel of the NUG’s administrative structure are not only working on the ground but also putting their lives on the line

Regarding the criticism that the National Unity Government is not communicating with those operating on the ground, U Maw Htun Aung, Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy, stated:

“Every Time when I hear that the NUG is not in contact with the people on the ground, what comes to mind is the personnel from the administrative structure because they are the ones who are most engaging [with the ground forces]. If they can suggest more specifically which group NUG should meet with and serve as facilitators, that would be really nice. More importantly, they should also consider that it may be an interdepartmental process.”

The National Unity Government has been organising township people’s administrative bodies in rural areas and carrying out interim administration processes on the ground.

4. Deputy Secretary of Defence reveals that the number of junta insider informants collaborating with the Ministry of Defence has been increasing

In the final week of August when presenting news of achievements of the Spring Revolution to the public, U Maung Maung Swe, Deputy Secretary for the Ministry of Defence of the National Unity Government, said:

“From April to July, a total of more than 500 soldiers took refuge under the People’s Embrace Programme. In the same way, there are many insider informants called watermelons who continue to serve under the military junta while serving insider informants for the National Unity Government without joining the People’s Embrace Programme. Right now, they are serving in various battalions and columns and carrying out revolutionary duties.”

During the more than two years of the People’s Defensive War, more than 30,000 junta soldiers were eliminated, and more than 10,000 others defected to the side of the people and participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM).

5. The Ministry of Defence’s PRF 2.0 initiative allows support troops to select PDF battalions, with monthly funding allocations announced

At the online press conference of the second phase of the People’s Revolutionary Supply Family (PRF 2.0), U Kyaw Kyar, Director General of the Planning and Finance Department of the Ministry of Defence, said:

“In PRF 2.0, the support troops will be able to choose the battalions and columns they want to send their monthly support to. Depending on the region they choose, for example, Sagaing or Mandalay, their support fund will be allocated for that region. In terms of transparency, the Ministry of Defence will announce how many support troops are supporting each region for each month and how much funding is being spent.”

The new PRF 2.0 programme will be implemented starting in September 2023. Monthly donations of US$20 equivalent are required to become a PRF 2.0 member, and Thai residents are required to contribute 300 baht each month. In return for their donations, the Ministry of Defence will send each member a PRF support certification card with a QR code.

“As the revolution gains momentum, there is an increasing need for financial support in order to meet the demands of the revolution. The finance sector became crucial for the revolution,” U Maung Maung Swe, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Defence said.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Defence, there are currently about 20,000 PRF support troops who have contributed a total of EUSD 10.93 million so far.

6. In June, the support troops of the MFDMC coalition provided 200 million kyat to the PDF battalions and columns on the ground

The Myanmar Federal Democratic Mission Coalition (MFDMC) released a statement on August 29, stating that 203,420,512 kyat of the monthly support of the MFDMC support troops in June 2023 was delivered directly to the ground forces and battalions under the guidance of the Ministry of Defence of the National Unity Government.

The MFDMC stated that, in accordance with its policies and under the direction of the Ministry of Defence, the monthly financial support has been distributed to the ground promptly and accurately. 

#Credit : Radio NUG

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