Summary of News
- Foreign Minister Daw Zin Mar Aung emphasises that the people of Myanmar are trying to speak in a language that the military dictators understand
- Health Minister Dr. Zaw Wai Soe invites healthcare CDM participants to engage in revolutionary duties in controlled areas
- Human Rights Minister stresses addressing root causes alongside avoiding the dangers of the conscription law
- Minister of Communications expresses faith in the youth, stating they are fulfilling the responsibilities entrusted by the era
- Rally planned in Melbourne, Australia, to directly address ASEAN on Myanmar’s affairs
- NUG’s Norway Representative attends the Chin National Day ceremony held in Froland
- An additional 20 residents escape from Pyu Saw Htee militia-controlled villages in Pale Township, Sagaing Region
- Military junta column brutally murders two villagers in northern Kanbalu Township, Sagaing Region
- New Spring Lottery edition features additional prizes, including 200 at 100,000 kyat each for the last four digits matching
- Military junta’s fighter jet bombings in Mansi, Kachin State, leaves five civilians dead and over 30 injured
- AA asserts that the military junta is on the verge of losing all positions in Rakhine State
- Intense fighting between revolutionary forces and military junta forces rages day and night in Kawkareik, Karen State
- Infant killed and seven civilians injured in Hsihseng, Southern Shan State, amid artillery shelling by the military junta and Pa-O militia
1. Foreign Minister Daw Zin Mar Aung emphasises that the people of Myanmar are trying to speak in a language that the military dictators understand
Daw Zin Mar Aung, the Union Minister of Foreign Affairs for the National Unity Government (NUG), delivered an address during the Night Cap Session of the Munich Security Conference (MSC 2024) under the theme “Rebels With a Cause: Voices of Civil Resistance.” Moderated by Hillary Clinton, the former Secretary of State of the United States, the session took place from 10:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. local time on February 17.
In her speech, Daw Zin Mar Aung emphasised the necessity of communicating with authoritarian regimes in a language they comprehend, saying, “We need to talk to them in the language that they understand. The dictators don’t understand non-violence. Our movement is quite like non-violent labelling, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and our Myanmar democratic movement is quite portrayed as non-violent. But this time, as you said, the dictators don’t understand the language of non-violence. The only thing they understand is force. So that’s why our people are trying to talk to them in the language that they understand. I also would like to refer to your definition of smart power. Our revolution is a combination of soft and hard power to topple down, to stop the military junta, authoritarian regime, in my country.”
Furthermore, Union Minister Daw Zin Mar Aung emphasised the importance of global unity, stating, “My message to the world is that we need to recalculate and reformulate to stop authoritarian regimes in my country and, of course, across the world because authoritarian regimes are very united; you know, we have the same story and common experiences, like the Myanmar regime being quite close to Russia, Belarus, and Iran. They are quite close together and are helping each other. But democratic countries are not united enough to fight the authoritarian regimes in the world. So that is why I would like to request that the international community, especially leading democratic countries, be united and be one voice against authoritarian regimes.”
During the nightcap session of the second day of the MSC 2024 conference, other speakers, including Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, the opposition leader of Belarus; Masih Alinejad, an activist from Iran and President of the World Liberty Congress; and Maria Ressa, a Nobel Prize laureate and Chief Executive Officer of Rappler, also participated alongside Daw Zin Mar Aung.
2. Health Minister Dr. Zaw Wai Soe invites healthcare CDM participants to engage in revolutionary duties in controlled areas
On February 17, Dr. Zaw Wai Soe, Union Minister for Health of the National Unity Government (NUG), extended an invitation to healthcare personnel participating in the CDM (Civil Disobedience Movement) participants, urging them to actively engage in revolutionary tasks within controlled areas.
He stated, “As the Health Ministry of the National Unity Government, I extend an invitation to healthcare CDM participants to undertake revolutionary responsibilities in areas liberated or under our control. This moment is crucial for our revolution, as we witness successes while the military dictatorship is starting to crumble.”
The military junta is experiencing territorial losses in various regions, including northern Shan State, Karenni State, Karen State, Rakhine State, Chin State, Magway Region, Sagaing Region, and Tanintharyi Region. So, Union Minister Dr. Zaw Soe is calling on healthcare CDM participants to contribute to the revolution by offering healthcare services in these liberated territories.
3. Human Rights Minister stresses addressing root causes alongside avoiding the dangers of the conscription law
In a Facebook update, U Aung Myo Min, the Human Rights Minister of the National Unity Government (NUG), emphasised the significance of addressing the root cause alongside considering ways to avoid dangers from the conscription law.
He stated, “Do not look at this conscription law as the only difficulty or danger. As long as the terrorist military group remains in power, the people will not be able to live with peace of mind or body. While everyone considers ways of avoiding this conscription law, come together and consider ways of removing the root cause of this problem. Everyone participates in it.”
Military junta leader Min Aung Hlaing declared that the conscription law has been in effect since February 10, 2024. Per the law’s provisions, all citizens, males aged between 18 and 35, and females aged between 18 and 27, are mandated to serve in the military.
4. Minister of Communications expresses faith in the youth, stating they are fulfilling the responsibilities entrusted by the era
U Htin Linn Aung, the Union Minister for Communications, Information, and Technology of the National Unity Government (NUG), expressed his faith in the youth through a post on Facebook.
He stated, “The youth are diligently fulfilling the responsibilities entrusted to them by the era, and they will persist in doing so. Regardless of the era, they have consistently met their obligations, understanding the appropriate course of action at crucial junctures. Just reflect on the streets that were flooded with people three years ago. Likewise, when called upon for silent strikes, they have consistently shown their solidarity by emptying the streets. Therefore, at a time like this, I am confident that they understand the right path they must tread. They understand when and in which direction to point their guns and when to advocate for change. I trust in their judgment. Therefore, the current challenge we face can ultimately be transformed into an advantage for us.”
The military junta has recently implemented the conscription law, attempting to compel young individuals to serve in the military.
5. Rally planned in Melbourne, Australia, to directly address ASEAN on Myanmar’s affairs
On February 18, Khun Baham Htan, Deputy Minister of Human Rights of the National Unity Government (NUG), announced via a Facebook post that a rally was scheduled to take place in Melbourne, Australia, aimed at directly appealing to ASEAN concerning Myanmar’s affairs.
He stated, “My fellow members of diverse Myanmar-born ethnic groups residing in Melbourne, on the coming March 4 (Monday) at 9:00 a.m., the Myanmar-born ethnic community and the spring revolutionary forces residing in Australia will organise a rally in Melbourne to make a direct appeal to ASEAN regarding Myanmar’s affairs.”
This rally marks the first rally held in Australia in the past three years of the revolution to appeal directly to ASEAN foreign ministers regarding Myanmar.
6. NUG’s Norway Representative attends the Chin National Day ceremony held in Froland
As reported by the National Unity Government’s Representative Office in Norway, U Maung Maung Myint, the NUG’s representative to Norway, participated in the 76th anniversary celebration of Chin National Day in Froland on February 17 and delivered a congratulatory speech.
In the ongoing Spring Revolution, Chin ethnic people, both at home and abroad, have been actively participating by means of both finances and manpower.
7. An additional 20 residents escape from Pyu Saw Htee militia-controlled villages in Pale Township, Sagaing Region
According to the Pale Township People’s Administration Team (Pale Pa-Ah-Fa), an additional 20 residents from villages controlled by the junta-backed Pyu Saw Htee militia in Pale Township have escaped from the villages and sought refuge.
Seven residents fled from Zee Phyu Kone village on February 16, and 16 residents fled from Inn Ma Htee village on February 17. They sought refuge under the Pale Pa-Ah-Fa and were accepted after undergoing investigations. Subsequently, they were required to sign a self-confession pledging to refrain from contacting, interacting with, or providing information to the Pyu Saw Htee militia, with penalties for any violations.
The Pale Pa-Ah-Fa provided financial assistance and tarpaulin sheets for shelter to the refugees.
Earlier this month, two mothers and four children fled from Zee Phyu Kone village and sought refuge with the Pale Pa-Ah-Fa.
8. Military junta column brutally murders two villagers in northern Kanbalu Township, Sagaing Region
A military junta column advancing in northern Kanbalu Township, Sagaing Region, reportedly brutally killed two villagers during a raid on Tin Maw village on February 15.
The victims, identified as U Ye Shwe, a 70-year-old mentally ill man, and Ko Maung Cho, a 35-year-old man, were subjected to horrific violence. U Ye Shwe was discovered dead with his neck tied and multiple knife wounds on his abdomen, while Ko Maung Cho was found with his limbs severed and his abdomen cut open, with intestines exposed. Their bodies were found on February 16, after the military junta column had left the village.
A witness from the village recounted, “Grandpa U Ye Shwe seemed to remain in the village, unable to run since he was not in good health. As for Ko Maung Cho, we have no idea how he was arrested. They were brutally killed.”
This incident follows a similar attack by the same military column on Inn Ngoke To village on February 10, where two villagers were also killed.
9. New Spring Lottery edition features additional prizes, including 200 at 100,000 kyat each for the last four digits matching
On February 17, the Spring Lottery Family announced that the updated edition of Spring Lottery (Nway Oo Hti) would introduce additional rewards. This includes 200 prizes, each valued at 100,000 kyats, attainable by matching only the last four digits. Additionally, there will be 2,000 prizes, each worth 30,000 kyats, won by matching the final three digits, and 20,000 prizes, each valued at 5,000 kyats, won by matching only the last two digits.
The announcement mentioned that details about grand prizes would be disclosed soon.
Launched on August 15, 2021, Nway Oo Hti has, to a certain extent, offered financial aid to civil employees participating in the civil disobedience movement (CDM), which was the starting point of the Spring Revolution.
10. Military junta’s fighter jet bombings in Mansi, Kachin State, leaves five civilians dead and over 30 injured
According to military reports, airstrikes conducted by the military junta using fighter jets in Mansi, Kachin State, have led to the deaths of five civilians and injuries to more than 30 others.
On February 17, a coalition comprising the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Arakan Army (AA), and Kachin People’s Defence Forces (KPDF) launched a coordinated offensive against the military junta’s base in Si Hkam Gyi village, located in Mansi Township of Kachin State. The engagement has been intense, with the military junta resorting to airstrikes to defend the base, according to a statement from the AA.
Military sources reported that the military junta conducted a total of 14 airstrikes using fighter jets until 5:30 p.m., targeting residential areas in Si Hkam Gyi village. Consequently, five civilians lost their lives, and 30 others sustained injuries.
Previously, the Si Hkam Gyi military base was under the control of combined military units from the 15th, 121st, 276th, and 223rd Infantry Battalions operating under the military junta’s Northern Command.
11. AA asserts that the military junta is on the verge of losing all positions in Rakhine State
The Arakan Army (AA) has declared that the military junta is increasingly losing its bases one after another, and the remaining bases are on the brink of falling. This statement was made in the 114th day report of Operation 1027 by the Three Brotherhood Alliance.
The AA stated that it has been initiating offensives against all military junta bases that refuse to surrender, with the objective of expelling the military junta from Rakhine State. Prior to this, the AA had issued a call for all military junta bases in Rakhine State to surrender. As a result, fighting has been fierce in the region.
The AA said that the military junta, facing territorial losses, has escalated its efforts to destroy bridges not only in Rakhine State and northern Shan State but also in various parts of the country, aiming to impede the entry of revolutionary forces in addition to the employment of air, ground, and naval attacks for defence.
In Rakhine State, the military junta forces demolished the A Myint Kyun Bridge, commonly known as Min Chaung Bridge, near Sittwe Town on February 12, the Ma-ei Bridge near Ma-ei Town in Toungup Township on the night of February 16, and the Kyauk Kyi Pauk Bridge, another bridge near Ma-ei Town, in the early hours of February 17.
Furthermore, the AA confirmed collaboration with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) outside Rakhine State, where it operates. They launched a coordinated offensive against the military junta’s tactical base in Si Hkam Gyi village, Masi Township, Kachin State, beginning on the morning of February 17.
12. Intense fighting between revolutionary forces and military junta forces rages day and night in Kawkareik, Karen State
On February 18, the Albino Tiger Column revealed, accompanied by a brief video clip depicting comrades engaged on the battlefield in Kawkareik, that there has been sustained and intense fighting against military junta forces both day and night, despite official military reports not being released for security reasons.
The Albino Tiger Column also played a significant role in the capture of a police station and military base in Taung Kyar Inn village, Kawkareik Township, Karen State, on December 29 of the previous year. This operation was conducted as part of a revolutionary coalition led by the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and the Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO). The KNLA headquarters announced the capture of ten military junta troops as prisoners of war, along with the seizure of 25 firearms and ammunition.
13. Infant killed and seven civilians injured in Hsihseng, Southern Shan State, amid artillery shelling by the military junta and Pa-O militia
On February 17, the Pa-O National Liberation Army (PNLA) reported that an infant lost his life and seven civilians sustained injuries as a result of artillery shellings conducted by the military junta forces and Pa-O militia in Hsihseng Township, Southern Shan State. The incident occurred during what the PNLA described as a fabricated clash. During the night of February 17, the 425th and 426th Light Infantry Battalions stationed in Bangyin, Hsihseng Township, fired over 40 rounds of artillery shells towards Htamyan village and Htitam village following some gunfire. This barrage resulted in the tragic death of a six-month-old infant from Htamyan village, along with injuries to four others, including the infant’s parents. Additionally, two residents of Htitam village were injured, and significant property damage was reported.
The PNLA emphasised that there was no PNLA presence in the area and that the locations targeted were not PNLA bases.
Furthermore, the PNLA disclosed that on the same day, military junta forces and their affiliated Pa-O militia unleashed over 100 rounds of artillery shells on villages including Kyauksar, Lonehee, and Sangaw.
#Credit : Radio NUG
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