Myanmar shadow government wants ASEAN crisis talks invite
YANGON: Myanmar’s shadow government on Sunday (Apr 18) urged Southeast Asian leaders to give it a seat at the table during crisis talks next week, and not to recognise the military regime that seized power in a February coup.
Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing is expected to join a special Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit on Saturday in Jakarta, his first official overseas trip since the putsch that ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The army has moved to quell mass protests against its rule, killing at least 730 people, according to a local monitoring group.
Min Aung Hlaing’s invitation to the meeting of the 10-country ASEAN has drawn scorn from activists who have urged foreign leaders not to formally recognise the junta.
Moe Zaw Oo, deputy minister of foreign affairs for the parallel “national unity government” – formed on Friday by ousted lawmakers mostly from Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, as well as ethnic-minority politicians – said ASEAN had not reached out to them.
“If ASEAN wants to help solve the Myanmar situation, they are not going to achieve anything without consulting and negotiating with the NUG, which is supported by the people and has full legitimacy,” he told Voice of America’s Burmese service.
“It’s important that this military council is not recognised. This needs to be handled carefully.”
READ: Opponents of Myanmar coup form unity government, aim for ‘federal democracy’
Unrest continued across the country on Sunday, with protesters rallying in Mandalay, Meiktila, Magway and Myingyan, showing support for the national unity government.
At Palaw in the country’s south, demonstrators brandished banners that read: “Military dictators should not be allowed to rule. The dictatorship will be uprooted. Support the national unity government.”
Young demonstrators also staged motorbike rallies while carrying flags in Hpakant and Sagaing.
The previous night, there were violent clashes in the central gem-producing city of Mogok when security forces cracked down on protesters.
According to an AFP-verified video filmed by a resident, soldiers crouched on a street as their commanding officer shouted that he wanted “deaths”.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners verified two deaths at Mogok.
READ: Myanmar anti-coup protesters throw red paint in the streets as death toll mounts
Much of Myanmar remains under a curfew imposed shortly after the coup, running from 8pm to 4am every day.
Late on Saturday, a young man was shot and killed in Kyaukme town in northern Shan state while riding his motorbike during the curfew.
“He was shot by the authorities when he and other his friends drove motorbikes around 9pm. He was shot in the head,” a rescue worker told AFP, adding that his funeral would take place on Sunday.
Source: AFP/vc
Covid-19 (April 17): 1,007 new cases in the Klang Valley alone
COVID-19 | The Health Ministry today reported 2,331 new Covid-19 cases of which 1,007 were reported in the Klang Valley alone.
There were also five deaths.
The new infections comprised 90 percent Malaysians and 10 percent non-citizens.
Meanwhile, 1,832 Covid-19 patients recovered today but they were outpaced by new infections, resulting in a rise in active cases and increasing the strain on Covid-19 hospitals.
- Active cases: 19,094
- Patients in ICUs: 225
- Intubated: 92
States
Selangor recorded the highest number of new infections today with 751 cases.
This was followed by Sarawak at 512 cases, Kuala Lumpur at 252, and Kelantan at 225.
Deaths
There were five fatalities today, bringing the death toll to 1,370.
The new deaths were recorded in Selangor (2), Sabah (2), and Sarawak (1).
Those who died were aged between 61 and 86.
For a detailed breakdown of the reported deaths today, please refer to our Covid-19 tracker site.
Clusters
A total of 347 out of 1,515 clusters are still active. From the active clusters, 69 of them contributed to the new cases today.
This includes the eight clusters reported today as well as another cluster that was previously declared resolved.
The resolved clusters today are: Pulau Pisang, Bukit Marak, Dagang Permai, Perusahaan Jalan Bukit, Jalan Lapangan Terbang, Jalan Rawang, and Teratai.
The Teratai cluster – which is linked to rubber glove factories – is the biggest cluster to date, with 7,205 cases at the close. It was first classified on Nov 7 last year.
Details of the new clusters are as follows:
Jalan Ding Lik Kwong cluster
District(s): Sibu in Sarawak
Locality/Source: Public institution at Jalan Ding Lik Kwong, Sibu
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: April 13
Total infected: 16 out of 43 screened
Jalan Damai Tawau cluster
District(s): Tawau in Sabah
Locality/Source: Service centre at Jalan Damai, Tawau
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: April 13
Total infected: 14 out of 65 screened
Bukit Quoin cluster
District(s): Tawau in Sabah
Locality/Source: Public institution at Tawau, Sabah
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: April 10
Total infected: 11 out of 18 screened
Jalan Wawasan Lima cluster
District(s): Batu Pahat in Johor
Locality/Source: A factory at Jalan Wawasan 5, Batu Pahat
Cluster category: Workplace
First case: April 12
Total infected: 10 out of 178 screened
Ulu Balingian cluster
District(s): Selangau in Sarawak
Locality/Source: A school at Ulu Balingian, Selangau
Cluster category: Education institute
First case: April 17
Total infected: 101 out of 200 screened
Jalan Disa cluster
District(s): Sibu in Sarawak
Locality/Source: School at Jalan Disa, Sibu
Cluster category: Education institute
First case: April 14
Total infected: 20 out of 199 screened
Jalan Maktab cluster
District(s): Sepang and Hulu Langat in Selangor; Putrajaya
Locality/Source: Education institute at Jalan Maktab, Bandar Baru Bangi, Sepang
Cluster category: Education institute
First case: April 15
Total infected: 9 out of 42 screened
Seri Kuantan cluster
District(s): Kuantan in Pahang; Cheras in Kuala Lumpur
Locality/Source: Event in Kuala Lumpur on April 10
Cluster category: Community
First case: April 16
Total infected: 18 out of 111 screened
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