For a week, 21-year-old student Phoe Thar has been out by dawn to gather oxygen cylinders from the homes of coronavirus sufferers in&nbsp;Myanmar's second city of Mandalay.

He and fellow volunteers line the tanks up outside charities for filling and returning, trying to save lives in a country whose health system has largely collapsed since a Feb. 1 coup and which now faces its worst surge of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a> infections.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/as-covid-rages-in-myanmar-army-hoards-oxygen-doctors-say-398574">As COVID rages in Myanmar, army hoards oxygen, doctors say</a>

Funded by donors on social media, Phoe Thar and his team are part of a growing grassroots effort that bypasses the authorities and echoes the way&nbsp;Myanmar's people responded to crises during previous decades of army rule.

"Since the number of people who need oxygen tanks is massive, it's a huge challenge for us," Phoe Thar told Reuters by phone from Mandalay.

Health ministry figures showed deaths from COVID-19 stood at 231 on Sunday from a record 233 on Saturday, but medics and funeral services say the real toll is much higher, and crematoriums are overloaded.

The total official death toll has risen 50 per cent already this month to 5,000 with the spread of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/delta-is-the-fastest-covid-19-variant-and-will-pick-off-the-most-vulnerable-who-393278">Delta variant</a> that has also surged elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/health-volunteers-provide-hope-to-covid-infected-myanmar-amid-another-outbreak-397441">Health volunteers provide hope to Covid-infected Myanmar amid another outbreak</a>

Reuters was unable to reach the health ministry or a junta spokesman for comment on the outbreak and public response.

Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing appealed for volunteers and for national cooperation at a meeting on the coronavirus emergency in comments broadcast on state television on Sunday.

"Some people do not dare to volunteer because of intimidation. Some people want to join but they have different reasons and difficulties," he said. "As I said before, I welcome them. Cooperation is required."

The state-run Global New Light of&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;newspaper said producing more oxygen was a priority. The junta's critics say lives have been lost because of restrictions it has imposed on some private oxygen suppliers in the name of stopping hoarding.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-covid-19-outbreak-hits-health-system-shattered-after-coup-388299">Myanmar COVID-19 outbreak hits health system shattered after coup</a>

A health system that was already among the region's weakest foundered after the coup as many health workers joined a Civil Disobdedience Movement to oppose the junta. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">COVID-19 vaccination</a>, testing and prevention measures all stalled.

'The hospitals can't do anything'

One underground doctor who recently volunteered help on social media said he was inundated with hundreds of requests. When he made house calls he found almost all the sick had coronavirus symptoms and most had low oxygen levels.

"The situation is severe," said the doctor, who works under the name Pa Gyi. "The hospitals can't do anything for them... I can't just sit and watch as the patients are getting helpless."

He contrasted the situation with that during two previous waves of the coronavirus that were largely brought under control by the government of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is now deposed and on trial on an array of charges.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/desperate-search-for-oxygen-in-myanmar-as-latest-covid-19-wave-hits-398122">Desperate search for oxygen in Myanmar as latest COVID-19 wave hits</a>

uu Kyi's government had the advantage of volunteers who manned quarantine and testing centres and helped to take some of the weight at public hospitals.

But far fewer are coming forward to help a military government that still faces daily protests against its seizure of power after alleging fraud in an election landslide by Suu Kyi's party last year.

Most of the volunteers in Mandalay from the first and second waves of coronavirus infections had disappeared, said Phoe Thar.

Instead, groups like his are organising by themselves, resembling the way&nbsp;Myanmar's people often helped each other during disasters in the past - notably after a limited response by a previous junta to the devastating Cyclone Nargis in 2008.

Groups of friends in the main city, Yangon, told Reuters they were clubbing together to try to import oxygen cylinders from neighbouring Thailand.

Residents of the town of Kawlin in the western Sagaing Region are trying to raise at least $30,000 to import their own oxygen generator from China.

"Now we are suffering the third wave of COVID. We don't know how many more waves there we will be," one of the organisers told Reuters by phone, declining to be named for fear of reprisals. "We now have to act as though we don't have any government."

For a week, 21-year-old student Phoe Thar has been out by dawn to gather oxygen cylinders from the homes of coronavirus sufferers in Myanmar's second city of Mandalay.

For a week, 21-year-old student Phoe Thar has been out by dawn to gather oxygen cylinders from the homes of coronavirus sufferers in Myanmar's second city of Mandalay. He and fellow volunteers line the tanks up outside charities for filling and returning, trying to save lives in a country whose health system has largely collapsed since a Feb. 1 coup and which now faces its worst surge of COVID-19 infections. Also read | As COVID rages in Myanmar, army hoards oxygen, doctors say Funded by donors on social media, Phoe Thar and his team are part of a growing grassroots effort that bypasses the authorities and echoes the way Myanmar's people responded to crises during previous decades of army rule. "Since the number of people who need oxygen tanks is massive, it's a huge challenge for us," Phoe Thar told Reuters by phone from Mandalay. Health ministry figures showed deaths from COVID-19 stood at 231 on Sunday from a record 233 on Saturday, but medics and funeral services say the real toll is much higher, and crematoriums are overloaded. The total official death toll has risen 50 per cent already this month to 5,000 with the spread of the Delta variant that has also surged elsewhere in Southeast Asia. Also read | Health volunteers provide hope to Covid-infected Myanmar amid another outbreak Reuters was unable to reach the health ministry or a junta spokesman for comment on the outbreak and public response. Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing appealed for volunteers and for national cooperation at a meeting on the coronavirus emergency in comments broadcast on state television on Sunday. "Some people do not dare to volunteer because of intimidation. Some people want to join but they have different reasons and difficulties," he said. "As I said before, I welcome them. Cooperation is required." The state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper said producing more oxygen was a priority. The junta's critics say lives have been lost because of restrictions it has imposed on some private oxygen suppliers in the name of stopping hoarding. Also read | Myanmar COVID-19 outbreak hits health system shattered after coup A health system that was already among the region's weakest foundered after the coup as many health workers joined a Civil Disobdedience Movement to oppose the junta. COVID-19 vaccination, testing and prevention measures all stalled. 'The hospitals can't do anything' One underground doctor who recently volunteered help on social media said he was inundated with hundreds of requests. When he made house calls he found almost all the sick had coronavirus symptoms and most had low oxygen levels. "The situation is severe," said the doctor, who works under the name Pa Gyi. "The hospitals can't do anything for them... I can't just sit and watch as the patients are getting helpless." He contrasted the situation with that during two previous waves of the coronavirus that were largely brought under control by the government of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is now deposed and on trial on an array of charges. Also read | Desperate search for oxygen in Myanmar as latest COVID-19 wave hits uu Kyi's government had the advantage of volunteers who manned quarantine and testing centres and helped to take some of the weight at public hospitals. But far fewer are coming forward to help a military government that still faces daily protests against its seizure of power after alleging fraud in an election landslide by Suu Kyi's party last year. Most of the volunteers in Mandalay from the first and second waves of coronavirus infections had disappeared, said Phoe Thar. Instead, groups like his are organising by themselves, resembling the way Myanmar's people often helped each other during disasters in the past - notably after a limited response by a previous junta to the devastating Cyclone Nargis in 2008. Groups of friends in the main city, Yangon, told Reuters they were clubbing together to try to import oxygen cylinders from neighbouring Thailand. Residents of the town of Kawlin in the western Sagaing Region are trying to raise at least $30,000 to import their own oxygen generator from China. "Now we are suffering the third wave of COVID. We don't know how many more waves there we will be," one of the organisers told Reuters by phone, declining to be named for fear of reprisals. "We now have to act as though we don't have any government."

COVID-19 response runs underground in junta-ruled Myanmar

Dozens of children have been killed and hundreds arbitrarily detained in Myanmar since a coup more than five months ago, UN rights experts warned Friday.

The UN Child Rights Committee said in a statement that it had received "credible information" indicating that since the February 1 coup, "75 children have been killed, about 1,000 arbitrarily detained and countless more deprived of essential medical care and education".&nbsp;

Dozens of children have been killed and hundreds arbitrarily detained in Myanmar since a coup more than five months ago, UN rights experts warned Friday. The UN Child Rights Committee said in a statement that it had received "credible information" indicating that since the February 1 coup, "75 children have been killed, about 1,000 arbitrarily detained and countless more deprived of essential medical care and education".

75 children killed, around 1,000 detained since Myanmar coup: UN experts

Residents across Myanmar's biggest city are defying a military curfew in a desperate search for oxygen to keep their loved ones breathing as a new coronavirus wave crashes over the coup-wracked country.

The spike in cases is the latest blow to Myanmar, already suffering from a February coup and a bloody crackdown on dissent that has killed over 900 people and gutted the economy.&nbsp;

Hundreds queued across Yangon as the sun rose Wednesday in the hope of refilling blue oxygen cylinders to take home to family members stricken with the virus.

Some had brought chairs and prepared for a long wait.&nbsp;

For others, it was too late.

"My sister was suffering from Covid-19 for three days," Than Zaw Win, told AFP as he left one of the queues in the city of some 7 million.

"In the first day, she was dizzy with low (blood) pressure... and she suffered a lot yesterday as she couldn't breathe well."&nbsp;

"But while I was queueing to fill oxygen this morning, my niece called me to go back home as my sister had died."

Authorities logged over 7,000 new cases on Wednesday — compared with fewer than 50 per day in early May.

Millions in Yangon and the second city of Mandalay have been ordered to stay home, but the toll continues to rise and volunteer teams are stepping in to remove the bodies of victims from their neighbourhoods.

Ye Kyaw Moe, a sailor, said he slipped out at 3am — half an hour before the lifting of a military-imposed curfew — to get a place in the oxygen line.&nbsp;

But when he arrived at a refill centre in Yangon there were already 14 others in front of him.

"I haven't slept for the whole night" he said.&nbsp;

"I also had to be careful to avoid the soldiers as we are still under martial law."

The State Administration Council — as the junta calls itself — says there is no need for alarm.

"Actually we have enough Oxygen," ran the headline in Tuesday's Global New Light of Myanmar, a state-backed newspaper.

"The people do not need to worry about it so much and should not spread the rumour," it quoted junta leader Min Aung Hlaing as saying.

But Than Zaw Win disagreed.

"She had no other diseases... There is no way my sister would have died if we had enough oxygen," he said.

'Through rain or sun'

Swathes of Myanmar were put under partial lockdown last year but enforcement was often lax in the developing nation, where many had to choose between following regulations and feeding their families.

The new wave comes with the country reeling from post-coup violence, and with many medical workers joining a nationwide civil disobedience campaign against the military.

Infections are also seeping across Myanmar's porous borders — last week a cluster in the border city of Ruili helped push China's daily caseload to its highest in six months.

Of the 57 cases reported nationwide, 12 were Myanmar nationals in Ruili, authorities said.&nbsp;

Vaccine rollouts have also been slow — only around 1.75 million people have been vaccinated in the country of 54 million, according to the junta.

"The junta lacks the resources, the capabilities, and the legitimacy to bring this crisis under control," UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar Tom Andrews said Wednesday.

"The crisis... is particularly lethal because of the pervasive mistrust of the military junta."

The spike is also compounding difficulties for already overstretched humanitarian workers.&nbsp;

"Moving staff to where they can do the most good, moving aid to communities who need it, all becomes more challenging," a Red Cross spokesperson in the country told AFP.&nbsp;

Myanmar is set to receive four million vaccine doses from China by the first week of August — too late for those fighting for breath.

At another queue in Yangon, Aung Kyaw was hoping to get more oxygen for his wife.

The last time he wanted to fill up his 40-litre (10-gallon) cylinder, he was kept waiting for 24 hours, the 43-year-old said.

Unlike others, he said he cannot afford to travel across the city looking for refill centres where the queues are shorter. &nbsp;

"So I need to wait and queue here through rain or sun and the whole night too."

Residents across Myanmar's biggest city are defying a military curfew in a desperate search for oxygen to keep their loved ones breathing as a new coronavirus wave crashes over the coup-wracked country.

Residents across Myanmar's biggest city are defying a military curfew in a desperate search for oxygen to keep their loved ones breathing as a new coronavirus wave crashes over the coup-wracked country. The spike in cases is the latest blow to Myanmar, already suffering from a February coup and a bloody crackdown on dissent that has killed over 900 people and gutted the economy. Hundreds queued across Yangon as the sun rose Wednesday in the hope of refilling blue oxygen cylinders to take home to family members stricken with the virus. Some had brought chairs and prepared for a long wait. For others, it was too late. "My sister was suffering from Covid-19 for three days," Than Zaw Win, told AFP as he left one of the queues in the city of some 7 million. "In the first day, she was dizzy with low (blood) pressure... and she suffered a lot yesterday as she couldn't breathe well." "But while I was queueing to fill oxygen this morning, my niece called me to go back home as my sister had died." Authorities logged over 7,000 new cases on Wednesday — compared with fewer than 50 per day in early May. Millions in Yangon and the second city of Mandalay have been ordered to stay home, but the toll continues to rise and volunteer teams are stepping in to remove the bodies of victims from their neighbourhoods. Ye Kyaw Moe, a sailor, said he slipped out at 3am — half an hour before the lifting of a military-imposed curfew — to get a place in the oxygen line. But when he arrived at a refill centre in Yangon there were already 14 others in front of him. "I haven't slept for the whole night" he said. "I also had to be careful to avoid the soldiers as we are still under martial law." The State Administration Council — as the junta calls itself — says there is no need for alarm. "Actually we have enough Oxygen," ran the headline in Tuesday's Global New Light of Myanmar, a state-backed newspaper. "The people do not need to worry about it so much and should not spread the rumour," it quoted junta leader Min Aung Hlaing as saying. But Than Zaw Win disagreed. "She had no other diseases... There is no way my sister would have died if we had enough oxygen," he said. 'Through rain or sun' Swathes of Myanmar were put under partial lockdown last year but enforcement was often lax in the developing nation, where many had to choose between following regulations and feeding their families. The new wave comes with the country reeling from post-coup violence, and with many medical workers joining a nationwide civil disobedience campaign against the military. Infections are also seeping across Myanmar's porous borders — last week a cluster in the border city of Ruili helped push China's daily caseload to its highest in six months. Of the 57 cases reported nationwide, 12 were Myanmar nationals in Ruili, authorities said. Vaccine rollouts have also been slow — only around 1.75 million people have been vaccinated in the country of 54 million, according to the junta. "The junta lacks the resources, the capabilities, and the legitimacy to bring this crisis under control," UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar Tom Andrews said Wednesday. "The crisis... is particularly lethal because of the pervasive mistrust of the military junta." The spike is also compounding difficulties for already overstretched humanitarian workers. "Moving staff to where they can do the most good, moving aid to communities who need it, all becomes more challenging," a Red Cross spokesperson in the country told AFP. Myanmar is set to receive four million vaccine doses from China by the first week of August — too late for those fighting for breath. At another queue in Yangon, Aung Kyaw was hoping to get more oxygen for his wife. The last time he wanted to fill up his 40-litre (10-gallon) cylinder, he was kept waiting for 24 hours, the 43-year-old said. Unlike others, he said he cannot afford to travel across the city looking for refill centres where the queues are shorter. "So I need to wait and queue here through rain or sun and the whole night too."

Desperate search for oxygen in Myanmar as latest COVID-19 wave hits

The United States has "deep concerns" about the military coup in Myanmar and called on Southeast Asian nations to take action to end violence and restore democracy in the country, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday. 
 
The Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) has been leading the main diplomatic effort on member country Myanmar since a February&nbsp;1 coup plunged it into turmoil. 
 
During a video conference with ASEAN foreign ministers on Wednesday, Blinken urged ASEAN to take "immediate action" on a five-point consensus, agreed upon in April, to appoint a special envoy to Myanmar, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement. 
 
Myanmar has descended into chaos after the coup, with hundreds of protesters killed by security forces and thousands jailed amid paralysing strikes and spreading conflict in border regions. 
 
Blinken asked for the release of all those "unjustly detained" in the country, and the restoration of Myanmar`s democratic transition, Price said. 
 
Blinken also emphasised the US&nbsp;rejection of China's "unlawful maritime claims" in the South China Sea and said Washington "stands with Southeast Asian claimants in the face of (Chinese) coercion", Price said.

The United States has "deep concerns" about the military coup in Myanmar and called on Southeast Asian nations to take action to end violence and restore democracy in the country, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday.

The United States has "deep concerns" about the military coup in Myanmar and called on Southeast Asian nations to take action to end violence and restore democracy in the country, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday. The Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) has been leading the main diplomatic effort on member country Myanmar since a February 1 coup plunged it into turmoil. During a video conference with ASEAN foreign ministers on Wednesday, Blinken urged ASEAN to take "immediate action" on a five-point consensus, agreed upon in April, to appoint a special envoy to Myanmar, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement. Myanmar has descended into chaos after the coup, with hundreds of protesters killed by security forces and thousands jailed amid paralysing strikes and spreading conflict in border regions. Blinken asked for the release of all those "unjustly detained" in the country, and the restoration of Myanmar`s democratic transition, Price said. Blinken also emphasised the US rejection of China's "unlawful maritime claims" in the South China Sea and said Washington "stands with Southeast Asian claimants in the face of (Chinese) coercion", Price said.

Blinken calls on Southeast Asian nations to take action on Myanmar

The military junta in Myanmar has slapped the deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi with four more corruption charges. The new cases could see Suu Kyi tied up in legal proceedings in three different cities and jailed for more than a decade.

Myanmar: Detained leader Suu Kyi hit by 4 new charges in Mandalay court

According to the health ministry, Myanmar has reported 188,752 cases and 3,756 deaths till now. On Saturday, the country saw another record high of 4,377 new cases, while 71 people succumbed to the virus.

Myanmar faces huge spike in daily Covid-19 cases

Myanmar is facing a rapid rise in COVID-19 infections amid a shortage in oxygen supplies. The situation comes as the country is consumed by a bitter and violent political struggle since the military seized power in February after ousting civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

COVID-19 infections rise at an alarming rate in Myanmar

As the country faces another <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus</a> outbreak, locals have started looking for volunteers clad in white PPE kits to perform the last rites of the Covid victims.

Last year, Myanmar locals started providing free taxi services for those who were infected by the deadly coronavirus. These volunteers were readily taking victims to hospitals and quarantine centres. However, locals were hesitant about taking help from them.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-rebel-group-suspends-key-leader-in-massacre-investigation-397219" hreflang="en">Myanmar rebel group suspends key leader in massacre investigation</a>

Things seemed to have changed now as locals are turning towards these volunteers for help as Myanmar has observed an alarming increase in coronavirus cases.

"Before... people were scared to see emergency teams wearing PPE," a volunteer in Hle Guu township north of Yangon told new agency, AFP. "But now, they are looking for us. The situation is upside down."

Last week, Tun Khine (a businessman who spoke under a pseudonym) took seven dead bodies to a crematorium ground. Of these seven dead bodies, one was a confirmed case who died in the hospital and the other six were suspected to have been infected from the virus and had never been taken to the hospital.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/stay-at-home-orders-in-myanmars-yangon-as-covid-cases-spike-396593" hreflang="en">Stay-at-home orders in Myanmar's Yangon as Covid cases spike</a>

While the world was fighting coronavirus last year, Myanmar was battling a military coup. Since the Myanmar military ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi and took control of the country, thousands of health workers went on strike to protest the rising violence in the country.

Since the coup, all medical workers have been scared of getting attacked by the forces. Khine’s team, too, has voiced this concern. "Of course we are afraid," he said. "But our bigger fear is our people being infected and risking their lives."

At the end of every shift, the team members spray each other with disinfectants to protect themselves and their family members from the deadly coronavirus. However, they have vowed to continue helping fellow citizens in this battle against COVID-19. "More people are going to die if we stop working because we are afraid,"&nbsp;Khine said.

As the country faces another coronavirus outbreak, locals have started looking for volunteers clad in white PPE kits to perform the last rites of the Covid victims.

As the country faces another coronavirus outbreak, locals have started looking for volunteers clad in white PPE kits to perform the last rites of the Covid victims. Last year, Myanmar locals started providing free taxi services for those who were infected by the deadly coronavirus. These volunteers were readily taking victims to hospitals and quarantine centres. However, locals were hesitant about taking help from them. Also read | Myanmar rebel group suspends key leader in massacre investigation Things seemed to have changed now as locals are turning towards these volunteers for help as Myanmar has observed an alarming increase in coronavirus cases. "Before... people were scared to see emergency teams wearing PPE," a volunteer in Hle Guu township north of Yangon told new agency, AFP. "But now, they are looking for us. The situation is upside down." Last week, Tun Khine (a businessman who spoke under a pseudonym) took seven dead bodies to a crematorium ground. Of these seven dead bodies, one was a confirmed case who died in the hospital and the other six were suspected to have been infected from the virus and had never been taken to the hospital. Also read | Stay-at-home orders in Myanmar's Yangon as Covid cases spike While the world was fighting coronavirus last year, Myanmar was battling a military coup. Since the Myanmar military ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi and took control of the country, thousands of health workers went on strike to protest the rising violence in the country. Since the coup, all medical workers have been scared of getting attacked by the forces. Khine’s team, too, has voiced this concern. "Of course we are afraid," he said. "But our bigger fear is our people being infected and risking their lives." At the end of every shift, the team members spray each other with disinfectants to protect themselves and their family members from the deadly coronavirus. However, they have vowed to continue helping fellow citizens in this battle against COVID-19. "More people are going to die if we stop working because we are afraid," Khine said.

Health volunteers provide hope to Covid-infected Myanmar amid another outbreak

A prominent ethnic rebel group in&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;suspended one of its key leaders this week, a spokesman said Saturday, as it investigates an alleged massacre of civilians on its territory.

Myanmar&nbsp;has been in turmoil since a February coup ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government, sparking huge protests among civilians and renewing clashes between the military and ethnic rebel armies in its border regions.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmars-suu-kyi-back-in-junta-court-on-sedition-charges-393182">Myanmar's Suu Kyi back in junta court on sedition charges</a>

The Karen National Union (KNU),&nbsp;one of&nbsp;Myanmar's largest rebel groups in its east, which has tussled with the military for decades,&nbsp;has been locked in renewed conflict with the army since the coup.

In May, state-run media accused fighters from one of the group's armed wings, the Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO), of a May 31 massacre of 25 construction workers,&nbsp;an allegation the KNU had said it would investigate.

Spokesman Padoh Saw Taw Nee confirmed Saturday that the KNDO's head, General Ner Dah Bo Mya, and his subordinate Lieutenant Saw Ba Wah have been "suspended temporarily".&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/25-killed-in-myanmar-clashes-between-army-and-anti-junta-fighters-395797">25 killed in Myanmar clashes between army and anti-junta fighters</a>

"According to the Geneva Conventions, even if they are our enemies, we just arrest them, you cannot kill like that," he said.

"We stand firmly on our commitment to the Geneva Conventions and the international community, and we have to deal with this carefully."

The decision, made on Monday by KNU leaders, will inject more discord within the rebel group, whose political divisions over the handling of the junta have spilled out in recent months to the public.&nbsp;

Padoh Saw Taw Nee defended the suspension as "part of our procedures".

'We cannot mingle with the devil'

But General Ner Dah Bo Mya blasted the decision, saying that the KNU's political leaders had refused to hear the KNDO's side.&nbsp;

He alleged that Burmese soldiers had ambushed his troops with mortar artillery as they were arresting military intelligence personnel.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-rejects-un-resolution-urging-arms-embargo-392640">Myanmar rejects UN resolution urging arms embargo</a>

"During the armed conflict, the soldiers didn’t take care," he told AFP, adding that he did not want to cooperate with the investigation because "they didn't talk to me".

"Our grand leader and politicians should side with us instead of working with the enemies," he said.&nbsp;

"We cannot mingle with the devil."

Myanmar's border regions are a patchwork of territories and alliances held by more than two dozen rebel groups, most of whom have fought with the military for more autonomy and resources.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-junta-and-villagers-trade-accusations-after-houses-razed-392008">Myanmar junta and villagers trade accusations after houses razed</a>

Since the coup the KNU has clashed sporadically with the&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;military along the Thai border.&nbsp;

In March its fighters seized a military post and the army retaliated with air raids, the first in more than 20 years in Karen state.

The group has also condemned the military for the power grab, and provided shelter to dissidents working to oust the State Administration Council, as the junta has dubbed itself.&nbsp;

Nearly 890 people have been killed by the junta's security forces since February 1, according to a local monitoring group.

A prominent ethnic rebel group in Myanmar suspended one of its key leaders this week, a spokesman said Saturday, as it investigates an alleged massacre of civilians on its territory.

A prominent ethnic rebel group in Myanmar suspended one of its key leaders this week, a spokesman said Saturday, as it investigates an alleged massacre of civilians on its territory. Myanmar has been in turmoil since a February coup ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government, sparking huge protests among civilians and renewing clashes between the military and ethnic rebel armies in its border regions. Also read | Myanmar's Suu Kyi back in junta court on sedition charges The Karen National Union (KNU), one of Myanmar's largest rebel groups in its east, which has tussled with the military for decades, has been locked in renewed conflict with the army since the coup. In May, state-run media accused fighters from one of the group's armed wings, the Karen National Defence Organisation (KNDO), of a May 31 massacre of 25 construction workers, an allegation the KNU had said it would investigate. Spokesman Padoh Saw Taw Nee confirmed Saturday that the KNDO's head, General Ner Dah Bo Mya, and his subordinate Lieutenant Saw Ba Wah have been "suspended temporarily". Also read | 25 killed in Myanmar clashes between army and anti-junta fighters "According to the Geneva Conventions, even if they are our enemies, we just arrest them, you cannot kill like that," he said. "We stand firmly on our commitment to the Geneva Conventions and the international community, and we have to deal with this carefully." The decision, made on Monday by KNU leaders, will inject more discord within the rebel group, whose political divisions over the handling of the junta have spilled out in recent months to the public. Padoh Saw Taw Nee defended the suspension as "part of our procedures". 'We cannot mingle with the devil' But General Ner Dah Bo Mya blasted the decision, saying that the KNU's political leaders had refused to hear the KNDO's side. He alleged that Burmese soldiers had ambushed his troops with mortar artillery as they were arresting military intelligence personnel. Also read | Myanmar rejects UN resolution urging arms embargo "During the armed conflict, the soldiers didn’t take care," he told AFP, adding that he did not want to cooperate with the investigation because "they didn't talk to me". "Our grand leader and politicians should side with us instead of working with the enemies," he said. "We cannot mingle with the devil." Myanmar's border regions are a patchwork of territories and alliances held by more than two dozen rebel groups, most of whom have fought with the military for more autonomy and resources. Also read | Myanmar junta and villagers trade accusations after houses razed Since the coup the KNU has clashed sporadically with the Myanmar military along the Thai border. In March its fighters seized a military post and the army retaliated with air raids, the first in more than 20 years in Karen state. The group has also condemned the military for the power grab, and provided shelter to dissidents working to oust the State Administration Council, as the junta has dubbed itself. Nearly 890 people have been killed by the junta's security forces since February 1, according to a local monitoring group.

Myanmar rebel group suspends key leader in massacre investigation

Norwegian telecoms group&nbsp;Telenor&nbsp;said Thursday it is selling its subsidiary in Myanmar, where it is one of the major operators, as a result of the military coup there.

While the agreement to sell&nbsp;Telenor&nbsp;Myanmar to M1 Group for $105 million will ensure continued operations of its fixed and wireless networks, analysts expressed concern it might not bode well for freedom to use social networks.

"The situation in Myanmar has over the past months become increasingly challenging for&nbsp;Telenor&nbsp;for people security, regulatory and compliance reasons,"&nbsp;Telenor&nbsp;chief executive Sigve Brekke was quoted as saying in a statement announcing the divestment.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/military-coup-puts-telenors-future-in-myanmar-on-the-line-383525">Military coup puts Telenor's future in Myanmar on the line</a>

"We have evaluated all options and believe a sale of the company is the best possible solution in this situation," he said.&nbsp;

Telenor&nbsp;has had a commercial presence in Myanmar since 2014 and employs a workforce of around 750 in the country.

Telenor&nbsp;was pushed deep into the red in the first quarter after it was forced to write down all of its assets in Myanmar, taking their value from 6.5 billion kroner ($769 million) to zero.

But the operator was highly profitable, however, with&nbsp;Telenor&nbsp;saying the subsidiary had paid 3.2 billion in dividends since 2017.

Myanmar has been rocked by massive protests and a brutal military response since the February coup that ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her government.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-may-target-free-speech-in-effort-to-stifle-protests-363394">Myanmar may target free speech in effort to stifle protests</a>

More than 880 civilians have been killed in a crackdown by the State Administration Council, as the junta calls itself, and almost 6,500 arrested, according to a local monitoring group.&nbsp;

"Further deterioration of the situation and recent developments in Myanmar form the basis for the decision to divest the company," said&nbsp;Telenor.

The sale is subject to regulator approval by the authorities in Myanmar.

The junta has vested interests in swathes of the country's economy, from mining to banking, oil and tourism.

NGOs have urged foreign companies to review their presence in Myanmar.

M1 Group is a holding company founded by former Lebanese prime minister Najib Azmi Mikati and his brother.

It holds a major stake in the MTN mobile operator that is a leader in Africa but which is also active in Asia.

'End of story'&nbsp;

M1 is also on the blacklist established by Burma Campaign UK, which monitors the business ties of international firms with the Myanmar military.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/after-pressuring-telecom-firms-myanmars-junta-bans-executives-from-leaving-395816">After pressuring telecom firms, Myanmar's junta bans executives from leaving</a>

According to a 2019 report conducted by an international independent fact-finding mission presented the UN Human Rights Council on the economic interests of Myanmar's military, the M1 Group has a stake in a company that rents mobile phone towers to the MEC, an army-owned firm that owns the Mytel mobile network.

Htwe Htwe Thein, a professor of international business at Curtin University in Australia, expressed concern about the impact of the sale on data security and privacy for Burmese using social networks if the new owner is more compliant with authorities.

"End of story for the people of Myanmar who are hugely reliant on social media to send the messages out, to promote their cause," she said in comments emailed to AFP.

The junta has at times completely blocked internet access or certain social networks being used to organise opposition.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/internet-access-restored-as-myanmar-coup-protests-grow-361966">Internet access restored as Myanmar coup protests grow</a>

"At a broader level, the exit of&nbsp;Telenor&nbsp;has proven it is not possible to continue doing business in Myanmar under the military without breaking their commitment to human rights policies," Htwe Htwe Thein added.

She noted that companies that remain, like energy companies Chevron and TotalEnergies, face a dilemma as by remaining they fill the tax coffers of the junta but their departure could worsen the human rights situation further.

Telenor&nbsp;shares were 0.3 percent higher in afternoon trading in Oslo, lagging the overall market which was up 1.0 percent.

Norwegian telecoms group Telenor said Thursday it is selling its subsidiary in Myanmar, where it is one of the major operators, as a result of the military coup there.

Norwegian telecoms group Telenor said Thursday it is selling its subsidiary in Myanmar, where it is one of the major operators, as a result of the military coup there. While the agreement to sell Telenor Myanmar to M1 Group for $105 million will ensure continued operations of its fixed and wireless networks, analysts expressed concern it might not bode well for freedom to use social networks. "The situation in Myanmar has over the past months become increasingly challenging for Telenor for people security, regulatory and compliance reasons," Telenor chief executive Sigve Brekke was quoted as saying in a statement announcing the divestment. Also read | Military coup puts Telenor's future in Myanmar on the line "We have evaluated all options and believe a sale of the company is the best possible solution in this situation," he said. Telenor has had a commercial presence in Myanmar since 2014 and employs a workforce of around 750 in the country. Telenor was pushed deep into the red in the first quarter after it was forced to write down all of its assets in Myanmar, taking their value from 6.5 billion kroner ($769 million) to zero. But the operator was highly profitable, however, with Telenor saying the subsidiary had paid 3.2 billion in dividends since 2017. Myanmar has been rocked by massive protests and a brutal military response since the February coup that ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her government. Also read | Myanmar may target free speech in effort to stifle protests More than 880 civilians have been killed in a crackdown by the State Administration Council, as the junta calls itself, and almost 6,500 arrested, according to a local monitoring group. "Further deterioration of the situation and recent developments in Myanmar form the basis for the decision to divest the company," said Telenor. The sale is subject to regulator approval by the authorities in Myanmar. The junta has vested interests in swathes of the country's economy, from mining to banking, oil and tourism. NGOs have urged foreign companies to review their presence in Myanmar. M1 Group is a holding company founded by former Lebanese prime minister Najib Azmi Mikati and his brother. It holds a major stake in the MTN mobile operator that is a leader in Africa but which is also active in Asia. 'End of story' M1 is also on the blacklist established by Burma Campaign UK, which monitors the business ties of international firms with the Myanmar military. Also read | After pressuring telecom firms, Myanmar's junta bans executives from leaving According to a 2019 report conducted by an international independent fact-finding mission presented the UN Human Rights Council on the economic interests of Myanmar's military, the M1 Group has a stake in a company that rents mobile phone towers to the MEC, an army-owned firm that owns the Mytel mobile network. Htwe Htwe Thein, a professor of international business at Curtin University in Australia, expressed concern about the impact of the sale on data security and privacy for Burmese using social networks if the new owner is more compliant with authorities. "End of story for the people of Myanmar who are hugely reliant on social media to send the messages out, to promote their cause," she said in comments emailed to AFP. The junta has at times completely blocked internet access or certain social networks being used to organise opposition. Also read | Internet access restored as Myanmar coup protests grow "At a broader level, the exit of Telenor has proven it is not possible to continue doing business in Myanmar under the military without breaking their commitment to human rights policies," Htwe Htwe Thein added. She noted that companies that remain, like energy companies Chevron and TotalEnergies, face a dilemma as by remaining they fill the tax coffers of the junta but their departure could worsen the human rights situation further. Telenor shares were 0.3 percent higher in afternoon trading in Oslo, lagging the overall market which was up 1.0 percent.

Norway's Telenor quits Myanmar over military coup

A United Nations human rights investigator called on countries on Wednesday to impose economic sanctions on&nbsp;Myanmar's oil and gas sector to cripple the junta that took power five months ago.

Myanmar&nbsp;has been in crisis since the military ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government on Feb. 1, unleashing nationwide anger that quickly turned into protests and strikes brutally suppressed by security forces, with nearly 900 killed.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-coup-us-imposes-fresh-sanctions-on-22-persons-395448">Myanmar coup: US imposes fresh sanctions on 22 persons</a>

"I am talking about economic pressure, cutting off the revenue that the military junta needs to continue its reign of terror. I'm talking about cutting access to weapons and dual-use technology," Thomas Andrews, special rapporteur on human rights in&nbsp;Myanmar, told the UN Human Rights Council.

No state had imposed sanctions on its oil and gas sector, although some had slapped them on military-controlled enterprises and revenue from gems, timber and mining, he said.

"Oil- and gas-sector revenues are a financial lifeline for the junta and are estimated to be close to what is needed for the junta to maintain the security forces that are keeping them in power. They should be stopped," he said.

Andrews, a former US congressman from Maine, called for forming an 'Emergency Coalition for the People of&nbsp;Myanmar', essentially a group of states, that would also ban the export of arms to the military. "There needs to be pressure," he said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-uk-sanction-myanmar-military-owned-company-373144">US, UK sanction Myanmar military-owned company</a>

The United States called for decisive action to prevent further bloodshed. "We urge all nations to cease the export of arms and transfer of dual-use technology to the military junta," said Meryn Schneiderhan of the US mission to the UN in Geneva.

Earlier, the top UN human rights official Michelle Bachelet urged ASEAN countries to launch a political dialogue with the military junta and the democratically elected leadership in&nbsp;Myanmar.

The United Nations must be allowed to deliver humanitarian aid to civilians in&nbsp;Myanmar, as agreed with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), without it being "instrumentalised" by the military, she said.

The ASEAN bloc agreed on a five-point consensus with junta leader Min Aung Hlaing in April, "but unfortunately the&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;military leadership have shown little sign of abiding by it", Bachelet said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-approves-sanctions-on-china-myanmar-over-rights-abuses-372295">EU approves sanctions on China, Myanmar over rights abuses</a>

"It is urgent for ASEAN to appoint a special envoy or team to get some kind of political dialogue underway. I encourage ASEAN to engage with the democratic leadership and civil society, not just the military front," Bachelet said.

A United Nations human rights investigator called on countries on Wednesday to impose economic sanctions on Myanmar's oil and gas sector to cripple the junta that took power five months ago.

A United Nations human rights investigator called on countries on Wednesday to impose economic sanctions on Myanmar's oil and gas sector to cripple the junta that took power five months ago. Myanmar has been in crisis since the military ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government on Feb. 1, unleashing nationwide anger that quickly turned into protests and strikes brutally suppressed by security forces, with nearly 900 killed. Also read | Myanmar coup: US imposes fresh sanctions on 22 persons "I am talking about economic pressure, cutting off the revenue that the military junta needs to continue its reign of terror. I'm talking about cutting access to weapons and dual-use technology," Thomas Andrews, special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, told the UN Human Rights Council. No state had imposed sanctions on its oil and gas sector, although some had slapped them on military-controlled enterprises and revenue from gems, timber and mining, he said. "Oil- and gas-sector revenues are a financial lifeline for the junta and are estimated to be close to what is needed for the junta to maintain the security forces that are keeping them in power. They should be stopped," he said. Andrews, a former US congressman from Maine, called for forming an 'Emergency Coalition for the People of Myanmar', essentially a group of states, that would also ban the export of arms to the military. "There needs to be pressure," he said. Also read | US, UK sanction Myanmar military-owned company The United States called for decisive action to prevent further bloodshed. "We urge all nations to cease the export of arms and transfer of dual-use technology to the military junta," said Meryn Schneiderhan of the US mission to the UN in Geneva. Earlier, the top UN human rights official Michelle Bachelet urged ASEAN countries to launch a political dialogue with the military junta and the democratically elected leadership in Myanmar. The United Nations must be allowed to deliver humanitarian aid to civilians in Myanmar, as agreed with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), without it being "instrumentalised" by the military, she said. The ASEAN bloc agreed on a five-point consensus with junta leader Min Aung Hlaing in April, "but unfortunately the Myanmar military leadership have shown little sign of abiding by it", Bachelet said. Also read | EU approves sanctions on China, Myanmar over rights abuses "It is urgent for ASEAN to appoint a special envoy or team to get some kind of political dialogue underway. I encourage ASEAN to engage with the democratic leadership and civil society, not just the military front," Bachelet said.

UN rights expert urges sanctions on Myanmar's oil, gas sectors

Myanmar&nbsp;authorities announced&nbsp;stay-at-home&nbsp;measures in parts of commercial capital&nbsp;Yangon&nbsp;on Wednesday, as the country reported its highest daily <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus</a> caseload in months.

From Thursday, a ban on more than one person leaving home for non-medical reasons will apply to 10&nbsp;Yangon&nbsp;townships, which together are home to around 1.5 million people.

No timeframe was given for the restrictions, on townships including Hlaing Thar Yar, the scene of huge pro-democracy protests met by a brutal military crackdown after the country's February coup.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-orders-2-million-to-stay-home-as-covid-19-cases-spike-395405">Myanmar orders 2 million to stay home as COVID-19 cases spike</a>

Yangon&nbsp;is home to an estimated seven million people.

Those travelling to government jobs are exempt, according to the announcement from the health and sports ministry of the State Administration Council, as the military junta calls itself.

Authorities reported almost 4,000 new&nbsp;cases&nbsp;on Wednesday, compared with fewer than 50 per day in early May.

Myanmar's creaking healthcare system had struggled to respond to&nbsp;COVID-19 even before the coup, which ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Swathes of the country were put under partial lockdown last year, although enforcement was often lax in the developing nation where many face a stark choice between following regulations and feeding their families.

Since the coup, thousands of doctors, volunteers and civil servants have joined a mass civil disobedience campaign to protest against the military regime.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-covid-19-outbreak-hits-health-system-shattered-after-coup-388299">Myanmar COVID-19 outbreak hits health system shattered after coup</a>

Around 1.75 million people have been <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">vaccinated</a>&nbsp;in the country of 54 million, state TV said Wednesday, with authorities rushing to secure more doses from Russia and China.

Two million doses would arrive in&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;shortly, it added, without providing details.

On Wednesday China reported its highest daily caseload in six months, thanks partly to a&nbsp;spike&nbsp;in&nbsp;cases&nbsp;in the town of Ruili, a major crossing point from Muse in&nbsp;Myanmar.

Of 57 new infections, 12 were&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;nationals, according to health authorities in Yunnan province, who blamed the outbreak on the more contagious Delta variant.

Myanmar authorities announced stay-at-home measures in parts of commercial capital Yangon on Wednesday, as the country reported its highest daily coronavirus caseload in months.

Myanmar authorities announced stay-at-home measures in parts of commercial capital Yangon on Wednesday, as the country reported its highest daily coronavirus caseload in months. From Thursday, a ban on more than one person leaving home for non-medical reasons will apply to 10 Yangon townships, which together are home to around 1.5 million people. No timeframe was given for the restrictions, on townships including Hlaing Thar Yar, the scene of huge pro-democracy protests met by a brutal military crackdown after the country's February coup. Also read | Myanmar orders 2 million to stay home as COVID-19 cases spike Yangon is home to an estimated seven million people. Those travelling to government jobs are exempt, according to the announcement from the health and sports ministry of the State Administration Council, as the military junta calls itself. Authorities reported almost 4,000 new cases on Wednesday, compared with fewer than 50 per day in early May. Myanmar's creaking healthcare system had struggled to respond to COVID-19 even before the coup, which ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Swathes of the country were put under partial lockdown last year, although enforcement was often lax in the developing nation where many face a stark choice between following regulations and feeding their families. Since the coup, thousands of doctors, volunteers and civil servants have joined a mass civil disobedience campaign to protest against the military regime. Also read | Myanmar COVID-19 outbreak hits health system shattered after coup Around 1.75 million people have been vaccinated in the country of 54 million, state TV said Wednesday, with authorities rushing to secure more doses from Russia and China. Two million doses would arrive in Myanmar shortly, it added, without providing details. On Wednesday China reported its highest daily caseload in six months, thanks partly to a spike in cases in the town of Ruili, a major crossing point from Muse in Myanmar. Of 57 new infections, 12 were Myanmar nationals, according to health authorities in Yunnan province, who blamed the outbreak on the more contagious Delta variant.

Stay-at-home orders in Myanmar's Yangon as Covid cases spike

Senior foreign executives of major telecommunications firms in Myanmar have been told by the junta that they must not leave the country without permission, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said. 
 
A confidential order from Myanmar’s Posts and Telecommunications Department (PTD) in mid-June said senior executives, both foreigners and Myanmar nationals, must seek special authorisation to leave the country, the person said. 
 
A week later, telecom companies were sent a second letter telling them they had until Monday July 5 to fully implement intercept technology they had previously been asked to install to let authorities spy on calls, messages and web traffic and to track users by themselves, the source said. Reuters has not seen the orders. 
 
The directives follow pressure on the companies from the junta, which is facing daily protests from its opponents and a growing number of insurgencies to activate the spyware technology. 
 
A spokesman for the military did not answer multiple requests for comment. The junta has never commented on the electronic surveillance effort, but announced soon after seizing power its aim to pass a cybersecurity bill that would require telecoms providers to provide data when requested and remove or block any content deemed to be disrupting 'unity, stabilisation&nbsp;and peace'. It also amended privacy laws to free security forces to intercept communications. 
 
The travel ban comes after intensified pressure from military officials to finish the implementation of the surveillance equipment. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, said the ban was meant to pressure telecoms firms to finish activating the spyware technology, although the order itself does not specify a reason. 
 
Three other telecoms sources, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said the authorities had stepped up pressure on the companies to implement the intercept, but declined to elaborate further. Two sources said companies had been warned repeatedly by junta officials not to speak publicly or to the media on the intercept. 
 
Telenor declined to comment. There was no immediate response to requests for comment from Ooredoo, state-owned MPT and Mytel, a joint venture between Vietnam's Viettel and a Myanmar military-owned conglomerate. 
 
Months before the February&nbsp;1 coup, telecom and internet service providers were ordered to install intercept spyware to allow the army to eavesdrop on the communications of citizens, Reuters reported in May. 
 
Reuters was not able to establish how broadly the surveillance technology has been installed and deployed, but four sources said Norway's Telenor ASA and Qatar's Ooredoo QPSC had yet to comply in full. 
 
Among the military's first actions on February&nbsp;1 was to cut internet access and it has still not been fully re-established, with telecoms given regular lists of websites and activist phone numbers to block. 
 
The moves have left the future unclear for Myanmar's telecom sector, which had been one of the fastest-growing globally. Telenor said on Friday it is evaluating the future of its operations in the country, with a source telling Reuters it is eying a sale of its Myanmar unit.

Senior foreign executives of major telecommunications firms in Myanmar have been told by the junta that they must not leave the country without permission, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said.

Senior foreign executives of major telecommunications firms in Myanmar have been told by the junta that they must not leave the country without permission, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said. A confidential order from Myanmar’s Posts and Telecommunications Department (PTD) in mid-June said senior executives, both foreigners and Myanmar nationals, must seek special authorisation to leave the country, the person said. A week later, telecom companies were sent a second letter telling them they had until Monday July 5 to fully implement intercept technology they had previously been asked to install to let authorities spy on calls, messages and web traffic and to track users by themselves, the source said. Reuters has not seen the orders. The directives follow pressure on the companies from the junta, which is facing daily protests from its opponents and a growing number of insurgencies to activate the spyware technology. A spokesman for the military did not answer multiple requests for comment. The junta has never commented on the electronic surveillance effort, but announced soon after seizing power its aim to pass a cybersecurity bill that would require telecoms providers to provide data when requested and remove or block any content deemed to be disrupting 'unity, stabilisation and peace'. It also amended privacy laws to free security forces to intercept communications. The travel ban comes after intensified pressure from military officials to finish the implementation of the surveillance equipment. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, said the ban was meant to pressure telecoms firms to finish activating the spyware technology, although the order itself does not specify a reason. Three other telecoms sources, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said the authorities had stepped up pressure on the companies to implement the intercept, but declined to elaborate further. Two sources said companies had been warned repeatedly by junta officials not to speak publicly or to the media on the intercept. Telenor declined to comment. There was no immediate response to requests for comment from Ooredoo, state-owned MPT and Mytel, a joint venture between Vietnam's Viettel and a Myanmar military-owned conglomerate. Months before the February 1 coup, telecom and internet service providers were ordered to install intercept spyware to allow the army to eavesdrop on the communications of citizens, Reuters reported in May. Reuters was not able to establish how broadly the surveillance technology has been installed and deployed, but four sources said Norway's Telenor ASA and Qatar's Ooredoo QPSC had yet to comply in full. Among the military's first actions on February 1 was to cut internet access and it has still not been fully re-established, with telecoms given regular lists of websites and activist phone numbers to block. The moves have left the future unclear for Myanmar's telecom sector, which had been one of the fastest-growing globally. Telenor said on Friday it is evaluating the future of its operations in the country, with a source telling Reuters it is eying a sale of its Myanmar unit.

After pressuring telecom firms, Myanmar's junta bans executives from leaving

Myanmar&nbsp;authorities imposed stay-at-home-measures on the country's second city Friday as coronavirus cases in the coup-wracked country surge, with many health workers striking to protest against the junta.

Inhabitants of Mandalay, as well as two townships in the southern Bago region,&nbsp;woke up to new restrictions banning more than one person from leaving home for non-medical reasons.

There was no timeframe given for the new rules, announced by the health and sports ministry of the State Administration Council, as the junta calls itself.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-battles-virus-surge-amid-protests-against-military-junta-392984">Myanmar battles virus surge amid protests against military junta</a>

Those travelling to government jobs are exempted.

The affected areas are home to more than two million people, according to a 2014 census, and join towns in western Chin state near the Indian border that have been locked down since May.

Authorities reported more than 1,500 new cases on Thursday, up from around 100 per day in early June.

Myanmar's creaking healthcare system had struggled to respond to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a> even before the February coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-extends-suspension-of-international-flights-till-june-end-388469">Myanmar extends suspension of international flights till June end</a>

Swathes of the country were put under partial lockdown last year, although enforcement was often lax in the developing nation where many face a stark choice between following regulations and feeding their families.

Since the coup, thousands of doctors, volunteers and civil servants have joined a mass civil disobedience campaign to protest against the military regime.

Myanmar&nbsp;has reported 3,347 virus-related deaths, although true figures are likely to be higher.

A shipment of 1.5 million vaccines arrived from India earlier this year.

On Thursday state media reported junta leader Min Aung Hlaing had agreed to buy two million vaccines from Russia, without specifying which shot. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

A spokeswoman from the health ministry said last week that authorities were also negotiating with China to buy more vaccines.

Myanmar&nbsp;has been in turmoil since the February putsch, with more than 880 civilians killed in a crackdown and almost 6,500 arrested, according to a local monitoring group.

Myanmar authorities imposed stay-at-home-measures on the country's second city Friday as coronavirus cases in the coup-wracked country surge, with many health workers striking to protest against the junta.

Myanmar authorities imposed stay-at-home-measures on the country's second city Friday as coronavirus cases in the coup-wracked country surge, with many health workers striking to protest against the junta. Inhabitants of Mandalay, as well as two townships in the southern Bago region, woke up to new restrictions banning more than one person from leaving home for non-medical reasons. There was no timeframe given for the new rules, announced by the health and sports ministry of the State Administration Council, as the junta calls itself. Also read | Myanmar battles virus surge amid protests against military junta Those travelling to government jobs are exempted. The affected areas are home to more than two million people, according to a 2014 census, and join towns in western Chin state near the Indian border that have been locked down since May. Authorities reported more than 1,500 new cases on Thursday, up from around 100 per day in early June. Myanmar's creaking healthcare system had struggled to respond to COVID-19 even before the February coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi. Also read | Myanmar extends suspension of international flights till June end Swathes of the country were put under partial lockdown last year, although enforcement was often lax in the developing nation where many face a stark choice between following regulations and feeding their families. Since the coup, thousands of doctors, volunteers and civil servants have joined a mass civil disobedience campaign to protest against the military regime. Myanmar has reported 3,347 virus-related deaths, although true figures are likely to be higher. A shipment of 1.5 million vaccines arrived from India earlier this year. On Thursday state media reported junta leader Min Aung Hlaing had agreed to buy two million vaccines from Russia, without specifying which shot. A spokeswoman from the health ministry said last week that authorities were also negotiating with China to buy more vaccines. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the February putsch, with more than 880 civilians killed in a crackdown and almost 6,500 arrested, according to a local monitoring group.

Myanmar orders 2 million to stay home as COVID-19 cases spike

Twenty-five anti-junta fighters and civilians were killed during clashes with the military in central&nbsp;Myanmar, villagers said Sunday, as locals increasingly take up arms against the regime in the coup-wracked country.

Myanmar&nbsp;has been in turmoil since a February coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's government, with 890 people killed in a junta crackdown on dissent, according to a local monitoring group.

In some areas civilians have formed "defence forces" to combat the State Administration Council, as the junta dubs itself, often using hunting rifles or makeshift weapons cobbled together from household items.

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The central Sagaing region has been the site of multiple skirmishes between defence forces and the military, and on Friday fighting broke out in Depayin township.

Residents told AFP that military trucks entered their area and opened fire on a village near the jungle hoping to flush out members of the local defence force.

"We heard the shooting of artillery 26 times," said a villager, who added that anti-junta fighters tried to retaliate but could not fend off the attack.

"They shot everyone who they saw on the road and in the village. They did not just have one target," he said.&nbsp;

Civilians were among the dead, he added.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-coup-us-imposes-fresh-sanctions-on-22-persons-395448">Myanmar coup: US imposes fresh sanctions on 22 persons</a>

Villagers waited until Saturday to venture out of their homes to assess the casualties, said a member of the local defence force who helped to organise the collection of bodies.&nbsp;

"We firstly got nine dead bodies and buried them," he told AFP, adding that eight more were found by a different team and also buried the same day.

On Sunday, they found eight more bodies.&nbsp;

"I noticed from their bodies that most of them were shot in the head," he said -- an observation that another man who helped move the dead confirmed to AFP.&nbsp;

The anti-junta fighter said the security presence around Depayin was increasing, displacing thousands of residents who had fled in fear of further military action.

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"The army has been hunting us in the jungle since this morning," he said.

BBC News Burmese, the BBC's&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;language service, reported a similar death toll.

'Stabilising the area'

State-run media offered a different account of the skirmish, saying the military was patrolling the area when they were ambushed.

Soldiers fended off "armed terrorists" and later found "four mortars and six percussion lock firearms", reported the Global New Light of&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;newspaper, which did not give a death toll in the village.

In another attack in a different part of Sagaing one member of the security forces was killed and authorities were "working to stabilise the area", the paper added.

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Despite the threat of crackdowns, protesters in&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;are still taking to the streets daily in defiance of the military regime.

On Sunday residents across Sagaing held short demonstrations, flashing a three-finger salute of defiance during rapid marches through the streets.

Twenty-five anti-junta fighters and civilians were killed during clashes with the military in central Myanmar, villagers said Sunday, as locals increasingly take up arms against the regime in the coup-wracked country.

Twenty-five anti-junta fighters and civilians were killed during clashes with the military in central Myanmar, villagers said Sunday, as locals increasingly take up arms against the regime in the coup-wracked country. Myanmar has been in turmoil since a February coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's government, with 890 people killed in a junta crackdown on dissent, according to a local monitoring group. In some areas civilians have formed "defence forces" to combat the State Administration Council, as the junta dubs itself, often using hunting rifles or makeshift weapons cobbled together from household items. Also read | Myanmar protesters burn junta leader's images on his birthday The central Sagaing region has been the site of multiple skirmishes between defence forces and the military, and on Friday fighting broke out in Depayin township. Residents told AFP that military trucks entered their area and opened fire on a village near the jungle hoping to flush out members of the local defence force. "We heard the shooting of artillery 26 times," said a villager, who added that anti-junta fighters tried to retaliate but could not fend off the attack. "They shot everyone who they saw on the road and in the village. They did not just have one target," he said. Civilians were among the dead, he added. Also read | Myanmar coup: US imposes fresh sanctions on 22 persons Villagers waited until Saturday to venture out of their homes to assess the casualties, said a member of the local defence force who helped to organise the collection of bodies. "We firstly got nine dead bodies and buried them," he told AFP, adding that eight more were found by a different team and also buried the same day. On Sunday, they found eight more bodies. "I noticed from their bodies that most of them were shot in the head," he said -- an observation that another man who helped move the dead confirmed to AFP. The anti-junta fighter said the security presence around Depayin was increasing, displacing thousands of residents who had fled in fear of further military action. Also read | Freed US editor tells horror stories of torture in Myanmar "The army has been hunting us in the jungle since this morning," he said. BBC News Burmese, the BBC's Myanmar language service, reported a similar death toll. 'Stabilising the area' State-run media offered a different account of the skirmish, saying the military was patrolling the area when they were ambushed. Soldiers fended off "armed terrorists" and later found "four mortars and six percussion lock firearms", reported the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper, which did not give a death toll in the village. In another attack in a different part of Sagaing one member of the security forces was killed and authorities were "working to stabilise the area", the paper added. Also read | Confident in its impunity, the Myanmar junta ignores diplomacy Despite the threat of crackdowns, protesters in Myanmar are still taking to the streets daily in defiance of the military regime. On Sunday residents across Sagaing held short demonstrations, flashing a three-finger salute of defiance during rapid marches through the streets.

25 killed in Myanmar clashes between army and anti-junta fighters

Protesters burned mock coffins and pictures of Myanmar's army ruler Min Aung Hlaing on Saturday in the latest demonstrations against the coup over five months ago that has plunged the Southeast Asian country into chaos. 
 
'May you not rest in peace' and 'may your birthday and deathday be the same',&nbsp;read the messages on funeral wreaths in Theinzayet township in eastern Mon state. Similar protests took place in many parts of Myanmar, reported Reuters. 
 
"We are burning this as a curse," said one protester in the second city of Mandalay, setting ablaze a small pile of picture of the general, 65. 
 
A spokesman for the military authorities did not respond to requests for comment. 
 
Min Aung Hlaing took power on February&nbsp;1, overthrowing elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and cutting short a decade of democratic reforms that had brought Myanmar out of isolation under previous juntas. 
 
Min Aung Hlaing had been due to retire after his 65th birthday, but the compulsory retirement age was scrapped after the coup.

The army says its assumption of powers was in line with the constitution. It alleged fraud in November elections swept by Suu Kyi's party, although the accusations were dismissed by the former electoral body. 
 
The junta has struggled to impose its authority. 
 
Protests take place in many parts of Myanmar almost daily, strikes have hurt official and private business and fighting has flared in the borderlands, sending some 200,000 people fleeing from their homes. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Protesters burned mock coffins and pictures of Myanmar's army ruler Min Aung Hlaing on Saturday in the latest demonstrations against the coup over five months ago that has plunged the Southeast Asian country into chaos.

Protesters burned mock coffins and pictures of Myanmar's army ruler Min Aung Hlaing on Saturday in the latest demonstrations against the coup over five months ago that has plunged the Southeast Asian country into chaos. 'May you not rest in peace' and 'may your birthday and deathday be the same', read the messages on funeral wreaths in Theinzayet township in eastern Mon state. Similar protests took place in many parts of Myanmar, reported Reuters. "We are burning this as a curse," said one protester in the second city of Mandalay, setting ablaze a small pile of picture of the general, 65. A spokesman for the military authorities did not respond to requests for comment. Min Aung Hlaing took power on February 1, overthrowing elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and cutting short a decade of democratic reforms that had brought Myanmar out of isolation under previous juntas. Min Aung Hlaing had been due to retire after his 65th birthday, but the compulsory retirement age was scrapped after the coup. The army says its assumption of powers was in line with the constitution. It alleged fraud in November elections swept by Suu Kyi's party, although the accusations were dismissed by the former electoral body. The junta has struggled to impose its authority. Protests take place in many parts of Myanmar almost daily, strikes have hurt official and private business and fighting has flared in the borderlands, sending some 200,000 people fleeing from their homes. (With inputs from agencies)

Myanmar protesters burn junta leader's images on his birthday

The US on Friday announced fresh sanctions on 22 persons including four Myanmar government ministers. The Treasury and Commerce Department, in a two-pronged action, announced the sanctions &nbsp;as part of Washington's continued response to the overthrow of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government

Aung San Suu Kyi's government was toppled by Myanmar military junta in a coup on February 1. The country has been rocked by pro-democracy protests. Military junta has received international condemnation for the disproportionate use of force against the demonstrators.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that the new sanctions were levied "in response to the brutal campaign of violence perpetrated by the Burmese military regime and to continue imposing costs in connection with the military coup."

The sanctions do not target the Myanmar people, but are aimed at pressuring the military to "immediately restore Burma's path to democracy," Blinken said.

Myanmar's minister of information Chit Naing, minister for investment Aung Naing Oo, &nbsp;labor and immigration minister Myint Kyaing, and Thet Thet Khine, the minister for social welfare, relief and resettlement are the ministers the US led sanctions have targetted.

Three members of the powerful State Administrative Council were also hit with sanctions, as were 15 spouses and adult children of officials, in an expansion of US punishments imposed in February, March and May following the coup.

Under the sanctions, all US property in the name of the individuals are blocked, and Americans or people in the United States are prohibited from conducting property or interest transactions with them.

Andrea Gacki, director of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, said in a statement the action demonstrates Washington "will continue to impose increasing costs on Burma's military and promote accountability for those responsible for the military coup and ongoing violence."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

The US on Friday announced fresh sanctions on 22 persons including four Myanmar government ministers. The Treasury and Commerce Department, in a two-pronged action, announced the sanctions as part of Washington's continued response to the overthrow of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government Aung San Suu Kyi's government was toppled by Myanmar military junta in a coup on February 1.

The US on Friday announced fresh sanctions on 22 persons including four Myanmar government ministers. The Treasury and Commerce Department, in a two-pronged action, announced the sanctions as part of Washington's continued response to the overthrow of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government Aung San Suu Kyi's government was toppled by Myanmar military junta in a coup on February 1. The country has been rocked by pro-democracy protests. Military junta has received international condemnation for the disproportionate use of force against the demonstrators. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that the new sanctions were levied "in response to the brutal campaign of violence perpetrated by the Burmese military regime and to continue imposing costs in connection with the military coup." The sanctions do not target the Myanmar people, but are aimed at pressuring the military to "immediately restore Burma's path to democracy," Blinken said. Myanmar's minister of information Chit Naing, minister for investment Aung Naing Oo, labor and immigration minister Myint Kyaing, and Thet Thet Khine, the minister for social welfare, relief and resettlement are the ministers the US led sanctions have targetted. Three members of the powerful State Administrative Council were also hit with sanctions, as were 15 spouses and adult children of officials, in an expansion of US punishments imposed in February, March and May following the coup. Under the sanctions, all US property in the name of the individuals are blocked, and Americans or people in the United States are prohibited from conducting property or interest transactions with them. Andrea Gacki, director of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, said in a statement the action demonstrates Washington "will continue to impose increasing costs on Burma's military and promote accountability for those responsible for the military coup and ongoing violence." (With inputs from agencies)

Myanmar coup: US imposes fresh sanctions on 22 persons

Ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi lawyers said that she asked the people of Myanmar to stay 'united' in the face of military rule. Watch this report to know more.

Lawyer: Ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi asks Myanmar people to stay 'United'

With bars shuttered, universities empty and hook-up apps poleaxed by internet blackouts, dating got much harder in post-coup&nbsp;Myanmar, but young people are still finding love -- often in the heady rush of anti-junta protests.

Since the military seized power in February, ousting civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and ending a decade-long experiment with democracy, outrage on the streets has been met with a brutal crackdown on dissent.

Among protesters who came of age during&nbsp;Myanmar's flirtation with the parliamentary rule, "Taw Lan Yay Puu Sar" -- "Revolution Love" in Burmese -- is thriving alongside the anger and despair, making and breaking relationships.&nbsp;

"Meeting someone at a protest is very different and I think it is more exciting," Zan, a 19-year-old student who met his girlfriend at an anti-junta demonstration in February, told AFP.&nbsp;

They got chatting after he offered her some oranges during a protest.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nigerian-model-uses-russian-beauty-pageant-as-a-platform-to-protest-police-brutality-394814">Also Read |&nbsp;Nigerian model uses Russian beauty pageant as a platform to protest police brutality</a>

A few days later she contacted him on Facebook.

They started going to protests together, and romance blossomed against the backdrop of gunfire, burning tyres&nbsp;and chaos of the junta's intensifying crackdown.

"It is hard because you never know what is going to happen," said Zan, who only wanted to give his first name.

"We are always scared of when we will get shot. We could get arrested, or something could happen at any moment."

The lovebirds had a close call in March when police suddenly broke through the barricade they were sheltering behind, sending them fleeing for a safe house where they had to hide for several hours.

"When I am at a protest, it is not just me, but she is with me," Zan said.&nbsp;

"So, when I must run, I will also make sure she gets to safety with me."

Stories like his have spawned a "Revolution Love" hashtag, with young protesters sharing stories, memes and viral posts of young love against the junta.&nbsp;

'Life and death'

Pro-democracy posters and the three-fingered salute associated with anti-military rallies have appeared frequently in Tinder profiles after the generals restored access to the dating app last month.

Politics had always been a thorny issue for Kay and her girlfriend -- before the coup she had backed a pro-military party, while her partner was a supporter of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy.&nbsp;

But after the coup, the 23-year-old law student from&nbsp;Myanmar's north was&nbsp;"on the people's side," she told AFP, going to protests with her partner. &nbsp;

Her partner broke up with her in the middle of March -- "without any reason," she says, suspecting that politics may have had something to do with it.

Her suspicions were confirmed by the end of the month when she heard her partner had met someone else at a protest which the police had broken up violently.&nbsp;

"I became very depressed... I was crying for two months straight," she said.

"She decided to leave the hands that cherished her for five years for someone who grabbed her in a life and death situation during the revolution."

'When the revolution ends'

Thel Nge, 20, met her now-husband Ko Kaung -- both names are pseudonyms -- when she responded to a Facebook call organising protests in their Yangon neighbourhood in mid-February, she told AFP.

They marched together in the streets under the blazing sun of the Yangon hot season, Ko Kaung looking out for her, making sure she had enough water, and that she got home safely.

"He is always good at taking care of me at those times and I got attached to him," she said.

They fell in love and agreed they would get married "once the revolution ends," Thel Nge said.

But as the crackdown got more brutal in Yangon, with security forces firing indiscriminately on protesters, she decided to return to her hometown in&nbsp;Myanmar's far south.

Unwilling to be without her, Ko Kaung followed.

At that point "my siblings told me to marry him," she said.

Back in Yangon, he returned to the frontlines and collecting donations for those on strike against the junta.

Thel Nge's fears came true when he was arrested last month in Yangon and sent to the notorious Insein prison.

She has not seen him since and says they can only communicate through writing letters.

She says the early days of their love, spent running and hiding from security forces before he was arrested, had given them "so many memories."

"I am really sad because we are apart when we are a newly married couple," she said.&nbsp;

"Every night, I pray for him."

With bars shuttered, universities empty and hook-up apps poleaxed by internet blackouts, dating got much harder in post-coup Myanmar, but young people are still finding love -- often in the heady rush of anti-junta protests.

With bars shuttered, universities empty and hook-up apps poleaxed by internet blackouts, dating got much harder in post-coup Myanmar, but young people are still finding love -- often in the heady rush of anti-junta protests. Since the military seized power in February, ousting civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and ending a decade-long experiment with democracy, outrage on the streets has been met with a brutal crackdown on dissent. Among protesters who came of age during Myanmar's flirtation with the parliamentary rule, "Taw Lan Yay Puu Sar" -- "Revolution Love" in Burmese -- is thriving alongside the anger and despair, making and breaking relationships. "Meeting someone at a protest is very different and I think it is more exciting," Zan, a 19-year-old student who met his girlfriend at an anti-junta demonstration in February, told AFP. They got chatting after he offered her some oranges during a protest. Also Read | Nigerian model uses Russian beauty pageant as a platform to protest police brutality A few days later she contacted him on Facebook. They started going to protests together, and romance blossomed against the backdrop of gunfire, burning tyres and chaos of the junta's intensifying crackdown. "It is hard because you never know what is going to happen," said Zan, who only wanted to give his first name. "We are always scared of when we will get shot. We could get arrested, or something could happen at any moment." The lovebirds had a close call in March when police suddenly broke through the barricade they were sheltering behind, sending them fleeing for a safe house where they had to hide for several hours. "When I am at a protest, it is not just me, but she is with me," Zan said. "So, when I must run, I will also make sure she gets to safety with me." Stories like his have spawned a "Revolution Love" hashtag, with young protesters sharing stories, memes and viral posts of young love against the junta. 'Life and death' Pro-democracy posters and the three-fingered salute associated with anti-military rallies have appeared frequently in Tinder profiles after the generals restored access to the dating app last month. Politics had always been a thorny issue for Kay and her girlfriend -- before the coup she had backed a pro-military party, while her partner was a supporter of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy. But after the coup, the 23-year-old law student from Myanmar's north was "on the people's side," she told AFP, going to protests with her partner. Her partner broke up with her in the middle of March -- "without any reason," she says, suspecting that politics may have had something to do with it. Her suspicions were confirmed by the end of the month when she heard her partner had met someone else at a protest which the police had broken up violently. "I became very depressed... I was crying for two months straight," she said. "She decided to leave the hands that cherished her for five years for someone who grabbed her in a life and death situation during the revolution." 'When the revolution ends' Thel Nge, 20, met her now-husband Ko Kaung -- both names are pseudonyms -- when she responded to a Facebook call organising protests in their Yangon neighbourhood in mid-February, she told AFP. They marched together in the streets under the blazing sun of the Yangon hot season, Ko Kaung looking out for her, making sure she had enough water, and that she got home safely. "He is always good at taking care of me at those times and I got attached to him," she said. They fell in love and agreed they would get married "once the revolution ends," Thel Nge said. But as the crackdown got more brutal in Yangon, with security forces firing indiscriminately on protesters, she decided to return to her hometown in Myanmar's far south. Unwilling to be without her, Ko Kaung followed. At that point "my siblings told me to marry him," she said. Back in Yangon, he returned to the frontlines and collecting donations for those on strike against the junta. Thel Nge's fears came true when he was arrested last month in Yangon and sent to the notorious Insein prison. She has not seen him since and says they can only communicate through writing letters. She says the early days of their love, spent running and hiding from security forces before he was arrested, had given them "so many memories." "I am really sad because we are apart when we are a newly married couple," she said. "Every night, I pray for him."

'Revolution Love' sweeps Myanmar protest barricades

A US journalist has alleged that he was punched, slapped and beaten by Myanmar security forces.

Nathan Maung, 44, is the editor-in-chief of the online news platform Kamayut Media, who was detained during a raid on March 9 and after spending over three months in detention he was deported to the US on June 15.

Maung alleges that he was kept in a blindfold for more than a week of interrogation and that a colleague Hanthar Nyein who is still in detention, along with many other people have been subjected to harsher torture methods.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmars-junta-leader-addresses-security-conference-in-moscow-394180">Myanmar's junta leader addresses security conference in Moscow</a>

Spokesmen of the Junta are yet to comment on Nathan Maung’s account. Muang’s account is similar to many others who have been detained by the Junta since its February 1 coup overthrowing the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Earlier the junta had said that all of the detainees are being treated as per the law.

Speaking to Reuters, Nathan Maung said that, "The first three&nbsp;to&nbsp;four days were the worst," and that he was “punched and slapped&nbsp;several times”.

“No matter what I said, they just beat me. They used both their hands to slap my eardrums many times. They punched my cheekbones on&nbsp;both&nbsp;sides. They punched my shoulders. I was not allowed to stand up. My legs&nbsp;were swollen.&nbsp;I&nbsp;could not&nbsp;move anymore," he added.

Myanmar born Nathan Maung fled to the United States as a refugee in the 1990s.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/confident-in-its-impunity-the-myanmar-junta-ignores-diplomacy-393894">Confident in its impunity, the Myanmar junta ignores diplomacy</a>

As per his narrative, he was seized at Kamayut&nbsp;Media's office and from there he was taken for questioning about his publication, his role there and how it operates.

"They handcuffed my hands behind my back, tied my eyes with a cloth and covered&nbsp;that with another cloth," he said.

"They did not allow me to sleep for about three or four days.&nbsp;Nonstop interrogation.&nbsp;There was no time to sleep,".

Maung says that on the fourth day, after they discovered he was a US citizen, the beatings diminished, and "On the eighth day, a colonel came, he removed the cloth blindfolding me,".

Some 'experienced worse torture'

"Some people experienced worse torture than us. There was someone together with me in a room for two days. His body was covered in bruises and injuries. They put his handcuffed hands on the table and beat his hand.

"The bones were not broken, but he was badly injured and his skin was ripped off."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmars-suu-kyi-back-in-junta-court-on-sedition-charges-393182">Myanmar's Suu Kyi back in junta court on sedition charges</a>

Narrating this harrowing tale, Nathan Maung says that during his detention, he had met other people who had been mistreated much worse than him. He would hear people shouting, begging and screaming from other buildings.

The US embassy said that after his release Nathan Maung was met by US officials who assisted him and his family.

US remains concerned over the detention of another journalist, Danny Fenster, who has been in detention for more than a month and was only just allowed to speak to the US embassy last week for the first time.

According to the activist group, Assistance Association for Political Prisoners since the February 1 coup, nearly 5,200 people remain incarcerated. It also says that since the beginning of the coup, at least 881 people have been killed by the security forces. The junta disputes the figure.

(With inputs from agencies)

A US journalist has alleged that he was punched, slapped and beaten by Myanmar security forces. Nathan Maung, 44, is the editor-in-chief of the online news platform Kamayut Media, who was detained during a raid on March 9 and after spending over three months in detention he was deported to the US on June 15.

A US journalist has alleged that he was punched, slapped and beaten by Myanmar security forces. Nathan Maung, 44, is the editor-in-chief of the online news platform Kamayut Media, who was detained during a raid on March 9 and after spending over three months in detention he was deported to the US on June 15. Maung alleges that he was kept in a blindfold for more than a week of interrogation and that a colleague Hanthar Nyein who is still in detention, along with many other people have been subjected to harsher torture methods. Also read | Myanmar's junta leader addresses security conference in Moscow Spokesmen of the Junta are yet to comment on Nathan Maung’s account. Muang’s account is similar to many others who have been detained by the Junta since its February 1 coup overthrowing the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Earlier the junta had said that all of the detainees are being treated as per the law. Speaking to Reuters, Nathan Maung said that, "The first three to four days were the worst," and that he was “punched and slapped several times”. “No matter what I said, they just beat me. They used both their hands to slap my eardrums many times. They punched my cheekbones on both sides. They punched my shoulders. I was not allowed to stand up. My legs were swollen. I could not move anymore," he added. Myanmar born Nathan Maung fled to the United States as a refugee in the 1990s. Also read | Confident in its impunity, the Myanmar junta ignores diplomacy As per his narrative, he was seized at Kamayut Media's office and from there he was taken for questioning about his publication, his role there and how it operates. "They handcuffed my hands behind my back, tied my eyes with a cloth and covered that with another cloth," he said. "They did not allow me to sleep for about three or four days. Nonstop interrogation. There was no time to sleep,". Maung says that on the fourth day, after they discovered he was a US citizen, the beatings diminished, and "On the eighth day, a colonel came, he removed the cloth blindfolding me,". Some 'experienced worse torture' "Some people experienced worse torture than us. There was someone together with me in a room for two days. His body was covered in bruises and injuries. They put his handcuffed hands on the table and beat his hand. "The bones were not broken, but he was badly injured and his skin was ripped off." Also read | Myanmar's Suu Kyi back in junta court on sedition charges Narrating this harrowing tale, Nathan Maung says that during his detention, he had met other people who had been mistreated much worse than him. He would hear people shouting, begging and screaming from other buildings. The US embassy said that after his release Nathan Maung was met by US officials who assisted him and his family. US remains concerned over the detention of another journalist, Danny Fenster, who has been in detention for more than a month and was only just allowed to speak to the US embassy last week for the first time. According to the activist group, Assistance Association for Political Prisoners since the February 1 coup, nearly 5,200 people remain incarcerated. It also says that since the beginning of the coup, at least 881 people have been killed by the security forces. The junta disputes the figure. (With inputs from agencies)

Freed US editor tells horror stories of torture in Myanmar

Myanmar&nbsp;authorities torched&nbsp;over&nbsp;half a billion&nbsp;dollars&nbsp;worth of narcotics across the country Saturday, sending&nbsp;opium,&nbsp;heroin&nbsp;and methamphetamine up in smoke as experts warn smugglers have adapted to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a> travel restrictions and are back in business.

Sacks of green-brown cannabis were stacked high at a compound in the commercial capital Yangon, alongside bin-liner-sized bags of red-pink pills, marking one of&nbsp;Myanmar's offerings for the annual World Drug Day burning.

Slabs of&nbsp;heroin, bags of ketamine and tramadol and ice were also laid out on the pyre.&nbsp;

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Stashes were also burned at ceremonies held in Mandalay and Taunggyi in Shan State,&nbsp;Myanmar's anti-drugs&nbsp;police department said.&nbsp;

A total of just under $668 million&nbsp;dollars&nbsp;of narcotics, including 224 million meth tablets, were torched in the three cities.

As a woman barked a command&nbsp;over&nbsp;a loudspeaker in Yangon, four men in military uniform pressed buttons on tables in front of them, and the&nbsp;stash&nbsp;went up, flames licking the early morning sky.

Firefighters stood ready and well back from the noxious smoke.

Despite COVID-19 travel restrictions, there has been an "overall sustained expansion of the methamphetamine market in East and Southeast Asia" the UN said earlier this month.&nbsp;

Myanmar's troubled Shan State remains the main source of the drug, it added, which is often smuggled on to wealthier overseas markets such as Australia and Japan in its more potent crystallised form.

The body has warned of an even bigger deluge as&nbsp;Myanmar's legal economy tanks, following weeks of nationwide unrest and strike action following the military takeover.

The Golden Triangle, traversing the&nbsp;Myanmar, Laos and Thailand frontiers, has for decades been the hub of Southeast Asia's lucrative drug trade.

Myanmar's poppy-covered hills provide an ideal location for illicit labs, with a largely unchecked supply of precursor chemicals flooding in from China.

Myanmar authorities torched over half a billion dollars worth of narcotics across the country Saturday, sending opium, heroin and methamphetamine up in smoke as experts warn smugglers have adapted to COVID-19 travel restrictions and are back in business.

Myanmar authorities torched over half a billion dollars worth of narcotics across the country Saturday, sending opium, heroin and methamphetamine up in smoke as experts warn smugglers have adapted to COVID-19 travel restrictions and are back in business. Sacks of green-brown cannabis were stacked high at a compound in the commercial capital Yangon, alongside bin-liner-sized bags of red-pink pills, marking one of Myanmar's offerings for the annual World Drug Day burning. Slabs of heroin, bags of ketamine and tramadol and ice were also laid out on the pyre. Also read | Myanmar drug surge worry for neighbours including India Stashes were also burned at ceremonies held in Mandalay and Taunggyi in Shan State, Myanmar's anti-drugs police department said. A total of just under $668 million dollars of narcotics, including 224 million meth tablets, were torched in the three cities. As a woman barked a command over a loudspeaker in Yangon, four men in military uniform pressed buttons on tables in front of them, and the stash went up, flames licking the early morning sky. Firefighters stood ready and well back from the noxious smoke. Despite COVID-19 travel restrictions, there has been an "overall sustained expansion of the methamphetamine market in East and Southeast Asia" the UN said earlier this month. Myanmar's troubled Shan State remains the main source of the drug, it added, which is often smuggled on to wealthier overseas markets such as Australia and Japan in its more potent crystallised form. The body has warned of an even bigger deluge as Myanmar's legal economy tanks, following weeks of nationwide unrest and strike action following the military takeover. The Golden Triangle, traversing the Myanmar, Laos and Thailand frontiers, has for decades been the hub of Southeast Asia's lucrative drug trade. Myanmar's poppy-covered hills provide an ideal location for illicit labs, with a largely unchecked supply of precursor chemicals flooding in from China.

Myanmar torches drugs stash worth over half a billion dollars

Speaking at the International security conference in Moscow on Wednesday, visiting Myanmar&nbsp;junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said it is important for the international community to keep shared values and unite for peace and stability.

The Junta leader said, "Multiple pieces of evidence suggest a large-scale interference of foreign countries with some sovereign states' businesses for the sake of democracy and human rights. Nowadays is a good time to reject hegemony and unilateralism."

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"The international community must have a strong sense of justice, keep shared values and unite for peace, stability and world development, following fair and equal international laws." he added.

Earlier this month&nbsp;Sergei Shoigu, the&nbsp;Russian Defence Minister told Min Aung Hlaing that Moscow is committed to strengthening military ties with&nbsp;Myanmar.

Due to it's continuing bilateral visits and arms deals with Myanmar, Moscow has been criticised by rights activists for what they call "legitimizing&nbsp;Myanmar's military junta".

The Myanmar junta came to power in a Feb. 1 coup, overthrowing the democratically elected government of Aung Suu Kyi, and other members of her party National League for Democracy (NLD).&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-junta-leader-thanks-russia-for-boosting-military-393214">Myanmar junta leader thanks Russia for boosting military</a>

Unperturbed by the criticism the Junta leader was recently seen thanking Russia&nbsp;for strengthening the army.

As reported by&nbsp;Russian news agency TASS, during a recent meeting in Moscow, Min Aung Hlang told the Russian defence minister,&nbsp;"Thanks to Russia, our army has become one of the strongest in the region,".

Russia said in March it was deeply concerned by the rising number of civilian deaths in&nbsp;Myanmar.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/very-concerned-over-civilian-casualties-in-myanmar-says-russia-374076">'Very concerned' over civilian casualties in Myanmar, says Russia</a>

Defence ties between the two countries have grown in recent years with Moscow providing army training and university scholarships to thousands of soldiers, as well as selling arms to a military blacklisted by several Western countries.

(With inputs from agencies)

Speaking at the International security conference in Moscow on Wednesday, visiting Myanmar junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said it is important for the international community to keep shared values and unite for peace and stability.

Speaking at the International security conference in Moscow on Wednesday, visiting Myanmar junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said it is important for the international community to keep shared values and unite for peace and stability. The Junta leader said, "Multiple pieces of evidence suggest a large-scale interference of foreign countries with some sovereign states' businesses for the sake of democracy and human rights. Nowadays is a good time to reject hegemony and unilateralism." Also read | Myanmar junta leader thanks Russia for boosting military "The international community must have a strong sense of justice, keep shared values and unite for peace, stability and world development, following fair and equal international laws." he added. Earlier this month Sergei Shoigu, the Russian Defence Minister told Min Aung Hlaing that Moscow is committed to strengthening military ties with Myanmar. Due to it's continuing bilateral visits and arms deals with Myanmar, Moscow has been criticised by rights activists for what they call "legitimizing Myanmar's military junta". The Myanmar junta came to power in a Feb. 1 coup, overthrowing the democratically elected government of Aung Suu Kyi, and other members of her party National League for Democracy (NLD). Also read | Myanmar junta leader thanks Russia for boosting military Unperturbed by the criticism the Junta leader was recently seen thanking Russia for strengthening the army. As reported by Russian news agency TASS, during a recent meeting in Moscow, Min Aung Hlang told the Russian defence minister, "Thanks to Russia, our army has become one of the strongest in the region,". Russia said in March it was deeply concerned by the rising number of civilian deaths in Myanmar. Also read | 'Very concerned' over civilian casualties in Myanmar, says Russia Defence ties between the two countries have grown in recent years with Moscow providing army training and university scholarships to thousands of soldiers, as well as selling arms to a military blacklisted by several Western countries. (With inputs from agencies)

Myanmar's junta leader addresses security conference in Moscow

Western powers have imposed sanctions. Neighboring countries have implored the military to restore democracy. More than 200 human rights groups have called for an arms embargo. And last week, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a blunt rebuke aimed at isolating the generals.

The diplomatic pressure has done little to change the situation in Myanmar.

The military dictatorship now ruling the Southeast Asian nation has brushed aside the entreaties and threats, even as the country of 54 million people hurtles toward paralysis and possibly civil war that could destabilise the region. Confident in its impunity after a February 1 coup, the putschists have stretched diplomacy to its limit.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-facebook-promotes-violent-content-against-coup-protestors-study-reveals-393387" hreflang="en">Myanmar: Facebook promotes violent content against coup protestors, study reveals</a>

Q: Was this the outcome that had always been foreseen?

A: Not initially. Many people in Myanmar had hoped for intervention by the United Nations or perhaps the United States in the period immediately following the coup, which upended a November election victory by the civilian leadership and escalated into a brutal repression. Pro-democracy protesters carried signs that read "R2P," or "Responsibility to Protect," referring to a 2005 United Nations doctrine affirming the responsibility of nations to protect populations from such egregious crimes.

But diplomatic efforts at the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the 10-nation regional body known as ASEAN, have largely fizzled.

Q: Why does Myanmar’s coup leadership appear so confident?

A: The country, formerly known as Burma, was run by the military for decades after a coup in 1962, and the generals in charge never really embraced the idea of democracy. The constitution they adopted in 2008 paved the way for the election of civilian leaders but ensured the military's complete autonomy and veto power over major constitutional amendments.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-junta-leader-thanks-russia-for-boosting-military-393214" hreflang="en">Myanmar junta leader thanks Russia for boosting military</a>

Thant Myint-U, an American-born Burmese historian and grandson of U Thant, the former UN&nbsp;secretary-general, wrote in a recent edition of Foreign Affairs that the Myanmar army’s need for total power is ingrained.

"It is led by an officer corps that cannot imagine a Myanmar in which the military is not ultimately in control," he wrote.

The coup leader, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, appears to have secured vitally important allies — China and Russia — insulating Myanmar from any interventionist steps. The general also oversees a powerful patronage network built around two military-owned conglomerates and his family’s businesses. A democratic system could imperil them.

The U.N. Security Council, the 15-member body that is empowered to take coercive action, has issued only mildly worded criticisms since the coup, at least partly reflecting resistance to anything stronger by China and Russia. Chinese diplomats have recently referred to Min Aung Hlaing as Myanmar’s leader. He also was treated well in a visit to Russia this week.

Human rights activists have expressed exasperation at what they view as the Security Council’s failure on Myanmar.

"The council’s occasional statements of concern in the face of the military’s violent repression of largely peaceful protesters is the diplomatic equivalent of shrugging their shoulders and walking away," Louis Charbonneau, the U.N. director at Human Rights Watch, said last month in joining more than 200 other groups in demanding the council impose an arms embargo.

Q: Was the junta damaged by the General Assembly’s rebuke?

A: The General Assembly adopted a resolution denouncing the coup Friday, an exceedingly rare gesture that grew partly out of the Security Council’s inaction, and it was deemed a success by Western diplomats who said Myanmar’s military had now been ostracized.

But the resolution’s language was weakened to ensure more yes votes — and even then, 36 countries abstained. Analysts said the vote was unlikely to persuade the junta to negotiate with its domestic adversaries.

Nonetheless, said Richard Gowan, the U.N. director at the International Crisis Group, the resolution was “at least a clear signal of international disapproval for the coup and will make it harder for the junta to normalize its relations with the outside world.”

Q:&nbsp;What have other Southeast Asian nations done about the coup?

A: ASEAN, which includes Myanmar, has tried to mediate. But its efforts have done more to help Min Aung Hlaing consolidate his authority than to restore democracy.

The military’s takeover compelled ASEAN to convene a meeting in April, to which they invited Min Aung Hlaing.

ASEAN practices noninterference in the internal affairs of members and did not formally recognize the general as Myanmar’s new leader. But his red-carpet arrival for the meeting, held in Jakarta, the Indonesian capital, was repeatedly trumpeted by Myanmar’s state-run media as recognition of his leadership.

ASEAN conspicuously did not invite anyone to represent the deposed leadership, which now calls itself the National Unity Government, or anyone else from the pro-democracy movement.

The leaders agreed on what they called a "Five-Point Consensus," including the immediate cessation of violence, constructive dialogue to find a peaceful solution and ASEAN’s appointment of a special envoy to facilitate mediation.

While member nations Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore pushed for ASEAN to take firm action, strong measures were resisted by Thailand, said Aaron Connelly, a research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore. (Thailand’s government is headed by a former general who took power in a 2014 coup.)

The consensus made no mention of freeing political prisoners, who now number more than 5,000 and include the country’s elected civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. Suu Kyi would normally have attended such a meeting.

ASEAN has yet to name the special envoy. So far, the main outcome of ASEAN’s diplomatic effort has been to damage its own credibility. Myanmar protesters have been burning the ASEAN flag at demonstrations.

Q:&nbsp;What is the National Unity Government and what does it do?

A: The winners of the November election were scheduled to be sworn into office on February 01. But that morning, soldiers swept through the capital city, Naypyitaw, and arrested many of the elected officials. Some who escaped have since formed the National Unity Government, which has declared itself Myanmar’s legitimate government.

Myanmar’s ambassador to the United Nations, Kyaw Moe Tun, who refused to cooperate with the junta, now represents the National Unity Government. While the world body continues to regard him as Myanmar’s ambassador, no country has formally recognized the National Unity Government.

Western powers have imposed sanctions. Neighboring countries have implored the military to restore democracy. More than 200 human rights groups have called for an arms embargo.

Western powers have imposed sanctions. Neighboring countries have implored the military to restore democracy. More than 200 human rights groups have called for an arms embargo. And last week, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a blunt rebuke aimed at isolating the generals. The diplomatic pressure has done little to change the situation in Myanmar. The military dictatorship now ruling the Southeast Asian nation has brushed aside the entreaties and threats, even as the country of 54 million people hurtles toward paralysis and possibly civil war that could destabilise the region. Confident in its impunity after a February 1 coup, the putschists have stretched diplomacy to its limit. Also read | Myanmar: Facebook promotes violent content against coup protestors, study reveals Q: Was this the outcome that had always been foreseen? A: Not initially. Many people in Myanmar had hoped for intervention by the United Nations or perhaps the United States in the period immediately following the coup, which upended a November election victory by the civilian leadership and escalated into a brutal repression. Pro-democracy protesters carried signs that read "R2P," or "Responsibility to Protect," referring to a 2005 United Nations doctrine affirming the responsibility of nations to protect populations from such egregious crimes. But diplomatic efforts at the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the 10-nation regional body known as ASEAN, have largely fizzled. Q: Why does Myanmar’s coup leadership appear so confident? A: The country, formerly known as Burma, was run by the military for decades after a coup in 1962, and the generals in charge never really embraced the idea of democracy. The constitution they adopted in 2008 paved the way for the election of civilian leaders but ensured the military's complete autonomy and veto power over major constitutional amendments. Also read | Myanmar junta leader thanks Russia for boosting military Thant Myint-U, an American-born Burmese historian and grandson of U Thant, the former UN secretary-general, wrote in a recent edition of Foreign Affairs that the Myanmar army’s need for total power is ingrained. "It is led by an officer corps that cannot imagine a Myanmar in which the military is not ultimately in control," he wrote. The coup leader, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, appears to have secured vitally important allies — China and Russia — insulating Myanmar from any interventionist steps. The general also oversees a powerful patronage network built around two military-owned conglomerates and his family’s businesses. A democratic system could imperil them. The U.N. Security Council, the 15-member body that is empowered to take coercive action, has issued only mildly worded criticisms since the coup, at least partly reflecting resistance to anything stronger by China and Russia. Chinese diplomats have recently referred to Min Aung Hlaing as Myanmar’s leader. He also was treated well in a visit to Russia this week. Human rights activists have expressed exasperation at what they view as the Security Council’s failure on Myanmar. "The council’s occasional statements of concern in the face of the military’s violent repression of largely peaceful protesters is the diplomatic equivalent of shrugging their shoulders and walking away," Louis Charbonneau, the U.N. director at Human Rights Watch, said last month in joining more than 200 other groups in demanding the council impose an arms embargo. Q: Was the junta damaged by the General Assembly’s rebuke? A: The General Assembly adopted a resolution denouncing the coup Friday, an exceedingly rare gesture that grew partly out of the Security Council’s inaction, and it was deemed a success by Western diplomats who said Myanmar’s military had now been ostracized. But the resolution’s language was weakened to ensure more yes votes — and even then, 36 countries abstained. Analysts said the vote was unlikely to persuade the junta to negotiate with its domestic adversaries. Nonetheless, said Richard Gowan, the U.N. director at the International Crisis Group, the resolution was “at least a clear signal of international disapproval for the coup and will make it harder for the junta to normalize its relations with the outside world.” Q: What have other Southeast Asian nations done about the coup? A: ASEAN, which includes Myanmar, has tried to mediate. But its efforts have done more to help Min Aung Hlaing consolidate his authority than to restore democracy. The military’s takeover compelled ASEAN to convene a meeting in April, to which they invited Min Aung Hlaing. ASEAN practices noninterference in the internal affairs of members and did not formally recognize the general as Myanmar’s new leader. But his red-carpet arrival for the meeting, held in Jakarta, the Indonesian capital, was repeatedly trumpeted by Myanmar’s state-run media as recognition of his leadership. ASEAN conspicuously did not invite anyone to represent the deposed leadership, which now calls itself the National Unity Government, or anyone else from the pro-democracy movement. The leaders agreed on what they called a "Five-Point Consensus," including the immediate cessation of violence, constructive dialogue to find a peaceful solution and ASEAN’s appointment of a special envoy to facilitate mediation. While member nations Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore pushed for ASEAN to take firm action, strong measures were resisted by Thailand, said Aaron Connelly, a research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore. (Thailand’s government is headed by a former general who took power in a 2014 coup.) The consensus made no mention of freeing political prisoners, who now number more than 5,000 and include the country’s elected civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. Suu Kyi would normally have attended such a meeting. ASEAN has yet to name the special envoy. So far, the main outcome of ASEAN’s diplomatic effort has been to damage its own credibility. Myanmar protesters have been burning the ASEAN flag at demonstrations. Q: What is the National Unity Government and what does it do? A: The winners of the November election were scheduled to be sworn into office on February 01. But that morning, soldiers swept through the capital city, Naypyitaw, and arrested many of the elected officials. Some who escaped have since formed the National Unity Government, which has declared itself Myanmar’s legitimate government. Myanmar’s ambassador to the United Nations, Kyaw Moe Tun, who refused to cooperate with the junta, now represents the National Unity Government. While the world body continues to regard him as Myanmar’s ambassador, no country has formally recognized the National Unity Government.

Confident in its impunity, the Myanmar junta ignores diplomacy

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told visiting junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaingid that Moscow is committed to strengthening military ties with Myanmar, Russia's RIA news agency reported. 
 
"We are determined to continue our efforts to strengthen bilateral ties based on the mutual understanding, respect and trust that have been established between our countries," RIA quoted Shoigu as saying at a meeting late on Tuesday. 
 
Min Aung Hlaing was in the Russian capital to attend a security conference this week. 
 
Rights activists have accused Moscow of legitimising Myanmar's military junta, which came to power in a February&nbsp;1 coup, by continuing bilateral visits and arms deals. 
 
Russia said in March it was deeply concerned by the rising number of civilian deaths in Myanmar. 
 
Defence ties between the two countries have grown in recent years with Moscow providing army training and university scholarships to thousands of soldiers, as well as selling arms to a military blacklisted by several Western countries. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told visiting junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaingid that Moscow is committed to strengthening military ties with Myanmar, Russia's RIA news agency reported.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told visiting junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaingid that Moscow is committed to strengthening military ties with Myanmar, Russia's RIA news agency reported. "We are determined to continue our efforts to strengthen bilateral ties based on the mutual understanding, respect and trust that have been established between our countries," RIA quoted Shoigu as saying at a meeting late on Tuesday. Min Aung Hlaing was in the Russian capital to attend a security conference this week. Rights activists have accused Moscow of legitimising Myanmar's military junta, which came to power in a February 1 coup, by continuing bilateral visits and arms deals. Russia said in March it was deeply concerned by the rising number of civilian deaths in Myanmar. Defence ties between the two countries have grown in recent years with Moscow providing army training and university scholarships to thousands of soldiers, as well as selling arms to a military blacklisted by several Western countries. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia says to boost military ties with Myanmar as junta leader visits

Four protesters and at least two officers were killed as Myanmar soldiers battled an anti-junta civilian militia with small arms and grenades in the country's second city Tuesday, authorities and military sources said.

Fighting has flared across Myanmar since the February coup as people form "defence forces" to battle a brutal military crackdown on dissent, but clashes have largely been restricted to rural areas.

Acting on a tip-off, security forces raided a house in Mandalay's Chan Mya Tharsi township on Tuesday morning, the junta's information team said in a statement, and were met with small arms fire and grenades.

Two officers were killed during the raid, military sources told AFP, and at least ten were wounded.

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Four "terrorists" were killed and eight arrested in possession of homemade mines, hand grenades and small arms, a junta spokesman said in a statement.

"We could hear artillery shooting even though our house is far from that place," a Mandalay resident told AFP.

Another four members of the self-defence group were killed when the car they were attempting to flee in crashed, the spokesman said, without providing details.

The United States' embassy in Yangon said on Twitter it was "tracking reports of ongoing fighting in Mandalay... We are disturbed by the military escalation and urgently call for a cessation of violence."

The mass uprising against the military putsch that toppled the government of Aung San Suu Kyi has been met with a brutal crackdown that has killed more than 870 civilians, according to a local monitoring group.

As well as the rise of local self-defence forces, analysts believe hundreds of anti-coup protesters from Myanmar's towns and cities have trekked into insurgent-held areas to receive military training.

But part-time fighters know the odds are stacked against them in any confrontation with Myanmar's military -- one of Southeast Asia's most battle-hardened and brutal.

Four protesters and at least two officers were killed as Myanmar soldiers battled an anti-junta civilian militia with small arms and grenades in the country's second city Tuesday, authorities and military sources said.

Four protesters and at least two officers were killed as Myanmar soldiers battled an anti-junta civilian militia with small arms and grenades in the country's second city Tuesday, authorities and military sources said. Fighting has flared across Myanmar since the February coup as people form "defence forces" to battle a brutal military crackdown on dissent, but clashes have largely been restricted to rural areas. Acting on a tip-off, security forces raided a house in Mandalay's Chan Mya Tharsi township on Tuesday morning, the junta's information team said in a statement, and were met with small arms fire and grenades. Two officers were killed during the raid, military sources told AFP, and at least ten were wounded. Also read | Myanmar's Suu Kyi back in junta court on sedition charges Four "terrorists" were killed and eight arrested in possession of homemade mines, hand grenades and small arms, a junta spokesman said in a statement. "We could hear artillery shooting even though our house is far from that place," a Mandalay resident told AFP. Another four members of the self-defence group were killed when the car they were attempting to flee in crashed, the spokesman said, without providing details. The United States' embassy in Yangon said on Twitter it was "tracking reports of ongoing fighting in Mandalay... We are disturbed by the military escalation and urgently call for a cessation of violence." The mass uprising against the military putsch that toppled the government of Aung San Suu Kyi has been met with a brutal crackdown that has killed more than 870 civilians, according to a local monitoring group. As well as the rise of local self-defence forces, analysts believe hundreds of anti-coup protesters from Myanmar's towns and cities have trekked into insurgent-held areas to receive military training. But part-time fighters know the odds are stacked against them in any confrontation with Myanmar's military -- one of Southeast Asia's most battle-hardened and brutal.

Six killed in clashes between Myanmar Army and anti-junta militia

Myanmar's junta chief on Tuesday thanked Russia, a major weapons supplier to the troubled Southeast Asian country, for strengthening the army which seized power in a coup earlier this year.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military overthrew civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) government in February.

Russia has backed its ally and warned the West against sanctioning the junta.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/six-killed-in-clashes-between-myanmar-army-and-anti-junta-militia-393183" hreflang="en">Six killed in clashes between Myanmar army and anti-junta militia</a>

"Thanks to Russia, our army has become one of the strongest in the region," Russian news agency TASS cited Min Aung Hlaing as telling Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu during a meeting in Moscow.&nbsp;

The friendship between Russia and Myanmar is becoming "stronger and stronger", the junta leader said, according to his comments translated into Russian.&nbsp;

"Myanmar for us is a time-tested strategic partner and reliable ally," Shoigu said, adding that military cooperation is an "important component" of Russia-Myanmar relations.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmars-suu-kyi-back-in-junta-court-on-sedition-charges-393182" hreflang="en">Myanmar's Suu Kyi back in junta court on sedition charges</a>

"We are committed to continue making efforts to strengthen bilateral ties," the Russian defence minister said.&nbsp;

Min Aung Hlaing is in Moscow for a three-day international security conference which kicked off Tuesday and brings together defence officials from across the globe.

It is the junta chief's second known trip abroad since he seized power.

On Monday, he met with Russian Security Council chief Nikolai Patrushev, with the two agreeing to improve ties between their two countries.

Min Aung Hlaing then met the head of state arms exporter Rosoboronexport, Alexander Mikheyev, to discuss "potential military technical cooperation," a junta spokesperson said.

Since February, the junta's brutal crackdown on dissent has left at least 870 civilians dead, according to a local monitoring group.&nbsp;

Although the Kremlin has said it was "concerned" by the civilian casualties, Moscow has sought to develop ties with the junta.&nbsp;

In March, a Russian deputy defence minister joined an annual parade showcasing Myanmar's military prowess, including Russian-made jets, tanks and helicopters.

Myanmar's junta chief on Tuesday thanked Russia, a major weapons supplier to the troubled Southeast Asian country, for strengthening the army which seized power in a coup earlier this year.

Myanmar's junta chief on Tuesday thanked Russia, a major weapons supplier to the troubled Southeast Asian country, for strengthening the army which seized power in a coup earlier this year. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military overthrew civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) government in February. Russia has backed its ally and warned the West against sanctioning the junta. Also read | Six killed in clashes between Myanmar army and anti-junta militia "Thanks to Russia, our army has become one of the strongest in the region," Russian news agency TASS cited Min Aung Hlaing as telling Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu during a meeting in Moscow. The friendship between Russia and Myanmar is becoming "stronger and stronger", the junta leader said, according to his comments translated into Russian. "Myanmar for us is a time-tested strategic partner and reliable ally," Shoigu said, adding that military cooperation is an "important component" of Russia-Myanmar relations. Also read | Myanmar's Suu Kyi back in junta court on sedition charges "We are committed to continue making efforts to strengthen bilateral ties," the Russian defence minister said. Min Aung Hlaing is in Moscow for a three-day international security conference which kicked off Tuesday and brings together defence officials from across the globe. It is the junta chief's second known trip abroad since he seized power. On Monday, he met with Russian Security Council chief Nikolai Patrushev, with the two agreeing to improve ties between their two countries. Min Aung Hlaing then met the head of state arms exporter Rosoboronexport, Alexander Mikheyev, to discuss "potential military technical cooperation," a junta spokesperson said. Since February, the junta's brutal crackdown on dissent has left at least 870 civilians dead, according to a local monitoring group. Although the Kremlin has said it was "concerned" by the civilian casualties, Moscow has sought to develop ties with the junta. In March, a Russian deputy defence minister joined an annual parade showcasing Myanmar's military prowess, including Russian-made jets, tanks and helicopters.

Myanmar junta leader thanks Russia for boosting military

Deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi appeared in a junta court again Tuesday on trial for sedition and for flouting Covid restrictions during an election her ousted party won in a landslide.

A mass uprising in Myanmar against a February military putsch has been met with a brutal crackdown that has killed more than 870 civilians, according to a local monitoring group.

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Under house arrest and invisible bar a handful of court appearances, Suu Kyi has been hit with an eclectic raft of charges, including accepting illegal payments of gold and violating a colonial-era secrecy law.

On Tuesday, the court heard testimony she violated COVID-19 restrictions during elections last year that her National League for Democracy (NLD) party won in a landslide, her lawyer The Maung Maung told reporters.

The special court in Naypyidaw also heard testimony on separate sedition charges.

Journalists were barred from the proceedings.

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Su Kyi appeared in good health, The Maung Maung said.

Brief meetings with her legal team have been the only channel to the outside world for Suu Kyi -- who remains widely popular in Myanmar -- since she was detained in February.

Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has justified his power grab by citing alleged electoral fraud in the November poll and has threatened to dissolve the NLD.

Suu Kyi's lawyers have said they expect the trial to wrap up by July 26.

The other charges against her include claims that she accepted illegal payments of gold and violated a colonial-era secrecy law.

The hearing came as soldiers battled an anti-junta civilian militia with small arms and grenades in the city of Mandalay on Tuesday, with at least four protesters and two security personnel killed, authorities said.

Fighting has flared across Myanmar since the February coup as people form "defence forces" to battle a brutal military crackdown on dissent, but previous clashes have largely been restricted to rural areas.

Deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi appeared in a junta court again Tuesday on trial for sedition and for flouting Covid restrictions during an election her ousted party won in a landslide.

Deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi appeared in a junta court again Tuesday on trial for sedition and for flouting Covid restrictions during an election her ousted party won in a landslide. A mass uprising in Myanmar against a February military putsch has been met with a brutal crackdown that has killed more than 870 civilians, according to a local monitoring group. Also read | Britain tightens sanctions on Myanmar military junta Under house arrest and invisible bar a handful of court appearances, Suu Kyi has been hit with an eclectic raft of charges, including accepting illegal payments of gold and violating a colonial-era secrecy law. On Tuesday, the court heard testimony she violated COVID-19 restrictions during elections last year that her National League for Democracy (NLD) party won in a landslide, her lawyer The Maung Maung told reporters. The special court in Naypyidaw also heard testimony on separate sedition charges. Journalists were barred from the proceedings. Also read | Myanmar protesters wear flowers to mark Suu Kyi's birthday Su Kyi appeared in good health, The Maung Maung said. Brief meetings with her legal team have been the only channel to the outside world for Suu Kyi -- who remains widely popular in Myanmar -- since she was detained in February. Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has justified his power grab by citing alleged electoral fraud in the November poll and has threatened to dissolve the NLD. Suu Kyi's lawyers have said they expect the trial to wrap up by July 26. The other charges against her include claims that she accepted illegal payments of gold and violated a colonial-era secrecy law. The hearing came as soldiers battled an anti-junta civilian militia with small arms and grenades in the city of Mandalay on Tuesday, with at least four protesters and two security personnel killed, authorities said. Fighting has flared across Myanmar since the February coup as people form "defence forces" to battle a brutal military crackdown on dissent, but previous clashes have largely been restricted to rural areas.

Myanmar's Suu Kyi back in junta court on sedition charges

Britain on Monday added three Myamar entities to its sanctions list. Pearl and timber firms and `State Administration Council` are the two entities. The former is state-owned while that latter runs functions of the state. Notice about the sanctions has been posted on British givernemnt website.

Britain said there were reasonable grounds to believe the two state-owned enterprises provided funds to the military junta, and said the State Administration Council was responsible for, or had supported, the undermining of democracy in Myanmar.

Britain, the US and other Western states have imposed several sanctions in waves. This has been done in an effort to increase pressure on the military junta.

The military junta toppled the civilian government headed by Aung San Suu Kyi in a coup on February 1.

“Alongside our allies, we are placing sanctions on companies linked to Myanmar’s military junta, targeting the finances of this illegitimate regime," foreign minister Dominic Raab said.

“The military has continued its subversion of democracy and brutal killing of civilians. We will continue to hold the Junta to account and sanction those responsible, until democracy is restored.”

The junta`s allegations of irregularities in a November election were rejected by the electoral commission. 
Britain also strengthened its advice to businesses, stressing that they must "undertake enhanced supply chain due diligence and should not enter into trading relationships that benefit the Myanmar military."

(With inputs from agencies)

Britain on Monday added three Myamar entities to its sanctions list. Pearl and timber firms and `State Administration Council` are the two entities. The former is state-owned while that latter runs functions of the state.

Britain on Monday added three Myamar entities to its sanctions list. Pearl and timber firms and `State Administration Council` are the two entities. The former is state-owned while that latter runs functions of the state. Notice about the sanctions has been posted on British givernemnt website. Britain said there were reasonable grounds to believe the two state-owned enterprises provided funds to the military junta, and said the State Administration Council was responsible for, or had supported, the undermining of democracy in Myanmar. Britain, the US and other Western states have imposed several sanctions in waves. This has been done in an effort to increase pressure on the military junta. The military junta toppled the civilian government headed by Aung San Suu Kyi in a coup on February 1. “Alongside our allies, we are placing sanctions on companies linked to Myanmar’s military junta, targeting the finances of this illegitimate regime," foreign minister Dominic Raab said. “The military has continued its subversion of democracy and brutal killing of civilians. We will continue to hold the Junta to account and sanction those responsible, until democracy is restored.” The junta`s allegations of irregularities in a November election were rejected by the electoral commission. Britain also strengthened its advice to businesses, stressing that they must "undertake enhanced supply chain due diligence and should not enter into trading relationships that benefit the Myanmar military." (With inputs from agencies)

Britain tightens sanctions on Myanmar military junta

Myanmar military junta chief arrived in Moscow on Sunday to attend a security conference. This marks his second known trip abroad since a military coup in Myanmar.

Myanmar's junta leader arrives in Moscow for security conference

Myanmar military junta chief arrived in Moscow on Sunday to attend a security conference. This marks his second known trip abroad since military coup in Myanmar.

Myanmar military toppled civilian government led by Aung Sab Suu Kyi in a coup on February 1

Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing left the capital Naypyidaw Sunday on a special flight to attend the Moscow Conference for International Security, state-run MRTV said.

The report said that he was attending at "the invitation of Russian Defence Minister". It added that he had been "greeted" by the Russian ambassador to Myanmar at the airport.

The report didn't give details on how long he was expected to stay in Russia. It is an ally and a major arms supplier to the Myanmar military.

Myanmar's embassy in Russia later confirmed Min Aung Hlaing's arrival to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. 
"The commander-in-chief has arrived in Moscow," an embassy spokesperson was cited by the news agency as saying.

The junta's brutal crackdown on dissent has since killed at least 870 civilians, according to a local monitoring group.

In May local media reported the chief of Myanmar's air force attended a military helicopter exhibition in Moscow.

Min Aung Hlaing's visit comes after the UN General Assembly took the rare step on Friday of calling on member states to "prevent the flow of arms" into Myanmar.

(With inputs from agencies)

Myanmar military junta chief arrived in Moscow on Sunday to attend a security conference. This marks his second known trip abroad since military coup in Myanmar.

Myanmar military junta chief arrived in Moscow on Sunday to attend a security conference. This marks his second known trip abroad since military coup in Myanmar. Myanmar military toppled civilian government led by Aung Sab Suu Kyi in a coup on February 1 Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing left the capital Naypyidaw Sunday on a special flight to attend the Moscow Conference for International Security, state-run MRTV said. The report said that he was attending at "the invitation of Russian Defence Minister". It added that he had been "greeted" by the Russian ambassador to Myanmar at the airport. The report didn't give details on how long he was expected to stay in Russia. It is an ally and a major arms supplier to the Myanmar military. Myanmar's embassy in Russia later confirmed Min Aung Hlaing's arrival to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. "The commander-in-chief has arrived in Moscow," an embassy spokesperson was cited by the news agency as saying. The junta's brutal crackdown on dissent has since killed at least 870 civilians, according to a local monitoring group. In May local media reported the chief of Myanmar's air force attended a military helicopter exhibition in Moscow. Min Aung Hlaing's visit comes after the UN General Assembly took the rare step on Friday of calling on member states to "prevent the flow of arms" into Myanmar. (With inputs from agencies)

Myanmar military junta leader arrives in Moscow for conference

Indian envoy to Japan Sanjay Verma has said that India has been talking to&nbsp;'both sides'&nbsp;in Myanmar and has asked the military rulers of the country to&nbsp;'resolve the current situation'. Myanmar saw a military coup on&nbsp;February 1, reversing the democratic gains of the last many years with cases against the country's charismatic leader&nbsp;Aung&nbsp;San&nbsp;Suu&nbsp;Kyi.&nbsp;

Verma said, "In Myanmar,&nbsp;we have been formally and informally talking to both sides. We have urged the military junta,&nbsp;which is there at the moment to release all the political prisoners and support any attempt to resolve the current situation."&nbsp;

India backs the ASEAN initiative on resolution of the situation in the country. The initiative is a five-point agenda that calls for humanitarian assistance, cessation of violence.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The envoy pointed out that India also&nbsp;'trying to find out if there could be any other track which will have a larger traction to resolve the issues', highlighting that "we have time and again talked about restoration of rule of law, restoration of provisions of the constitution of&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;and offered our assistance wherever we can...(and) collaborate with international partners for a positive forward movement. We are not necessarily looking at punishing the country."&nbsp;

He was responding to a question at the foreign&nbsp;correspondents&nbsp;club of Japan. During his answer to the question on&nbsp;Myanmar, he recalled how India did&nbsp;'play a role'&nbsp;last time the country was under military rule as was&nbsp;'required that time for the democratic institutions in&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;and we are ready to do the same'.&nbsp;

On Friday, India abstained&nbsp;from voting during&nbsp;an&nbsp;UN resolution on an arms embargo on the country, calling the resolution,&nbsp;a move in haste. It has spoken multiple times at UNSC meetings on the situation in Myanmar, condemning the violence in the country. The envoy said,&nbsp;"Myanmar is our&nbsp;neighbouring&nbsp;country.&nbsp;Therefore,&nbsp;anything happening&nbsp;in Myanmar could have cross border implications, which&nbsp;will&nbsp;be&nbsp;important for us."&nbsp;

India and Myanmar share maritime and land borders. India has been developing the Kaladan multimodal projects that increases connectivity between the&nbsp;two&nbsp;countries. Myanmar in the past has helped India deal with its insurgency in bordering states.&nbsp;

Indian envoy to Japan Sanjay Verma has said that India has been talking to 'both sides' in Myanmar and has asked the military rulers of the country to 'resolve the current situation'.

Indian envoy to Japan Sanjay Verma has said that India has been talking to 'both sides' in Myanmar and has asked the military rulers of the country to 'resolve the current situation'. Myanmar saw a military coup on February 1, reversing the democratic gains of the last many years with cases against the country's charismatic leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Verma said, "In Myanmar, we have been formally and informally talking to both sides. We have urged the military junta, which is there at the moment to release all the political prisoners and support any attempt to resolve the current situation." India backs the ASEAN initiative on resolution of the situation in the country. The initiative is a five-point agenda that calls for humanitarian assistance, cessation of violence. The envoy pointed out that India also 'trying to find out if there could be any other track which will have a larger traction to resolve the issues', highlighting that "we have time and again talked about restoration of rule of law, restoration of provisions of the constitution of Myanmar and offered our assistance wherever we can...(and) collaborate with international partners for a positive forward movement. We are not necessarily looking at punishing the country." He was responding to a question at the foreign correspondents club of Japan. During his answer to the question on Myanmar, he recalled how India did 'play a role' last time the country was under military rule as was 'required that time for the democratic institutions in Myanmar and we are ready to do the same'. On Friday, India abstained from voting during an UN resolution on an arms embargo on the country, calling the resolution, a move in haste. It has spoken multiple times at UNSC meetings on the situation in Myanmar, condemning the violence in the country. The envoy said, "Myanmar is our neighbouring country. Therefore, anything happening in Myanmar could have cross border implications, which will be important for us." India and Myanmar share maritime and land borders. India has been developing the Kaladan multimodal projects that increases connectivity between the two countries. Myanmar in the past has helped India deal with its insurgency in bordering states.

Talking to both sides in Myanmar, says Indian envoy to Japan 

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