Myanmar jailers allows Aung San Suu Kyi to speak to son
Jailed State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi’s son, Kim Aris, shared on Thursday that he had spoken to his 81-year-old mother for the first time since she was detained during the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021, but he did not disclose when the conversation took place or elaborate on what they discussed during the phone call.
“Today, I was finally able to speak with my mother, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, after more than five years. Hearing her voice again means more than words can express. I am deeply grateful to everyone who has stood by my mother and me. I believe your voices helped make this moment possible,” Aris posted to social media on Oct. 22.
Aris highlighted that one conversation is not regular family access and that Aung San Suu Kyi must never be used as a hostage or a bargaining chip to secure diplomatic recognition, sanctions relief, or political advantage, and urged the international community not to trade human rights to gain access to the regime in Naypyidaw.
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NUG accuses rights commission of ‘shielding’ military atrocities
The National Unity Government (NUG) issued an official statement on Tuesday expressing strong support for the Southeast Asia National Human Rights Institutions Forum (SEANF) decision to terminate the membership of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC).
“Rather than fulfilling its mandate to protect and promote human rights, the MNHRC has served as a shield for the terrorist military junta,” the NUG stated on Oct. 20, while accusing the MNHRC of failing to protect civilians and actively shielding the military following its 2021 coup.
The regional termination, effective Oct. 19 after the MNHRC refused to participate in a formal eligibility review, strips the regime-controlled body of its scheduled 2027 rotating SEANF chairmanship and bars it from attending the upcoming 23rd SEANF Annual Conference.
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Over 400 Rakhine returnees from Malaysia still in military custody
The family members of over 400 Burma nationals, who are ethnic Rakhine from Arakan State, are calling for their immediate release from military custody after they arrived in Yangon on three Burma Navy vessels on Oct. 4. The 400 were among 1,476 repatriated from Malaysia on Sept. 29.
“We thought they would be allowed to return home once they arrived back in Myanmar,” a family member told DVB on the condition of anonymity. “They had already endured hardship in Malaysian immigration detention and wanted to reunite with their families as soon as possible.”
According to the families, the 400 ethnic Rakhine returnees are being sheltered temporarily at a monastery in Thanlyin Township, located seven miles (11 km) south of downtown Yangon, as well as at unknown facilities in Hlaingtharyar Township, 10 miles (16 km) northwest of downtown.
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News by Region
AYEYARWADY—Farmers in Myaungmya and Einme townships told DVB that their urad bean fields were destroyed by flooding caused by heavy rainfall since mid-October. Urad bean, also known as black bean, is a secondary crop mostly cultivated in Ayeyarwady and neighbouring Bago Region for domestic consumption and export overseas.
“We hoped that urad prices would have increased this year than last year,” a farmer in Ayeyarwady’s Einme Township told DVB. Einme is located 37 miles (60 km) east of the region’s capital Pathein. One metric ton (1,000 kg) of urad bean reached 3.8 million MMK ($820 USD) on Oct. 20. Read the full article on our website
NAYPYIDAW—Regime media reported that Min Aung Hlaing met with Yohei Sasakawa, the honorary chairperson of the Nippon Foundation, in Naypyidaw on Tuesday. Sasakawa is also Japan’s Special Envoy for National Reconciliation in Burma, which wasn’t mentioned in the Oct. 20 regime report.
But it did state that the two discussed democracy, stability, and development, as well as the Nippon Foundation’s support for the peace process. Sasakawa’s visit to Naypyidaw follows a Reuters report last week about a meeting in Tokyo between regime officials and a U.S. delegation. Read the full article on our website
YANGON—Residents told DVB that the price of edible palm oil per viss (1.6 kg) has increased on a near daily basis since last week. “The price of palm oil was [12,000 MMK per 1.6 kg] last month, but it rose twice in October,” a resident in South Dagon Township told DVB on the condition of anonymity.
The Myanmar Edible Oil Dealers’ Association (MEODA) distributes up to one viss (0.816-1.632 kg) of palm oil for 8,000 MMK ($1.70 USD) per week to shops, which then sell to customers with Household Registration Forms. This allows them to purchase edible oil at a subsidized rate. Read the full article on our website
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,660 MMK)
The second episode in our six-part series: Myanmar’s Nuclear Ambitions is available now on DVB English News YouTube.
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