Burma: rebel factions "re-examine" their ceasefire with the army

Security forces in Kamayut County in Yangon, Monday March 29, 2021. Since the military coup at least 550 civilians, including 46 children have been killed and more than 2,700 protesters have been arrested.

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5 mins

Ulcerated by the bloody crackdown by the ruling junta against civilians, ten of Burma's main rebel factions will “reexamine” the ceasefire agreement signed in 2015 with the army. 

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Ten rebel factions began a two-day meeting on Saturday to “re-examine” their position on the national ceasefire agreement reached in 2015 with the army.

Shortly after

the coup d'état of February 1

, they indicated that they would continue to apply this agreement, despite the passage into force of the generals.

But the repression that falls on the civilian population could lead them to reconsider their position.

One of these groups, the Karen National Union (KNU) thus calls on the multitude of ethnic minorities in the country to unite against the junta.

Responding to the bloodshed of the security forces against opponents of the coup, it had already seized last week of a military base in Karen State, in the south-east of the country, killing ten soldiers.

The army then responded by carrying out air raids against the faction's strongholds, a first for twenty years in this region.

According to the KNU, these strikes killed many civilians, including minors and students, and led more than 12,000 people to flee their villages.

Other armed groups have already provided support for democratic mobilization and threatened to take up arms against the army, raising fears of civil war.

►

See also: Burma: ethnic minorities, new key players in the protest

Two months after the putsch, the security and humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate in Burma.

The death toll is over 550 dead, including 46 children.

At least four people were still killed on Saturday in Monywa in the center of the country, a fifth protester died in Thaton, in the south.

Arrested for speaking to journalists

While the borders have been completely closed to foreign journalists since the coup, a team from American television CNN was able to go there.

Right after the escorted visit to a Yangon market on Friday, at least nine people were arrested after the journalists left, according to the

Irrawady News

daily

.

Among those who approached American journalists, a woman managed to escape law enforcement immediately after testifying.

RFI managed to reach his sister. 

“

When my sister heard that a CNN crew was at the market, she rushed there hoping to testify.

They talked about what was really going on in Burma.

It didn't last long, less than a minute.

The reporter asked her if she had lost any family members, my sister said no, but that she knew people who had lost someone, including children.

Then she asked him if she was afraid of what was happening in Burma.

Behind her there were soldiers in civilian clothes, my sister replied that she was afraid.

Right after this conversation, after the reporters walked away, my sister and another woman quickly fled into hiding.

They managed to escape, but seven people were arrested and we have no further news.

I have heard that even their families have no contact with them and it is not known what will happen to them after their interrogation.

My sister has to stay away from our house for a while, to make sure they don't come looking for her.

She's safe at the moment, but in her mind she's ready if she gets arrested

 ”.

►

To read also: Burma: the specter of a total civil war

The junta is also now rife on the web.

Since Friday, the

internet has been almost completely cut off

, the authorities having ordered providers to cut off broadband.

Messages still continue to be posted and shared on social networks.

The coup plotters have also issued arrest warrants against at least 18 celebrities, including influencers, actors and journalists.

A law represses any content aimed at inciting members of the security forces to mutinize or not to exercise their duty.

The offense is punishable by three years in prison.

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• Burma

• Aung San Suu Kyi