Research, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA
News (1)
Who was behind plan to kill Myanmar's UN ambassador?
Sources: The Irrawaddy, Coconuts Thailand
News of two Myanmar citizens who have been arrested in the US for allegedly plotting to kill or injure Myanmar’s UN ambassador has spread like wildfire among Myanmar nationals at home and abroad.
“Phyo Hein Htut, 28, and Ye Hein Zaw, 20, plotted to seriously injure or kill Myanmar’s ambassador to the United Nations in a planned attack on a foreign official that was to take place on American soil,” US Attorney Audrey Strauss said in a statement on Friday.
“We commend the tireless work of our law enforcement partners at all levels of government to ensure the safety of foreign diplomats and officials,” she said.
“Necessary security has been provided by the police,” he said earlier this week.
Then came the US Attorney’s statement on the arrest of the two Myanmar men on Friday.
According to New York’s police chief Dermot Shea, Phyo Hein Htut and Ye Hein Zaw were recruited by an arms dealer in Thailand who sells weapons to the Tatmadaw, as Myanmar’s military is called. Htut was allegedly an intermediary who agreed to hire the attackers to injure ambassador in hope it would force him to resign from his position. If he refused to step down, the unidentified arms dealer recommended the assailants assassinate Kyaw Moe Tun.
According to the legal complaint, Phyo Hein Htut told FBI investigators that an arms dealer in Thailand had contacted him online and offered him money to hire attackers to hurt the ambassador and force him to step down.
According to prosecutors, Ye Hein Zaw transferred $4,000 to Phyo Hein Htut.
The US Department of Justice alleges that Phyo Hein Htut hired attackers and told Ye Hein Zaw in a recorded phone call that the attackers would require an additional $1,000 to “conduct the attack on the Ambassador in Westchester County, and for an additional payment the attackers could, in substance, ‘finish off’ the Ambassador.”
If the ambassador did not step down, then the arms dealer proposed that the attackers would kill him, according to the complaint. Phyo Hein Htut and the arms dealer then agreed on a plan to tamper with the ambassador’s car to cause a crash.
A court filing states that Phyo Hein Htut “agreed in substance” with the Thai arms dealer on a plan for Phyo Hein Htut “to hire others to tamper with the tires on the Ambassador’s car to cause a crash while the Ambassador was inside.”
The military regime in Myanmar has asked Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun, who opposed the coup in his country, to leave the post and residence but he refused. Since then, Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun has become a well-known target for the regime.
Who is the arms dealer in Thailand?
The plot is interesting but poorly planned and there is an indication that the regime’s networks operating outside of Myanmar are involved.
Phyo Hein Htut seems to have contacts in the ambassador’s office and arms dealers in Thailand know him.
The complaint said Ye Hein Zaw admitted that he transferred the money to Phyo Hein Htut, and that he regularly sends money to others on behalf of the arms dealer and recently booked travel to the United States for two other people at the arms dealer’s request.
Who is the arms dealer in Thailand? Is he a Thai or Myanmar citizen? It is likely that he is a Myanmar citizen.
There are many prominent and shady Myanmar businessmen who are close to the regime who live and thrive in Bangkok.
They have opened up businesses and trading companies and bought residences and live in Bangkok. Some Myanmar businessmen in Bangkok have been more active since the coup as they support the military and have close ties with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, coup leader and now chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC).
They also have extensive networks along the border with Myanmar where goods, construction materials, liquor, automobiles and arms are exported to Myanmar.
Refs: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/who-was-behind-the-plan-to-kill-myanmars-un-ambassador.html, https://coconuts.co/yangon/news/2-myanmar-men-charged-in-new-york-with-plotting-to-assault-assassinate-u-n-ambassador/?fbclid=IwAR1XZubPZgXLwBvbnyJssOBoj3tPdljBKYHJQmATRN9FgIIyCfScllalO58
Translation of external news on disease control and Taiwan
It is not accidental that Lithuania is
backing Taiwan
Source : Central News Agency
Image : Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center
stated on 31 July that at this time when global vaccine supply is in short
supply and the epidemic is in a difficult time, Lithuania extended a helping
hand to provide these COVID-19 (Chinese Communist virus) vaccines and provided
great help to the domestic epidemic prevention and control.(Provided by the
Central Epidemic Command Center)
Lithuanian Deputy Foreign Minister Ed Menas said that the decision to donate vaccines to Taiwan has been recognized by many Lithuanian people. One of the reasons must be that many people have strong feelings for Taiwan. They always remember the historical grace from this side of the earth.
Lithuania became the first EU country to announce the donation of vaccines to Taiwan in June, which exceeded most people's imagination. As soon as the news came out, a Lithuanian whirlwind blew up in Taiwan. People searched for imported Lithuanian goods, and Lithuanian social welfare agencies also poured in large amounts of donations from Taiwan. The related phenomenon was reported by some Lithuanian media and attracted the attention of the ruling and opposition parties.
Mantas Adomėnas mentioned in an exclusive interview with Central News Agency this week that the strong positive response from the Taiwanese people deeply touched Lithuanians. But he pointed out that the emotional closeness between Lithuania and Taiwanese people is not a recent event, but can be traced back to the mid-20th century.
Under multiple military and political coercion, Lithuania was annexed by the Soviet Union in the 1940s. Moscow regarded as "suspicious", social elites and various "anti-Soviet elements" were suppressed, but the resistance movement never ceased, the well-known Baltic Sea guerrilla group "The Forest Brothers" was not dismantled by Moscow until the latter half of the 1950s.
On 11 March 1990, Lithuania declares its independence from the Soviet Union. More precisely, it was the restoration and continuation of the forcibly interrupted independence.
The "father" and first head of state of the liberal and democratic new Lithuania was Vytautas Landsbergis, also the grandfather of the current Lithuanian Foreign Minister.
Ed Menus pointed out that the government of the Republic of China has played an important role in assisting Lithuania to continue its independent state status. During the Cold War, the Republic of China did not recognize that the Baltic states such as Lithuania were part of the Soviet Union. Lithuanians still remember this.
Even though the motherland is occupied by the Soviet Union, the Lithuanian diplomatic system has never given up on maintaining Lithuania’s independent state status through efforts overseas to preserve representative institutions such as “legation”. As the Moscow authorities continue to deprive Lithuania of overseas assets and even gold reserves, Lithuanian units abroad that are not under the Soviet regime have encountered many practical difficulties.
The United States was the most determined country at the time to adopt a policy of "non-recognition" against Soviet occupation of the Baltic Sea. Edmenus said that the older generation of Lithuanian diplomats told him that in the 1970s, Lithuania's mission in Washington had been assisted by the Republic of China's embassy in the United States.
Ed Menus said in an interview, "Lithuania cares about people in Taiwan and all over the world who are pursuing freedom and democracy, because Lithuania's road to rebirth is a road to defend freedom, democracy, the rule of law, and human rights." Lithuania will try its best to help Taiwan become closer. To integrate into the international order and system, including using all feasible methods to urge Taiwan to obtain membership or observer status in various international organizations.
He mentioned that Lithuania has gone through centralized rule and is still neighbour to the centralized "geopolitical behemoth", so it can understand Taiwan's situation and the complicated relationship with the CCP. In addition, Lithuania and Taiwan began democratization at about the same time. These are the reasons why Lithuania feels cordial to Taiwan.
With such high-profile support for Taiwan, is Lithuania not afraid of Beijing's pressure? Ed Menus said that protests and intimidation from the CCP are of course indispensable, but "Lithuanians are probably used to high pressure, but they are not so easy to succumb." He said that compared to what Lithuania experienced before leaving the Soviet Union, the current pressure from the CCP can be described as "very moderate."
After the CCP virus began to spread globally, Taiwan donated 100,000 medical-grade masks to Lithuania in April 2020. On 22 June 2021, Lithuania announces the donation of 20,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Taiwan. Lithuanian officials said in response to this matter that people who love freedom should take care of each other and it is natural for friends to help each other.
The 20,000 doses of vaccines arrive in Taiwan on 31 July 2021, about 2 months earlier than the original schedule.
News (3) to (5) / Editor : Ye Ziwei / https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/21/7/31/n13128605.htm
News (3)
Lithuania donates 20,000 doses of vaccines to Taiwan, and the two sides will set up representative offices in each other
Reporter : Zhong Yuan / Image : Lithuania donated 20,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Taiwan, which arrived at Taoyuan International Airport on the morning of 31 July. (Central News Agency)
The Lithuanian government announced on 22 June that it would donate 20,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Taiwan by the end of September. The Republic of China's representative office in Latvia, which also governs Lithuania, announced that the country has delivered the vaccine to the capital, Vilnius airport warehouse, was expected to arrive in Taiwan in the morning of the 31st.
Image : The 20,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine donated by Lithuania to Taiwan arrived at Taoyuan International Airport on the morning of 31 July and were sent to the designated cold storage logistics center for inspection and sealing operations. (Central News Agency)
News (4)
You Xikun, Chief of the Legislative Yuan: Lithuania is not afraid of the threat of the CCP
You Xikun, the head of the Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China, stated on Facebook that 20,000 doses of vaccine from Lithuania from the Baltic Sea in Europe had arrived in Taiwan! The kind guardianship from afar touched Taiwanese people. Lithuania’s population is only one-eighth of Taiwan’s population but it is not afraid of the CCP’s threat, and the courage to donate vaccines to Taiwan is comparable to that of the United States and Japan. "Friends who love freedom should support each other." Lithuania is a democratic country with Taiwan, the United States, and Japan, and the vaccine it donated to Taiwan is a veritable "democracy vaccine."
You Xikun shared his own poem with everyone, "I feel that Lithuania gives me vaccines": "The land is on the coast of Europe, and the two countries have had little fate in ancient times. I am only one of the people in the country, and I am as brave as the United States and Japan."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China stated today that the government once again expressed its heartfelt gratitude to the brave and brave Lithuanian government and 2.8 million people for the warm wishes sent from the Baltic Sea. This time Lithuania extended a helping hand to Taiwan in time when the international vaccine supply was in short supply, warming the hearts of the 23.5 million Taiwanese people, deepening the friendship of friendship and mutual assistance between the two countries, and witnessing the cycle of goodness in the international community.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hopes that Taiwan and Taiwan will continue to expand and strengthen cooperation and exchanges in various fields after the establishment of representative offices between the two countries in the future, so as to jointly enhance the friendship and well-being of the people of both sides.
News (5)
Lithuania donates 20,000 doses of vaccine to Taiwan Presidential Palace: The cycle of kindness continues to grow stronger
The spokesperson of the Presidential Office of the Republic of China Zhang Dunhan expressed his sincere thanks to the Lithuanian government for its timely assistance to Taiwan, and also sincere thanks to the people from all walks of life and the diplomatic team in the center for successfully completing this plan in a short period of time. This friendship from the Baltic Sea is invaluable.
Zhang Dunhan said that in the global fight against the epidemic, the mutual assistance of partners who love democracy and freedom seems warm and powerful. From last year Taiwan’s aid of 100,000 medical-grade masks to assist Lithuania’s first-line medical staff to fight the epidemic, to today’s vaccine assistance to Taiwan by Lithuania, they have once again confirmed that Taiwan’s contribution to international good power has become a "circle of kindness."
Image : Lithuania donated 20,000 doses of AZ vaccine to Taiwan, which arrived at Taoyuan International Airport by Turkish Airlines on the morning of the 31st. (Central News Agency)
He said that the Presidential Palace also thanked Lithuania for actively supporting Taiwan's participation in international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO). Currently, Taiwan’s preparations for the establishment of “The Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania” (The Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania) in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, are actively underway. We look forward to expanding Taiwan's substantive relationship with Central and Eastern Europe, especially the Baltic countries.
"Lithuania adheres to universal values such as democracy, freedom and human rights, and Taiwan is a sincere and friendly partner with similar ideas." Zhang Dunhan said that Taiwan will continue to strengthen the cooperation partnership between the two sides in various fields on the close connection of shared values, and will also cooperate with Lithuania. And other countries with similar concepts, together for the global unity of epidemic prevention and protection of universal values, continue to contribute to the power of good, so that the "circle of kindness" continues to be warm and strong.
Taipei 101 stated that Lithuania had provided Taiwan with 20,000 doses of vaccines which had arrived in Taiwan. It is grateful for the mutual support from European democratic partners and hopes that Lithuania will work with Taiwan to overcome the challenge of the epidemic. Taipei 101 typed and lighted up from 6.30 pm to 10 pm at night of 31 July with 6 groups of content, namely "Thank Lithuania", "A Good Partner in Democracy", "Warm Hearts and Mutual Help", "Hand in Hand to Fight the Epidemic", "TWN❤ LTU", and an image of the Taiwan and Lithuanian flags shaking hands.
Taiwan has purchased more than 50 million doses of vaccines, but due to the shortage of international vaccines, most of them have not yet arrived. Taiwan’s lack of vaccines was "reconciled by the epidemic". With the US donating 2.5 million doses of vaccine, Japan donated three batches of 3.34 million doses, and Lithuania, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic donated 20,000 doses, 10,000 doses, and 30,000 doses respectively, vaccines are helping Taiwan effectively solve the vaccine shortage in Taiwan.
The President of the Republic of China Tsai Ing-wen expressed her gratitude in the Lithuanian language Ačiū, Lietuva! (Thank you, Lithuania!) on Facebook, saying that Lithuania announced that it would donate 20,000 doses of AZ vaccine to Taiwan, and she would like to express the Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrida Simonyte and the Lithuanian government, express her deepest gratitude.
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