On the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, We Are Still Discovering New Areas Contaminated With Landmines in Syria, With More Deaths and Injuries Recorded Across the Country

04-Apr-2024

A total of 3,471 civilians, including 919 children, have been documented as killed by anti-personnel landmines in Syria since 2011



Press release: (Download the full statement below)

The Hague – The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) noted in a statement released today, entitled, ‘On the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, We Are Still Discovering New Areas Contaminated With Landmines in Syria, With More Deaths and Injuries Recorded Across the Country’, that it has documented 3,471 civilian deaths, including 919 children, as a result of landmine explosions in Syria since 2011.

The statement stresses that, for the past 13 years, SNHR has been documenting the use of APLs, including the explosions of cluster munition remnants, and the resulting casualties. While the Syrian regime had used landmines before 2011, the statement explains, the use of landmines increased exponentially and massively after the start of the popular uprising in March 2011, which subsequently turned into an internal armed conflict. Since the end of 2011, the Syrian regime has planted landmines along the borders with Lebanon and Türkiye, without placing adequate warnings. According to our monitoring, while many of the parties to the conflict and controlling forces have used APLs, only two parties have used cluster munitions whose remnants remain, namely the Syrian regime and Russian forces.

The statement includes maps showing areas contaminated with anti-personnel landmines (APLs) in Syria due to operations by parties to the conflict since March 2011. Through these maps, SNHR aims to provide a form of assistance to local teams working to remove landmines, as well as raising awareness of the dangers they continue to pose.

With large swathes of Syrian territory having been mined, we have utilized SNHR’s databases, including the one concerning the victims of landmines and cluster munitions, to create a number of maps showing the approximate locations of areas which we believe have been contaminated with APLs in many Syrian governorates. The mines and unexploded munitions in these areas will continue to pose a threat to the lives and movement of Syrian citizens, especially children, for decades to come. We designed those maps in an attempt to assist the work of local unexploded ordnance teams working to defuse the mines, and to raise awareness among local residents and authorities of the need to take the necessary precautions to avoid new incidents.

The statement documents the deaths of at least 3,471 civilians; including 919 children, 356 women, seven civil defense personnel, eight medical personnel, and nine media workers in hundreds of anti-personnel landmine explosions in Syria since March 2011 up until April 4, 2024, or International Day for Mine Awareness 2024. These are divided into 3,086 civilians; including 794 children, 325 women, seven civil defense personnel, eight medical personnel, and nine media workers; who were killed by landmine explosions, and 385 civilians, including 125 children and 31 women, who were killed by cluster munitions remnants explosions since the first documented use of these weapons in July 2012.

The statement further adds that landmines have inflicted dreadful disfigurement and serious injuries on civilians. In any landmine explosion, it’s usual for hundreds of fragments to penetrate the victim’s body, possibly resulting in amputation and the rupturing of cells, arteries and blood vessels, not to mention eye and ear injuries. Even though it is difficult to accurately determine the number of victims injured as a result of landmine explosions in Syria, we estimate that at least 10,400 civilians have been injured, with many having to undergo amputation of limbs as a result, and now being in need of artificial limbs and rehabilitation and support programs. Therefore, the continuing presence of landmines continues to pose a major obstacle to the work and return of internally displaced persons (IDPs), as well as the work of relief workers, Civil Defense personnel, and to their equipment, not to mention to the process of reconstruction and development.

The statement also stresses that the continuing deaths and injuries resulting from landmine explosions show the rampant use of this indiscriminate weapon by the various parties to the conflict in Syria. This also shows that there are still many areas which are contaminated with landmines that are yet to be discovered. Furthermore, all the parties involved in the conflict have failed to provide maps disclosing the locations of landmines, and to seriously work on removing them. Landmines are indiscriminate weapons prohibited by international law, with their sole aim being to create fear and mass terror. Landmines clearly violate the principle of distinction between civilian and military targets, as well as the principles of precautions and proportionality in attacks. The disregard for those rules constitutes a war crime according to international humanitarian law and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The statement holds the UN Security Council primarily responsible for the state of chronic insecurity that Syria has reached due to its utter and abject failure to protect civilians in the country for the past 13 years and to bring about a political transition process until now. As long as the conflict continues, the statement notes, chaos, violations, and prohibited acts will continue to run rampant. Syria will not see stability and security without a political transition to rule by democracy, human rights and the rule of law, which in turn cannot be achieved without a strict timetable and serious and effective efforts and pressures.

The statement calls on the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), the UN Security Council, and the international community to greatly increase their logistical assistance to the local organizations and police working to detect and disarm landmines, to train Syrian organizations on removing landmines and unexploding cluster munitions, to raise local awareness on these types of danger, and to work on pinpointing the most prominent locations where landmines were planted, in addition to making other recommendations.


Download the full statement

 

British expert: Landmines in Azerbaijan's liberated territories impact S. Caucasus

4 April 2024 

Qabil Ashirov

Read more

Even though April 4 is marked as the International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance for Mine Action in the world, as a result of Armenia's insidious policy, Azerbaijan still remains globally among the most polluted countries with mines and unexploded ordnance. Thus, following Armenia's aggressive policy against Azerbaijan in the 1980s and 1990s, more than 1.5 million landmines have been buried in Azerbaijan's formerly occupied territories, according to preliminary estimates.

It is worth noting that, unfortunately, Armenia's use of mine terrorism against Azerbaijan was not limited to the 1990s. It continued to use this heinous policy even after the Second Garabagh War. Since the end of the Second Garabagh War, 350 Azerbaijani citizens have been victims of landmines; 65 of them died and 285 were seriously injured.

In general, since the beginning of the military aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan, about 3429 Azerbaijani citizens have been injured by landmines; 595 of them have lost their lives; and according to the report, 357 of the victims were children, and 38 were women.

The founding of thousands of Armenian-made anti-personnel mines in Garabagh and border areas in fabricated 2021 proves that even after the end of the Garabagh conflict, Armenia planted land mines in Azerbaijani territories using the Lachin-Khankendi road.

In a comment to Azernews on the issue, Neil Watson, the British journalist and expert on energy issues, said that there is no doubt that landmines left over from the first and second Garabagh wars and then planted after the ceasefire in 2020 are the most major issue impacting construction and reconstruction of the liberated territories. He noted that landmines are completely indiscriminate and kill men, women, children, and elderly people.

"They remain in the ground for decades after the conflict finishes and become more unstable over time. There are an estimated 1.5 million landmines in the liberated territories, all of Soviet or Russian design but of Armenian manufacture. Recently, there was an event in the British Parliament hosted by one of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Explosive Devices.

An ANAMA spokesman explained the various types of mines, the problems that they represent, and that Armenia has released very few mine maps, which have questionable accuracy. There were then presentations from British partners involved in mine identification and clearance, including those using African pouched brown rats and dogs to find landmines. We also heard how women are being trained in Azerbaijan to find and defuse mines. I have been to Aghdam and Shusha, where no clearance or reconstruction can take place until mines are cleared, and it’s important for Armenia to help Azerbaijan locate the mines and the international community to assist," he noted.

The Biritish expert mentioned that over 90 percent of demining activities are carried out at the expense of Azerbaijan's internal resources. Although there is cooperation with some foreign partners, overall external support is limited. Watson also emphasised that the issue is delaying the return of the IDPs, which impacts the economy of the region.

"The landmine issue is delaying the return of the IDPs. No reconstruction can take place until the land is cleared and made safe. It is impossible to reconstruct and shape new cities until all landmines have been removed from the liberated territories. Given the scale of the problem, this could take two decades and it impacts the development of the economy of the region," the expert concluded.

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Qabil Ashirov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @g_Ashirov

First batch of Indian construction workers leave for Israel

The first batch of 64 Indian construction workers were flagged off by Israeli ambassador Naor Gilon and government officials on Tuesday.

Vivek Mishra
04 April, 2024

Israeli construction industry is looking at recruiting 100,000 Indian workers to replace the 90,000 Palestinians. 

(Photo credit: X/@NaorGilon)By: Vivek Mishra

The first batch of 64 construction workers from Indian states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh were flagged off by Israeli ambassador Naor Gilon and government officials on Tuesday.

The Israeli ambassador hoped that the workers would become ‘ambassadors’ of the great people-to-people relations between the two countries. He said the workers are going to Israel under the framework of a government-to-government agreement and complimented India’s National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) for the initiative.

“Today we had a farewell event from the first batch of 60+ Indian construction workers going to Israel under the G2G agreement. This is an outcome of hard work of many, including @NSDCINDIA,” Gilon said.

“I’m sure that the workers become ‘ambassadors’ of the great P2P relations between India and Israel,” he said.

Following the Israel-Hamas conflict, there were media reports that said the Israeli construction industry is looking at recruiting 100,000 Indian workers to replace the 90,000 Palestinians, reported PTI.

The decision to send the workers comes a month after India said it is focusing on ensuring the safety and security of all its citizens in Israel. An Indian had died in the country in a missile attack.

“We have over 18,000 caregivers and other professionals in Israel. Their safety and security is of prime concern for us,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said on March 8, reported <em>The Hindu.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had issued an advisory regarding the safety of Indians in Israel. “In view of the prevailing security situation”, it advised all Indian nationals in Israel, especially those working in the border areas in the north and south, to relocate to safer areas in the country,” the statement read.

With Israel’s latest conflict with Hamas, and a ban on the entry of Palestinian workers, the Israeli construction industry has been facing a deep crisis and several ongoing projects are getting either stalled or delayed.

EXPLAINER

Why does Israel keep launching attacks in Syria?

Israel launched two of its largest and deadliest strikes on Syria in the past week, promising even more attacks.

Emergency services work at a building at the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria, hit by an Israeli air strike on Monday, April 1, 2024

 [Omar Sanadiki/AP Photo]

By Maziar Motamedi
Published On 4 Apr 2024

Israeli fighter jets fired missiles at the Iranian consulate in Syria’s capital Damascus earlier this week, killing senior military commanders.

Tehran has said it will retaliate, with experts saying it has options at its disposal with wide-ranging ramifications.

But why does Israel keep launching air strikes on a sovereign country and what will happen next?

When did the attacks start?

The Israeli military has been assaulting Syria for more than a decade, taking advantage of the country’s chaos following its civil war that started in 2011.

The war has largely ended, and years of Iranian and Russian support for the rule of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have left him in power over most of the country.

But Syria remains torn, with various factions controlling different parts of the country, which provides Israel with an opportunity to launch air strikes.

As the Western-sanctioned al-Assad government is faced with US-backed Kurdish forces, opposition forces, Turkish military operations in the north, and ISIL (ISIS), Israel often uses the occupied Golan Heights to launch attacks on Syria and Lebanon – with the Assad regime unable to stop it.

The attacks have only intensified since 2017 – almost becoming a weekly occurrence – to target rising Iranian and Hezbollah presence and influence in Syria.
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Iran, Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Syria are allied against Israel and its key military and financial backer, the United States, along with armed and political groups in Iraq and Yemen in a so-called “axis of resistance”.

Why were the latest attacks important?

Israel has launched two of its largest and deadliest strikes ever against Syria in the past week.

It has significantly increased the frequency and intensity of its attacks since the start of its brutal war on Gaza, freely targeting Iran and its ally Hezbollah in Syria, especially around the capital, Damascus, where there is a stronger presence.

Monday’s air strike completely levelled the building of the Iranian consulate in Damascus, killing seven members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including two generals who led the elite Quds Force in Syria and Lebanon.

Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi was a key link between the IRGC and Hezbollah, having operated with Hezbollah leaders like Hassan Nasrallah and Imad Mughniyeh, who was assassinated by Israel, for decades.

This was the highest-ranked assassination since Quds Force commander Major General Qassem Soleimani was assassinated by the US in Iraq in January 2020.

The blow to the IRGC comes after its interests were repeatedly hit in Syria, with a strike in late December killing Razi Mousavi, another top Quds Force commander in Syria.

Just days before the attack on the Iranian consulate, the Israeli military had launched massive strikes on Syria’s northern province of Aleppo, killing at least 40 people, most of them soldiers. The strikes appeared to hit a weapons depot, resulting in a series of explosions that also killed six Hezbollah fighters.

Will there be more attacks on Syria?

Ramped-up Israeli air attacks on Syria are expected to continue as the war on Gaza – the current main driver of significantly heightened conflicts across the region – shows no immediate signs of stopping despite the deaths of more than 33,000 Palestinians and international condemnation.

Air defences deployed by the Syrian military engage and intercept some of the attacks on the country, but fail to stop them completely. Russia has strongly condemned the latest Israeli air attacks but has not moved against them.

Aron Lund, a fellow at US-based think tank Century International, says the bolder Israeli attacks are to some degree a response to likely increased Iranian arms deliveries to Hezbollah via Syria.

“But I think more generally it reflects the Israelis taking the gloves off and putting a lot more effort into degrading Hezbollah and Iran’s logistics,” he told Al Jazeera.

“The attack on the Iranian consulate is part of that pattern of more aggressive Israeli targeting.”

Will there be a wider conflict?

Tehran is now under pressure to respond to the latest Israeli attack, but it seeks to balance that with its stated desire to refrain from expanding the war on Gaza across the region.

Lund said an Iranian response could range from hitting an Israeli-linked ship or attacks in Iraq’s Kurdish region to targeting Israeli diplomatic missions abroad or more attacks by the resistance axis on Israeli territory – not to mention a direct attack on Israel.
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“But there are limits to how much damage Iran can do to Israel without using tools that could upset the balance of the conflict, invite Israeli counter-escalation, and risk a slide into a wider conflict,” he said.

For instance, a direct attack on Israel by Iran would likely prompt an Israeli attack on Iranian soil, while an escalation through Hezbollah could compound the risks of a regional war, Lund said.

“Iran may also start to put more pressure on US troops in the region, as they have done in the past. It would be a way to do something visible and to incentivise US efforts to restrain Israel. But there are limits to how far they’ll want to go against the Americans,” he said, pointing to attacks on US interests dying down after a major escalation in February.

Yet, Julien Barnes-Dacey, director of the Middle East and North Africa programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said the Israeli escalation will make it difficult for Tehran to refrain from more serious retaliation.

“Over recent months, we’ve seen an Iranian desire to keep the situation in check and prevent a broader unravelling and conflict, but Tehran may now feel compelled to respond more forcefully to defend the credibility of its deterrence posture,” he told Al Jazeera.

“Iran is unlikely to put much credence in Western public statements condemning the attack given continued strong backing for Israel, including through the ongoing provision of weaponry that Israel is using in Gaza and the region.”


SOURCE: AL JAZEERA

UN Security Council fails to condemn strike on Iran in Syria

The UN Security Council failed to condemn the airstrikes on Iran's embassy annex in Damascus earlier this week after opposition from the US, UK and France.

The New Arab Staff & Agencies
04 April, 2024

The consulate building was completely leveled by the airstrikes blamed on Israel [Getty]

The United States, Britain and France on Wednesday opposed a Russian-drafted U.N. Security Council statement that would have condemned an Israeli attack on Iran's embassy compound in Syria.

Press statements by the 15-member council have to be agreed by consensus. Diplomats said the U.S., backed by France and Britain, told council colleagues that many of the facts of what happened on Monday in Damascus remained unclear and there was no consensus among council members during a meeting on Tuesday.

"This serves as a clear illustration of the double standards employed by the Western 'troika' and their actual, rather than declarative, approach to legality and order in the international context," Russia's deputy U.N. Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy said in a post on X.

The U.N. Security Council has issued statements in the past condemning attacks on diplomatic premises. The European Union on Wednesday condemned the strike - saying the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises and personnel must be respected - and called on countries to show restraint.

The U.S. says it has not confirmed the status of the building struck in Damascus, but that it would be concerned if it was a diplomatic facility.

Israel has not actually claimed responsibility for the attack, which destroyed a consular building adjacent to the main embassy complex, killing seven members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

Iran has accused Israel of violating the founding U.N. Charter, international law, and also cited several conventions.

The 1961 Vienna Convention governing diplomatic relations and 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations define premises as buildings, parts of buildings and land - regardless of ownership - used for the purposes of the diplomatic or consular mission, including the head of the diplomatic mission.

Those conventions state that the diplomatic or consular premises "shall be inviolable." But they also say the premises should "not be used in any manner incompatible" with the diplomatic and consular functions.

Iran also cited the 1973 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Internationally Protected Persons, including Diplomatic Agents - suggesting those killed were covered by these rules.

Myanmar fighters target military in drone attacks on capital, anti-junta groups say

The military junta has been fighting on multiple fronts to try to contain uprisings around the country and stabilize an economy that has wilted since the 2021 coup.


April 4, 2024
By Reuters


Opponents of army rule in Myanmar said on Thursday they carried out drone attacks on two military targets in its capital Naypyitaw, attacks which, if confirmed, would be a major blow to the image of a junta struggling to govern.

Reuters could not independently confirm the information and the military government could not immediately be reached. State-controlled and military-run media outlets carried no news of the reported incident.

The National Unity Government (NUG), an alliance of anti-junta groups formed to challenge military rule in the wake of a 2021 coup, announced coordinated drone attacks on two military installations, but provided no details on the drones or weapons used, or whether the targets sustained any damage.

“The synchronized drone operations were simultaneously executed against Naypyitaw, targeting both the headquarters of the terrorist military and Alar Air Base,” the NUG said in a statement.

“Preliminary reports suggest there were casualties.”

If confirmed, the incident could dent the credibility of a well-equipped military that regards itself as the sole protector of Myanmar’s sovereignty, as it faces its biggest test since first taking control of the former British colony in 1962.

Naypyitaw is the seat of power for the military government and home to much of its defense hardware, built in a remote area of central Myanmar about two decades ago by the previous junta that had ruled for more than two decades.
Fierce rebellion

The junta has been fighting on multiple fronts to try to contain uprisings around the country and stabilize an economy that has wilted since the coup.

Myanmar is locked in a civil war between the military on one side and, on the other, a loose alliance of ethnic minority rebels and an armed movement which emerged in response to the junta’s bloody crackdown on anti-coup protests.

The military has been accused by Western governments of systematic atrocities, and excessive use of air strikes and artillery in civilian areas. It has dismissed that as misinformation and says it is targeting “terrorists”.

A spokesperson for the NUG’s armed affiliate in Naypyitaw, the People’s Defense Force (PDF) said it carried out Thursday’s attack under the instruction of the NUG’s defence ministry. It did not provide details of the incident.

Two unofficial, pro-military media outlets, however, said drones were successfully shot down, with no casualties.

NP news, citing an unnamed official, said the drones failed to reach the base but an explosion had occurred, causing some damage at the corner of a runway. A pro-military Telegram channel said seven drones were shot down, without citing sources.

The NUG’s defense ministry could not be reached.

Myanmar’s ruling general Min Aung Hlaing said in a national address last week that the military was holding power only temporarily and called for unity among the people and military to fight armed groups, which he said had foreign backing and were seeking to destroy the country.

Its military-installed president last year said the country was at risk of breaking apart due to the rebellion.

News outlet Mizzima said, without providing a source, that 16 drones were used to attack the military base and 13 were used in an attack on the air force base.

News website the Irrawaddy quoted a spokesperson for the group credited with operating the drones as saying the junta leader’s Naypyitaw residence was also a target, adding “we have plans to do more attacks”.

Reuters could not verify the reports.

Malignant Mutant Malfunctioned Myanmar Military: From Protector To Perpetrator – OpEd

 April 4, 2024  

By Nicholas Kong

The Myanmar’s modern military, originally celebrated as a liberating force against colonial rule and was established in 1941, was affectionately known as the Tatmadaw, which translates to “Royal Armed Forces”. This title, signifying national glory, shifted negatively after 1962 when General Ne Win’s coup d’état began an era of over six decades of military dominance. This period, defined by authoritarian governance and self-serving priorities, is widely considered the darkest chapter in Myanmar’s history.

Myanmar’s modern military origins dated back to December 28, 1941, with the formation of the Burma Independence Army (BIA) by the Thirty Comrades, led by Aung San, which aimed to terminate British colonial rule. The force underwent several changes, becoming the Burma Defense Army (BDA) in 1942 and then the Burma National Army (BNA) in 1943. Finally, BNA and anti-fascist resistance forces covertly formed the Patriotic Burmese Force (PBF), realigning with the Allies to oust the Japanese on March 27, 1945, known as Anti-fascist Resistance Day. (1)

General Aung San, the architect of Myanmar’s modern military, articulated the Tatmadaw’s code of conduct at the Military Academy’s first inaugural graduation on March 13, 1944. He advocated for a Tatmadaw dedicated to serving and protecting the nation and its people, regardless of ethnic and religious backgrounds, not to serve the interests of any individual, group, or political entity. He emphasized that Tatmadaw should be the servant of the country, not the other way around. Tragically his assassination on July 19, 1947, curtailed his vision, and over time, the military became a symbol of corruption and power misuse. 

After declaring independence on January 4, 1948, Myanmar was engulfed in civil war. The democratic government was eclipsed and eventually toppled by the military under General Ne Win on March 2, 1962. Ne Win, under the disguise of defending unity and sovereignty, dictated Burma single-handedly, instituting a new constitution in 1974 and establishing the Burma Socialist Program Party. His rule was notorious for totalitarian, isolationist practices, and civil clashes with Communist insurgents and ethnic factions, known collectively as a multi-color insurgency.

The military’s economic dominance advantaged Ne Win and his favorite officers, but strategies such as nationalization, spurning foreign investment, and the black-market economy, along with the costly civil war, led Southeast Asia’s once most prosperous country to become one of the world’s least developed countries. The fiscal catastrophe and harsh quelling of student demonstrators sparked the 8888 Uprising, where the military executed at least three thousand protesters.

In the aftermath of the 1988 upheavals, Ne Win stepped down but orchestrated another military junta led by General Saw Maung, who was purged by General Than Shwe in 1992. The era from 1988 to 2010 was characterized by poverty, inequality, corruption, and global seclusion. Than Shwe engineered a façade of quasi-political reform to convince the West to withdraw sanctions and debts. He first rewrote the 2008 constitution to ensure the military’s tight control over the governance, granting the commander-in-chief exclusive control over the National Defense and Security Council, military finances, and operations. (1) General Min Aung Hlaing, a superstitious mediocrity, was appointed top commander by General Than Shwe, who was known for his reliance on astrological adviser than merit.

The military junta held a controversial election in 2010 and dissolved, installing a surrogate political party and the retired General Thein Sein as president. The National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi triumphed in 2015. The military operated as a state within a state and undercut the civilian government, including the disruption of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement signed in 2015, committing ethnic group atrocities, and monopolizing major enterprises as the president has no command role over military. Feeling threatened by NLD’s landslide victory in 2020, Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, nearing retirement and fearing for his privileges and the cherished 2008 constitution, staged another coup on February 1, 2021, alleging unproven electoral fraud. This action re-affirmed military rule and dashed democratic hopes.

Despite international condemnation, the military, now pejoratively called Sit-Tat, brutally suppressed peaceful protests with human rights violations and acts against humanity. The crisis escalated to atrocities against civilians, including arson, air raids targeting civilians and school children, weaponization of COVID pandemic, and humanitarian emergencies. An exodus of foreign investment occurred, and they were swiftly seized by military elites and their families, and cronies. A deteriorating economy, compounded by military mismanagement, culminated with a 160% depreciation of Myanmar Kyats,a surge in prices up to 500%, and a foreign currency shortfall. The GDP per capita was estimated to be 13% below 2019 level, leading the country into a failed state. (2)(3).

Myanmar has now entered a violent new chapter. Sit-Tat faced fierce oppositions from both established ethnic resistance organizations (ERO) and newly formed Local Defense Forces (LDF) and People’s Defense Force (PDF) under National Unity Government (NUG).

On October 27, 2023, the two-year stalemate was broken by Operation 1027 in northern Shan State. The unprecedented success of Three Brotherhood Alliance turned the tide with concurrent wave after wave of offensives by resistance forces in Karenni, Karen, Rakhine, Chin, Kachin and Shan States, wide swathes of central Myanmar including Sagaing, Magwe, Mandalay, Bago, and southern Tanintharyi regions and urban guerrilla attacks in Mandalay and Yangon. (4)

Since October 2023, 4,000 troops of Regional Operations Command (ROC) in Laukkai, Shan state have surrendered; more than 5,500 troops have been killed or captured, including 11 brigadier generals; and more than 30 towns have been taken by the resistance. Since the coup, the junta has lost no less than 30,000 soldiers, 2,500 out of 5,280 headquarters, bases and outposts around the country including 2 Military Operation Command headquarters (MOC 16 in Hsenwi, Shan state and MOC 9 in Kyauktaw, Rakhine state) and 30 battalion bases, 4 helicopters and 3 jet fighters, scores of howitzers and 50 armored fighting vehicles. (5)(6)(7)(8)

The series of military defeats were contributed by a lack of public support, incompetent leadership due to corrupt promotion systems based on loyalty rather than merit, declining morale, depleting munition, and a manpower deficit, estimated at 70,000 combatants, spread thin across a multi-front war. On February 10, 2024, the weakened forces due to casualties, desertions, defections and detentions resorted to forced conscription, leading to widespread evasion. (9)

In the face of international isolation, the junta sought to strengthen ties with China, its top trade partner and arms supplier. However, Operation 1027 indicated a change in China stance. To counterbalance, Min Aung Hlaing bolstered relations with Moscow which was eyeing an increased role in Indian Ocean. Visits to Russia, including a meeting with President Putin in 2022, the annual attendance at the armed forces parade by Russia deputy defense minister and two joint naval exercises, should alert both Beijing and Washington DC. 

In a March 27 speech, the chief blamed the civilian government and foreign influence for his failures and issued unrealistic threats to crush the resistance. He insisted on legitimacy and maintaining strategic control through sham elections to sway like-minded regional powers and ASEAN members. He aimed to divide opposition groups and revived foreign peace brokers for insincere peace talks as a lifeline. Any international proponents of engagement should be cognizant of the manipulative skills of the Myanmar military. (10) Remembering Sit-Tat’s history, EROs must not forget the bitter experiences of their tumultuous relationship. It is vital that the military relinquish political power, accept civilian oversight, and forgo impunity for war crimes. 

The military dictators maintain a delusional belief in divine right akin to royalty, wielding unlimited power and claiming ownership of the country’s resources while enjoying authoritarian rule without consequence. The military elite unrepentantly involve themselves in politics, clinging to power indefinitely. Contrary to its purpose as protector and servant of the people, the military has become an impediment to Myanmar’s pursuit of liberty, democracy, and prosperity. The people of Myanmar must persevere, and the international community must stand firm in support, ensuring that sacrifices for freedom and justice are not in vain. 

References:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatmadaw
2. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/myanmar-history-coup-military-rule-ethnic-conflict-rohingya
3. https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/myanmar/overview
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myanmar_civil_war_(2021%E2%80%93present)
5. https://asiatimes.com/2024/03/myanmars-widening-war-headed-for-juntas-heartland/
6. https://myanmar.iiss.org/updates/2024-03
7. https://www.irrawaddy.com/opinion/guest-column/a-chronicle-of-collapse-how-the-tide-turned-against-myanmars-once-mighty-military.html
8. https://www.cfr.org/blog/myanmars-army-collapsing-update
9. https://www.irrawaddy.com/opinion/analysis/six-key-points-about-myanmars-newly-enforced-conscription-law.html 
10. 10.https://www.irrawaddy.com/opinion/guest-column/foreign-peacemakers-are-back-but-the-last-thing-myanmar-needs-is-more-white-messiahs.html

Location of Myanmar. Credit: VOA

Nicholas Kong

Nicholas Kong is a Myanmar democracy activist.

US bears some responsibility for Moscow concert attack, claims Russia, ‘everyone knows that the Kyiv is…’

By HT News Desk
Apr 04, 2024

The head of Russia's national security council on Wednesday contended that the US shares blame for the attack by gunmen on a Moscow concert hall

The United States bears some responsibility for the attack on a Moscow concert hall last month, which killed 144 people, claims Nikolai Patrushev, the head of Russia's National Security Council. Russia's blatant verbal attack comes despite ISIS Khorasan, an affiliate of the Islamic State, has admitted to orchestrating the attack, while Ukraine has consistently denied any involvement..

 Flowers and toys are placed on the roadside in front of the burnt-out Crocus City Hall following a deadly attack on the concert venue on the outskirts of Moscow, Russia, March 26, 2024. 

REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina/

The assault, which occurred on March 22 at Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, marked the deadliest attack in Russia in over 20 years. Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have consistently asserted, without presenting evidence, that Ukraine orchestrated the attack.
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Speaking at a meeting in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)—a nine-country alliance focused on security and economic matters that includes China, India, and Iran—Patrushev stated, "They are trying to impose on us that the terrorist act was committed not by the Kyiv regime, but by supporters of radical Islamic ideology, perhaps members of the Afghan branch of IS."

He continued, "However, it is much more important to quickly establish who is the customer and sponsor of this monstrous crime. Its traces lead to the Ukrainian special services. But everyone knows that the Kyiv regime is not independent and is completely controlled by the United States."

Four suspects allegedly involved in the attack were apprehended the day following the incident in the Bryansk region, which shares a border with Ukraine. Putin and other Russian officials claim that the gunmen had planned to flee to Ukraine. Additionally, six other suspected accomplices have been detained.

Two weeks prior to the attack, the United States Embassy in Russia issued a warning to the Kremlin, sharing intelligence about potential terrorist attacks in Russia. The U.S. State Department confirmed that this information was passed on to Russian officials.

When questioned about a report from the Washington Post suggesting that U.S. officials had specifically identified Crocus City Hall as a potential target, Putin's spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, declined to comment during a conference call, stating it was a matter for security services.

Furthermore, the Russian prosecutor-general's office has reportedly sent information requests to the U.S., Germany, France, and Cyprus regarding potential Western involvement in terrorist attacks on Russia, according to state news agency Tass.

Russia can't be target for Islamic fundamentalists, Putin says

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during an extended meeting of the Interior Ministry board in Moscow, Russia, April 2, 2024.

 Sputnik/Pavel Bednyakov/Kremlin via REUTERS/ File photo

APR 04, 2024


MOSCOW - Russia cannot be a target for Islamic fundamentalists, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday, nearly two weeks after at least 144 people were killed near Moscow in a mass shooting that was claimed by Islamic State militants.

"We have every reason to believe that the main goal of those who ordered the bloody, awful terrorist act in Moscow was to damage our unity," Putin said in televised comments.

"There are no other goals visible, there are none, because Russia cannot be the target of terrorist attacks by Islamic fundamentalists. We are a country that demonstrates a unique example of interfaith harmony and unity, of inter-religious and inter-ethnic unity."

Russia has repeatedly said the attack was ordered by Ukraine, while not providing evidence to back that assertion. Ukraine has denied involvement and the United States - which warned Russia beforehand of an impending attack by Islamist militants - has said Moscow's version is nonsense. 

REUTERS

Uganda’s most prominent LGBTQ activist says newly upheld anti-gay law will prompt violence

Frank Mugisha said he is bracing for violence in the East African nation after its constitutional court upheld an anti-gay law that includes the death penalty.

Ugandan LGBTQ activist Frank Mugisha in Kampala, Uganda, on March 30, 2023.

Abubaker Lubowa / Reuters


April 3, 2024
By Matt Lavietes and Erin McLaughlin

Uganda’s most prominent LGBTQ activist condemned a constitutional court’s decision Wednesday to uphold an anti-gay law that permits the death penalty in certain cases.

Speaking with NBC News from New York City, Frank Mugisha called the ruling a form of “state-sanctioned homophobia” and said he is bracing for violence in the East African nation.

“This ruling intensifies violations towards the LGBT community,” Mugisha said. “It is like the judges have told Ugandans: ‘Go and get violent towards the LGBTQ community.’”

Ugandans around the world have protested the anti-gay legislation.

Mark Kerrison / In Pictures via Getty Images file

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed the legislation into law last year, drawing condemnation from LGBTQ activists from around the world. Conversely, the law has broad support among the country’s population.

The law allows the death penalty in cases of “aggravated homosexuality,” which it defines as cases of same-sex relations involving a minor and other categories of vulnerable people, or when one of the individuals has HIV. A suspect convicted of “attempted aggravated homosexuality” can be imprisoned for up to 14 years, and the offense of “attempted homosexuality” is punishable by up to 10 years.

Homosexuality was already illegal in Uganda under a colonial-era law criminalizing sexual activity “against the order of nature.” The punishment for that offense remains life imprisonment.

More than 60 countries — mostly in Africa and the Mideast — have criminalized homosexuality, according to Human Rights Watch, but Uganda’s anti-gay law is considered one of the harshest.


Uganda court upholds most of country's anti-LGBTQ law
02:24

The Biden administration sanctioned the Ugandan government and restricted visas of Uganda officials following the law’s passage last year. Uganda’s government then accused the United States of pushing an “LGBT agenda.”

Mugisha said the U.S. needs to do more.

“The U.S. government has got a very good relationship with Uganda,” Mugisha said. “I think there are so many bilateral relationships that they can engage in. It could be behind the scenes advocacy, it could be public advocacy, but they should engage more.”

Ugandan officials deliver a judgment on the consolidated petitions challenging the constitutionality of the Anti-Homosexuality Act in Kampala on Wednesday.

Badru Katumba / AFP - Getty Images

Mugisha said he is worried about going back to his home country and facing what he described as “violence that would come from the state.”

“I am petrified,” he said. “If the judges can give such a ruling, that means there is no protection for any LGBTQ person in Uganda, and I’m not immune to that.”

“Uganda is ground zero for homophobia,” he added.

Gay rights activists call for more international pressure on Uganda over anti-gay law

Ugandan gay rights activists asked the international community to mount more pressure on the government of Uganda to repeal an anti-gay law which the country’s Constitutional Court refused to nullify on Wednesday

By RISDEL KASASIRA Associated Press
April 4, 2024

KAMPALA, Uganda -- Ugandan gay rights activists asked the international community to mount more pressure on the government of Uganda to repeal an anti-gay law which the country's Constitutional Court refused to nullify on Wednesday.

Activist Frank Mugisha said Tuesday’s ruling was “wrong and deplorable.”

“This ruling should result in further restrictions to donor funding for Uganda — no donor should be funding anti-LGBTQ+ hate and human rights violations,” said Mugisha.

The court upheld a law that allows the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality,” and up to 14 years in prison for a suspect convicted of “attempted aggravated homosexuality.” The offense of “attempted homosexuality” is punishable by up to 10 years.

President Yoweri Museveni signed the Anti-Homosexuality Act into law in May last year. It's supported by many in the East African country but widely condemned by rights groups and others abroad.

The court ordered that members of the LGBT community should not be discriminated against when seeking medicine, but U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday dismissed that concession as a “small and insufficient step towards safeguarding human rights.”

“The remaining provisions of the AHA pose grave threats to the Ugandan people, especially LGBTQI+ Ugandans and their allies, undermine public health, clamp down on civic space, damage Uganda’s international reputation, and harm efforts to increase foreign investment,” he said.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Thursday the court’s decision “is deeply disappointing, imperils human rights, and jeopardizes economic prosperity for all Ugandans.”

Sullivan said President Joe Biden’s administration “continues to assess implications of the AHA on all aspects of U.S. engagement with the Government of Uganda and has taken significant actions thus far,” including sanctions and visa restrictions against Ugandan officials and reduced support for the government, he said. “The United States will continue to hold accountable individuals and entities that perpetrate human rights abuses in Uganda, both unilaterally and with partners around the world."

A Ugandan human rights advocate who was a petitioner in the case, Nicholas Opiyo, expressed his disappointment.

“While we respect the court, we vehemently disagree with its findings and the basis on which it was reached. We approached the court expecting it to apply the law in defense of human rights and not rely on public sentiments, and vague cultural values arguments,” said Opiyo.

Homosexuality was already illegal in Uganda under a colonial-era law criminalizing sexual activity “against the order of nature.” The punishment for that offense is life imprisonment.

___

Associated Press writer Lou Kesten in Washington contributed.

Despite talks and truces, Colombia armed clashes worsen: Red Cross


By AFP
April 3, 2024

In 2023, The ICRC recorded 444 alleged violations of international humanitarian law, including threats, sexual abuse, recruitment of minors and the use of explosive devices - Copyright AFP SAID KHATIB

Clashes between armed groups in Colombia have intensified and civilians are “paying the price”, despite a variety of peace talks and ceasefires implemented by the government, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said Wednesday.

“Despite the hope and optimism generated by the ongoing negotiations, the humanitarian situation has not significantly improved,” said Lorenzo Caraffi, head of the ICRC delegation in the country, as he presented a report on violations of international humanitarian law in 2023.

Leftist President Gustavo Petro has sought to end six decades of conflict between the country’s security forces, guerrillas, right-wing paramilitaries and drug gangs as part of his “total peace” plan.

Since 2023, he has been in talks with several of these groups, including guerrillas who broke off from the Marxist group after it signed a 2016 peace deal.

However, ceasefires with far-right paramilitary groups, the Clan de Golfo drug cartel, and the main FARC dissident faction have since faced suspensions by the government due to violence, particularly involving civilians.

Clashes between these groups and security forces have “drastically” reduced, according to Caraffi.

At the same time, fighting has worsened between armed groups who are often fierce rivals and compete for territory for drug trafficking end illegal mining, he said.

“Clashes between armed groups for control of territory have intensified and it is the civilian population who are paying the price,” said Caraffi.

In 2023, the ICRC recorded 444 alleged violations of international humanitarian law in Colombia, including threats, sexual abuse, recruitment of minors and the use of explosive devices.

Incidents in which fighting between rival groups left communities trapped and unable to move freely increased 19 percent, and displacement of individuals increased 18 percent, according to the report.

However, the number of victims of explosives decreased 27 percent.

The opposition criticizes the slow pace of the peace negotiations and says the government is giving too many concessions to the armed groups.

Rights groups also accuse the guerillas of taking advantage of various ceasefires to expand their influence, seize more territory and recruit new members.

Read more: https://www.digitaljournal.com/world/despite-talks-and-truces-colombia-armed-clashes-worsen-red-cross/article#ixzz8WaYRqgdI

Brazil Faces Highest Rate Of 

Internet Data Breaches 

Globally

Date

4/5/2024 

 

 

(MENAFN- The Rio Times) In an alarming revelation by NordVPN, a leader in the cybersecurity industry, Brazil has been identified as the country most affected by internet data breaches.

The report unveils that over two billion cookies containing user information were compromised last year alone.

This study, analyzing 54 billion leaked cookies worldwide, identified Brazil as the chief cyber vulnerability hotspot.

Hackers often steal sensitive data: individuals' names, emails, cities, passwords, and home addresses.

These details are usually stored within cookies. Cookies are small text files that websites send to a user's browser.

They play a crucial role in tracking online behavior and preferences, aiming to tailor the web experience more personally to the user.

However, the report identified a significant threat in the form of RedLine malware , which was responsible for a staggering 57% of the cyber offenses investigated.

This malware has not only affected Brazil but also led to considerable breaches in India, Indonesia, and the United States.

Highlighting an ironic twist, Adrianus Warmenhoven of NordVPN commented on how the ubiquity of cookie consent forms has inadvertently increased cybersecurity risks.

He recommended a simple yet effective safeguard: regularly clearing cookies from browsers to reduce the risk of data being accessible to unauthorized parties.
Background
In 2023, Latin America ranked as the fourth-highest target for cyberattacks globally, with 12% of incidents, according to the IBM X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 202 .

This surge in cybercrime highlights advanced campaigns specifically designed for the region.

IBM's Juan Carlos Zevallos points to a widespread digital identity crisis , largely due to compromised credentials, mirroring a global trend.

The financial impact is significant. The average cost of a data breach reached $4.45 million, marking a 15% increase over three years.

Brazil, Colombia, and Chile experienced the highest number of attacks, particularly affecting the retail and energy sectors.

Cybercriminals prefer legitimate account access over network breaches, showing a strategic shift.

Mining's Toxic Legacy In 

Yanomami Territory

Date

4/5/2024 

(MENAFN- The Rio Times) A study by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation and Socio-Environmental Institute revealed alarming mercury contamination among the Yanomami, Brazil's largest Indigenous group.

The analysis involved 287 Yanomami individuals, revealing that a vast majority faced mercury levels exceeding safe limits.

Specifically, 84% showed mercury levels above 2.0 μg/g, and 10.8% exceeded 6.0 μg/g, surpassing the World Health Organization's limit.

The study linked the highest mercury levels to communities by the Mucajaí River, affected by illegal mining.

Survival International emphasized the worsened situation due to ineffective military action and health post closures.

Dário Kopenawa from the Hutukara Yanomami Association named mining as the main cause of pollution, habitat loss, and health issues like malaria and malnutrition.

The Yanomami territory, spanning Amazonas and Roraima, houses 31,000 people across 370 communities.

This group, with six linguistic subgroups, only recently encountered non-Indigenous populations.

The study, conducted in October 2022 across nine communities, aimed to document the mercury levels following a request from the Texoli Ninam Indigenous Association.

This investigation sheds light on the severe environmental and health challenges faced by the Yanomami due to illegal mining.
Background
The Brazilian Army's move in February to deploy 3,000 troops to the Yanomami Indigenous Territory marks a significant effort to safeguar this critical region.

General Tomás Paiva leads deployment addressing urgent crisis from illegal mining, providing essential security and support.

Illegal mining has devastated the environment and endangered the Yanomami people's health, causing diseases and malnutrition.

The Army's response includes creating two outposts near key rivers and enhancing logistics and response capabilities.

Though ambitious, this plan faces financial and logistical hurdles.

This action aligns with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's broader strategy to shift from short-term fixes to lasting solutions for the Yanomami territory.

The government's commitment involves a significant investment aimed at improving health and security for the indigenous population.

Brazil Will Explore Oil until It Reaches the Level of a Developed Country, Says Energy Minister

Alexandre Silveira argues that natural resources should not be criminalized and calls out rich countries

Apr.4.2024

Even after Brazil committed to transitioning to a global economy away from fossil fuels, Minister Alexandre Silveira (Mines and Energy) says the country should continue oil exploration until it achieves the same social indicators as developed economies.

"In my opinion, [the country will explore oil and gas] until Brazil manages to reach a Human Development Index (HDI) comparable to that achieved by industrialized countries, which today can contribute very little to the environmental issue," Silveira tells Folha.

The departure from fossil fuels was agreed upon last year at COP28, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai, between Brazil and over a hundred countries.


The minister agrees that the country should impose the so-called Selective Tax on oil — a tax for items that harm health or nature, currently under regulation.

However, he believes that rich countries also need to foot the bill, starting with commitments such as the Paris Agreement, which foresees the allocation of $100 billion annually to climate change-related measures in developing countries.