Confronting Military Regime With Catapults And Arrows, 20 Burmese Killed

JAKARTA - At least 20 civilians armed with catapults and arrows were killed in clashes with the Myanmar military regime during a sweep, Saturday, June 5.

Clashes broke out before dawn on Saturday in Hlayswe, about 150 km (100 miles) northwest of the main city of Yangon, as troops swept through and searched for weapons, local media said.

"The people in the village only have arrows and there are many victims on the part of the community," said the resident, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals.

Khit Thit Media and Delta News Agency said 20 civilians were killed and more injured. They said the villagers were against the Myanmar military regime, because of the repressive actions they carried out during the sweep.

Saturday's death toll was the highest since the Bago tragedy in April, in which about 80 civilians died in clashes with Myanmar's military regime. This would add to the death toll since the February 1 coup. According to data from the Legal Aid Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), Thursday, June 3, at least 845 civilians and 4,509 people are still being held by the Myanmar military regime.

Resistance to the military regime continues to increase in the border areas and the interior of Myanmar. The anti-junta Shwegu People's Defense Force said it had attacked a police station in northern Shwegu on Friday night along with ethnic armed Kachin Independence Army (KIA). Reuters was unable to reach KIA for comment.

In eastern Myanmar, the MBPDF (Mobye People's Defense Force) said it had killed four Myanmar soldiers in armed clashes on Friday.

Despite the turmoil, the Myanmar army has shown no sign of heeding international calls for an end to the conflict. This week, Myanmar Military Regime Leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing received a visit from the International Red Cross and ASEAN delegates.

Separately, the Special Envoy for Myanmar, a group of independent international experts, said it was imperative that the ASEAN envoy also meet protest leaders, members of Myanmar's Government of National Unity (NUG), elected parliamentarians, and Suu Kyi's party.

"Failure to meet with all relevant parties risks giving legitimacy to the junta and undermining the efforts and great sacrifices made by the Myanmar people to resist the violent and unlawful attempts of the junta to seize power," the Special Envoy for Myanmar said in a statement.

Myanmar Coup. The VOI editorial team continues to monitor the political situation in one of the ASEAN member countries. Casualties from civilians continue to fall. Readers can follow the news covering the Myanmar military coup by clicking this link.