Civil War in Indonesia’s Neighbors, General Disappears – Country Threatened with ‘Darkness’

#Civil #War #Indonesias #Neighbors #General #Disappears #Country #Threatened #Darkness

International

Tommy Patrio Sorongan & Intan Rakhmayanti Dewi, CNBC Indonesia

News

Sunday, 05/05/2024 20:15 IWST

Foto: REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Civil war has been going on in Myanmar since 2021. As a result, many generals disappeared, putting the country in danger of being ‘dark’.

This civil war was caused by armed confrontation involving two parties within the country.

Indonesia’s neighboring country has been in a civil war since the military junta led by Min Aung Hlaing overthrew the civilian government in February 2021. Until now, resistance from anti-junta militias continues.

Most recently, the junta said the country had only managed to produce about half of the electricity it needed every day. The regime blames resistance forces for continuing damage to infrastructure and low rainfall.

Myanmar’s power grid produces only 2,800 megawatts of the 5,443 megawatts needed each day, according to an electricity authority statement released by the junta’s information team on Wednesday evening.

“Domestic electricity production from natural gas is reduced by around 446 megawatts from normal daily capacity, and low rainfall has caused a daily shortfall of around 350 megawatts from hydropower sources,” the junta-controlled Myanmar Electricity Authority was quoted as saying. AFPSunday (5/5/2024).

The junta blamed attacks by its opponents for reducing domestic electricity production. About 350 megawatts of hydroelectric power plants were lost due to attacks on power lines.

“Since the coup, 89 poles have been destroyed, five power plants have been bombed and there have been 71 attacks on main power lines,” he added.

In addition to the rainfall and resistance, the junta said domestic electricity production from natural gas was reduced by around 446 megawatts from normal daily capacity. In fact, Myanmar’s natural gas exports to China and Thailand generate almost US$ 300 million (Rp. 4.8 trillion) per month

The electricity authority also said 400,000 electricity meter boxes had been disconnected due to non-payment of bills. It is known that many people in Myanmar have stopped paying utilities and other taxes to protest the coup that overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi’s government.

On Thursday, residents of the commercial hub of Yangon reported a power outage in the city at around 3:30 p.m. local time. The electricity authority said it was making “timely efforts” to restore power to the city of around eight million people.

Missing-Military General Resigns

The existence of the junta in this war is starting to be questioned. The reason is, there have been many reported defeats by the troops currently ruling and there have been reports of a number of military generals disappearing.

Media Irrawaddy reported how the junta’s top boss, General Min Aung Hlaing, was unseen celebrating the Thingyan Festival at the military pavilion in Pyin Oo Lwin in Mandalay, which is home to the military academy. This happened after anti-junta resistance forces attacked the city with rockets.

Not only General Min Aung Hlaing, Deputy Head of the Myanmar Junta Soe Win has also not been seen in public for more than two weeks. Rumors say he was seriously injured in a drone attack by anti-junta resistance forces on April 9.

On the other hand, Irrawaddy also wrote how another rumor said that Soe Win deliberately purged Min Aung Hlaing. This is due to a series of defeats by the Myanmar military over the last five months which have seen Min Aung Hlaing’s popularity fade.

“Military supporters expressed their support for Soe Win to take over the military,” said a source in the Myanmar military.

The issue of this purge is also supported by the fact that former Lieutenant General Myint Hlaing was arrested at his home on suspicion of corruption shortly before the Thingyan Festival.

Myint Hlaing is known as a hardliner and is famous for telling farmers not to eat one meal a day in order to save money to pay back their agricultural loans to the government.

“There is speculation that two other generals were arrested along with Myint Hlaing for allegedly plotting to overthrow Min Aung Hlaing,” the Myanmar media added, although it stated that verification could not be carried out.

(luc/luc)