04/20/2021, 11.58
MYANMAR
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Yangon, the torture and lies of the junta. EU sanctions

by Francis Khoo Thwe

Several explosions in front of military bases. The Association for Assistance to Political Prisoners (Aapp), branded as a "producer of fake news". Tomorrow campaign of the "blue shirts" and commemorations of those killed. The European Union has imposed some sanctions on 10 junta generals and on the two economic conglomerates linked to the army. Appeals to Total and Razel-Bec to break contracts with the junta.

Yangon (AsiaNews) - Six young people have been tortured after being arbitrarily accused of having detonated three bombs in the Yankin neighbourhood, near Yangon. Their photos were published on regime television (photo 2); photos of these young people before and after the torture (photo 1) were also posted and shared by their friends and activists.

The explosions of homemade devices took place on April 17, in front of the municipal office of Yankin, where the military has set up a base since the coup d'état on 1 February last. According to local sources, at least one soldier died from the bombs. The military jailed 10 young people, defined as "rioters". The television did not report the explosions in Yankin and in many other cities in the country.

Yesterday there were still demonstrations in Mandalay and Myingyan (photo 3).

The frustration of the junta, which fails to stop the clear opposition of the population, is expressed in violence and attempts to manipulate information. The Association for Assistance to Political Prisoners (Aapp), which every day checks the names and situations of those killed and incarcerated, has been branded as a "producer of fake news".

Instead, with its usual accuracy, the APP released the toll this morning until yesterday, in which the number of those killed by the coup rose to 738; that of prisoners to 3261. According to the official media, the dead are "only 258"; the others are just "exaggeration".

For tomorrow the movement has launched the campaign of the "blue shirts" and the memory of the killed. Those who join will dress in a blue t-shirt or shirt and write the name of a killed person on their hand that they want to remember.

Yesterday the European Union (EU) imposed sanctions on 10 junta generals and the two military-related economic conglomerates, the Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) and Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd (MEHL), which dominate almost all sectors of the country's economy.

According to activists, many European private companies need to stop their collaboration with the junta. In addition to Total, which has always been accused of supporting the junta, a Shan State human rights group has explicitly asked the French company Razel-Bec to withdraw from construction of the Upper Yeywa dam. The company is partnering with a military-related conglomerate to build a 280-megawatt hydroelectric plant on the Namtu River, near the cities of Hsipaw and Kyaukme, in Shan State (photo 4).

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