Rare Duck in Upper Assam

 Considered the most beautiful duck in the world, the Mandarin duck made an appearance in Assam's Tinsukia last week after more than a century.

By Tora Agarwala



First spotted on February 8 by Madhab Gogoi, a Tinsukia-based birder and tour guide, the duck has since become the star of the wetland — an area affected by a blowout and fire at a natural gas well located close by in May 2020. (Source: Gunjan Gogoi)

Floating in the Maguri-Motapung beel (or wetland) in Assam’s Tinsukia district for over a week is the spectacular and rare Mandarin duck. First spotted on February 8 by Madhab Gogoi, a Tinsukia-based birder and tour guide, the duck has since become the star of the wetland — an area affected by a blowout and fire at a natural gas well located close by in May 2020.

“When I heard that Madhab had spotted the duck, I did not believe him,” said Binanda Hatiboruah, a bird guide, also based in Tinsukia, “But when I saw it myself, I hugged him [Madhab] and almost lifted him up. I was that excited.” The bird was last sighted in this part of Assam more than a century ago, in 1902.

What is the Mandarin duck and why is it exciting?

Considered the most beautiful duck in the world, the Mandarin duck, or the (Aix galericulata) was first identified by Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist Carl Linnaeus in 1758. The eBird website, a platform that documents birds world over, describes it as a “small-exotic looking bird” native to East Asia. “It’s very beautiful, with majestic colours and can be spotted from a distance,” said Deborshee Gogoi, a Digboi-based professor of marketing, and a birder, who also spotted the duck last week, “It was a male — we could tell because in this species, the males are more colourful than the females.”

The eBird website describes the male as “very ornate with big orangey ‘sail fins’ on the back, streaked orangey cheeks, and a small red bill with a whitish tip” and the female with “narrow white spectacles on a shaggy grey head, bold pale dappled spots along flanks, and pale bill tip.”

The migratory duck breeds in Russia, Korea, Japan and northeastern parts of China, explained Gogoi. It now has established populations in Western Europe and America too. In 2018, when a Mandarin duck was spotted in a pond in New York City’s Central Park, it created a flutter among local residents.

The duck, however, rarely visits India as it does not fall in its usual migratory route. There are only a handful of recorded sightings here. “It was recorded in 1902 in Dibru river in the Rongagora area in Tinsukia,” said Hatiboruah, “More recently, it was sighted in Manipur’s Loktak Lake in 2013, and in Saatvoini Beel in Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve in Assam’s Baksa district 2014.”

According to ornithologist Dr Anwaruddin Choudhury, a former joint secretary of the forest department, while the duck is not a globally threatened species, spotting one is always considered significant because they only make “rare appearances.” Hatiboruah said it was a “historical sighting, especially because no one can say when we will see it again.”

So what is it doing in Assam?

While birds usually follow a regular route for migration, “it is also common for them to stray from the path,” said Dr Choudhury. This is what possibly happened to the Mandarin duck, which was spotted at Maguri beel.

“It was possibly accidental, could have lost its way or strayed from the flock,” said Hatiboruah. Since February 8, the bird has appeared several times, attracting a number of birders not just from Assam, but different parts of the country, including Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Pune.

The bird was also spotted by a team from the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), which was present in the area for a survey of the White-winged wood duck, an extremely rare and endangered duck species found primarily in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

The Mandarin duck was last seen on Wednesday. “There have been no sightings in the last three days,” said Gogoi, “It could have possibly moved away from Maguri beel.”

What is the Maguri beel, why is it important?

The Maguri Motapung wetland — an Important Bird Area as declared by the Bombay Natural History Society — is located close to the Dibru Saikhowa National Park in Upper Assam. According to Gogoi, the wetland has a grassland adjacent to it. “The entire ecosystem (grassland and wetland) is very important as it is home to at least 304 bird species, including a number of endemic ones like Black-breasted parrotbill and Marsh babbler.”

In May 2020, the beel was adversely affected by a blowout and fire at an Oil India Limited-owned gas well. The resulting oil spill killed a number of fish, snakes as well as an endangered Gangetic dolphin, and the fire had burnt a large portion of the grassland. Hatiboruah said that there has been considerable recovery due to at least nine waves of floods last year that cleared the oil. Gogoi added that while most migratory season usually begins in September, the birds arrived only in November possibly because of the fire, which was doused only then. “However, the sighting of the duck is undoubtedly a positive sign,” he said.

Manipur Journalists Cease Work Protesting Attack

• A hand-grenade was lobbed at the office of Poknapham in Keishampat Thiyam Leikai in the Imphal West district around 6.30 pm on Saturday, police said
• Protesting against the attack, journalists held a sit-in demonstration at Keishampat Leimajam Leikai from 11 am to 3 pm

Imphal: No newspaper was published and no TV news was produced in Manipur on Sunday as journalists ceased work, protesting against the attack on Manipuri daily Poknapham.

The decision to cease work was taken by the All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) and the Editors Guild of Manipur (EGM), journalists said.

A hand-grenade was lobbed at the office of Poknapham in Keishampat Thiyam Leikai in the Imphal West district around 6.30 pm on Saturday, police said.

Protesting against the attack, journalists held a sit-in demonstration at Keishampat Leimajam Leikai from 11 am to 3 pm.

Later, a memorandum was submitted to Chief Minister N Biren Singh, urging him to ensure that the press in the state functions freely.

As per CCTV footage from the location, a woman came on a two-wheeler and lobbed the hand-grenade at the newspaper's office, police said.

The reason for the attack is yet to be ascertained, they said.

No outfit has claimed responsibility for the attack, they added.

Teen Spinner from Nagaland on IPL radar

Khrievitso Kense

What Kense does know is how to spin the ball past right-hander’s bat, fast. So impressed were some IPL talent scouts that the leg-spinner made the 292-player shortlist from 1194 applicants for the auction in Chennai on February 18.

By Rasesh Mandani

Kra-vi-toe’ it is,” Khrievitso Kense said over a phone call from Chennai. Quarantining in Chennai ahead of the Vijay Hazare Trophy one-dayers, the 16-year-old leg-spinner is used to people not getting that ‘h’ and ‘s’ in his first name are silent. And then he is asked about his roots.

Kense comes from Dimapur, Nagaland’s biggest city. His forefathers belonged to Angami Naga ethnic group who were once into cultivation and livestock-rearing. Kense has no idea about the tribe’s past. “I don’t know what my name means,” he said with a sheepish laugh.

What Kense does know is how to spin the ball past right-hander’s bat, fast. So impressed were some IPL talent scouts that the leg-spinner made the 292-player shortlist from 1194 applicants for the auction in Chennai on February 18. Come auction-day, Kense his five siblings, parents, doting grandfather will be hoping for a cricketer from Nagaland to break into Indian Premier League (IPL).

Nagaland coach Kanwaljit Singh has helped Kense catapult from U16 to Nagaland’s T20 side in Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy this year. Singh, a domestic giant (369 first-class wickets), had narrowly missed the India call. Now, it’s his coaching motto that a young talent should be tracked before it’s too late. “I had told our captain Jonathan (Rongsen) to bring any youngster he finds exciting to the trials. The moment I saw Khrievitso, I found his fastish leg-breaks very exciting. We drafted him in the team straightaway,” he said.

Kense lived up to Singh’s faith by picking seven wickets in four matches in the Mushtaq Ali meet. It is Singh’s second opinion the Mumbai Indians’ talent scouts sought before Kense was called for their pre-auction trials. Since then, Rajasthan Royals too have trialled Kense.

Long before Nagaland and the other North-eastern teams were integrated in the domestic calendar in 2018 following reforms in the Indian cricket board, Kense had been bitten by the cricket bug. “When I was seven-years-old, I would play cricket with the tennis ball my friends,” he said. “The first ball I bowled with the leather ball was when I was 12. My leg-spin began to come out well. In Nagaland, football is very popular. I also play football and table tennis, but on TV, I only watch cricket.”

Live television and streaming of IPL have been a major source of attraction for cricket in those pockets of India where it is not the first sport. Kense’s favourite Indian cricketer is Rohit Sharma. Bu in his area of expertise, he idolises Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan. “My action is more simple, not like Rashid Khan,” he said. “But I like his leg-spin, and his attitude.”

Singh said Kense is some way from mastering the googly. “He bowls the fastish leg-breaks, the top spinner, the straighter one. The googly, he needs to work on that one,” he said. “I will work on it with him after the Vijay Hazare. I don’t want to rush him into variations. Right now, he is working on using the crease more.”

Back home, Kense’s family is getting used to their second-youngest child travel the country for cricket. “Chennai, Bangalore, Assam, Himachal…” Kense rattled off his list of cricket expeditions. His father? “He is a carpenter. Now, he only goes to work sometimes,” he said. Mother is a house-keeper, eldest brother, 25, is studying MA, and all other sisters including the youngest are studying.”

Kense’s growing up years were “tough”, but the family was “not poor, but middle-class.” My grandfather is an ex-MLA. He took care of me and all the expenses.”

Kense often dreams of bowling like Rashid in the IPL. “I have not seen him succumbing to pressure. He is “bindaas (relaxed)” kind of a guy. I don’t see a reason why he will falter against any big names,” said Singh. “He is blessed with his trajectory and control. Even when he is hit, he finds a way to comeback. I can say one thing, whichever team picks him, they won’t regret it. It will be a big breakthrough for North-east cricket, if he can make it to IPL.”

Myanmar Coup Deals Fresh Blow To Moreh Traders

The extended border closures at Moreh, near the India-Myanmar border in Manipur, have resulted in the loss of business for the approximately 200 shops tightly packed around the integrated check post on the Indian side.

By Neha Banka

Moreh is an important international border crossing and a major trade route that connects South Asia, Southeast Asia and ASEAN economies. (Photo credit: Sonboi)

Mohammad Faizal’s voice cracks with emotion as he begins to narrate his ordeal. Since March last year, after the coronavirus outbreak led to a nationwide shutdown in India, the 48-year-old who runs a grocery shop in Moreh, the last Indian town before the international border between India and Myanmar, has struggled to make ends meet.

Mohammad Faizal sits outside his grocery shop located close to the India-Myanmar border. The integrated check post on Indian territory is visible behind him. (Photo credit: Sonboi)

Just when Faizal had expected his financial troubles to ease, with the proposed start of cross-border trade on February 1, Myanmar’s military seized power on that very day, in a coup against the democratically elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. In early morning raids, Suu Kyi was detained along with other leaders of her party. The international border gates at Moreh that were scheduled to open on that day, remained closed.

In his small grocery shop that almost abuts the integrated check post at the Indo-Myanmar border, Faizal sells everything from milk and rice to vegetables and dried betel nuts. In the 20 years that he has run his little business, he has never seen a situation this dire. “Don’t even ask about what I am going through. Earlier I would earn Rs. 600 per day; now I am earning almost nothing. I am eating using my savings,” he says.

It is his three children for whom Faizal is most concerned. “For the past eight to nine months, I have only been feeding them dal and water.”

Mohammad Faizal stands inside his grocery shop located close to the India-Myanmar border in Moreh, near the integrated check post on Indian territory. His wife Ibema sits nearby, waiting for customers. (Photo credit: Sonboi)

The extended border closures have resulted in the loss of business for the approximately 200 shops tightly packed around the integrated check post on the Indian side. According to these shopkeepers, after the Indian government lifted several public health restrictions last year, business had just started getting back on its feet. Then, the coup in Myanmar brought everything to a screeching halt.

Moreh is an important international border crossing and a major trade route that connects South Asia, Southeast Asia and ASEAN economies. In the region, Myanmar is an important trade partner and it is also the only ASEAN country with whom India shares both a land and a maritime boundary. Although seasonal agriculture provides income for some residents, it is the international trade, a significant part of which is illegal, that sustains Moreh’s local economy, according to a 2016 report by India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

“Historically, unregulated trade has always existed between Manipur and Myanmar through this border,” explains Dr Arambam Noni, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, DM College of Arts, Imphal. According to the 2016 report, border trade between India and Myanmar stands at approximately $50 million, up from about $15 million in 2005-2006.

Bilateral trade between Indian and Myanmar is supported by New Delhi’s 2010 free trade agreement with AESEAN nations. The trade of 62 designated items are at present allowed after the agreement was updated in 2012.

Although official trade routes were closed following the coronavirus outbreak in March last year, unregulated and illegal trade on a smaller scale continued between Moreh and Tamu, the first border town in Myanmar’s territory, till the coup occurred.

“Mostly only illegal trade happens along the India-Myanmar border. The official trade is negligible in comparison,” says a source familiar with the operations, requesting anonymity.

S. Saikhom has been running an electronics store in Moreh near the integrated check post for some 15 years now, and would regularly travel back and forth between India and Myanmar buying and selling products before the gates closed. Everything has changed for small traders and shop owners like him. “Things have become very expensive. Costs have increased and there is a ban on transporting goods. The customers are not coming,” he says.

In Moreh, the Indo-Myanmar Friendship Gate provides two points for entry into Myanmar, Gate 1 and Gate 2, where the latter serves as the informal entrance most frequently used by small traders and daily-wage earners crossing the border every day. For 16 kilometers on either side of the border, free movement without passports is permitted by both the Indian and the Myanmar governments.

Gate 1 of the Indo-Myanmar Friendship Gate in Moreh, Manipur. At the other end of the bridge is Myanmarese territory. (Photo credit: Sonboi)

However, transporting medium to large sized items across the border has never been easy, the shopkeepers say, as border guards would stop them citing regulations. Now with Myanmar completely sealing its border, movement has become impossible. “On some days, (Indian) security forces would let us take one or two medium to large-sized goods across to Myanmar and on other days they wouldn’t. What can we do?” asks one shopkeeper in Moreh. “I am having a hard time paying my staff salaries but I still have to, because otherwise how will they eat?”

But sources familiar with the operations at the border dismiss these claims. “They don’t pay any taxes or customs duty. In the (free-trade) agreement, there are provisions only for items that can be carried on the head, but they try to pass everything through the borders,” the source says.

Namphalong market in Myanmar’s territory, is a five-minute rickshaw ride from the integrated check post. Immediately upon entering the marketplace, the signboard in green reads ‘Namphalong market, Tamu’ in Burmese. In this file photo from 2019, the marketplace appears to be visibly busy. Local shopkeepers attest that the scenario has changed since March 2020, with no Indian customers and only a handful of local shopkeepers. (Photo credit: Assad Dadan)

The scenario isn’t very different across the border in Myanmar. A five-minute rickshaw ride from the integrated check post in Myanmar’s territory is Namphalong market, which at first glance appears to be almost an extension of the marketplace in Moreh. Tamu, the nearest border town, is another 3 kilometers down the road.

While vendors selling everyday essentials like fruits, vegetables and grains have returned to the marketplace in a trickle over the past few months, it has been harder for shopkeepers like 27-year-old Khin Maung Myint (name changed upon request). “Namphalong market is open but the Indians are not coming,” he says during a phone interview, requesting anonymity. Shopkeepers like him are entirely reliant on customers from across the border, he says. “I have not opened my electronics shop in almost one year. What can I say?”

The empty marketplace in Namphalong. Shutters have been down since March 2020 and shopkeepers have stayed away, mostly because there are no customers from India. This photo was taken a few days ago but the source was unable to confirm whether it was taken following the coup or prior to it. Photo credit: Khin Maung Myint (name changed upon request)

Namphalong market is a cluster of permanent and semi-permanent structures where locals set up shop every day. Each unit is not larger than 3×4 feet in width. “Goods are being sold across the border in India using illegal routes and I am just about managing to run my household through the income I earn from these kinds of sales,” admits Khin Maung Myint. He doesn’t have a choice, he says; he has two parents, a wife and two small children to look after.

The empty marketplace in Namphalong, where shutters have been down since March 2020. This photo was taken a few days ago but the source was unable to confirm whether it was taken following the coup or prior to it. Photo credit: Khin Maung Myint (name changed upon request)

“My friends who have garment shops in Namphalong have nothing to eat,” says Khin Maung Myint. Although the Myanmar government has been distributing rice to residents in the area, it isn’t enough, he explains.

Over the past year, his friends were forced to find alternate sources of income that come with their own set of dangers. “In the dead of the night, they smuggle clothes, cosmetics, things like that, across the border in India. They are paid Rs. 250 to coolie—smuggle—these goods across,” he says of the porous borders between the two countries.

This “coolie work” is illegal, dangerous and difficult, but Myanmarese nationals living near the border here say they have little choice. “Coolie work starts at 11 p.m. and goes on till 4 a.m.,” he says. They fear getting caught by border forces, but they continue engaging in this kind of work.

Officials familiar with smuggling and illegal trade operations at the Indo-Myanmar border, requesting anonymity, told indianexpress.com that despite the closure of the gates at Moreh and Tamu, illegal trade has continued along the more porous sections of the borders between the two countries. Security forces cannot be deployed for patrolling at all points along the border, especially at night, and there are always people on both sides of the border who manage to evade checks and border guards.

Significant sections of the Indo-Myanmar border are porous, that allow people to pass through to the other side relatively easily, especially in the darkness of the night. In this photograph, Myanmarese territory lies on the other side of the barbed wire fence in Moreh, Manipur. (Photo credit: Sonboi)

Community leaders on both sides of the border have urged their respective governments for assistance, says Dr. Noni, but little has changed. “Livelihood (for locals) hasn’t been secured and now the coup has added more uncertainty. The Indian embassy in Myanmar has asked Indian citizens to avoid unnecessary travel and it appears that it will take time for the border to reopen.”

Security forces intensified vigil earlier this week along the 398 km-long Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur, following the coup in Myanmar. “The impact of the coup is yet to be felt in the border areas in India, but national security is of course a concern. It will be in national interest if trade is completely stopped for a while. (Locals on both sides of the border) have to understand the difference between illegal and legal trade,” the source says.

P.T. Adhikari sits surrounded by shoes and sandals in different colours and styles in his shop located close to the India-Myanmar border in Moreh, near the integrated check post on Indian territory. (Photo credit: Sonboi)

Unlike other shop owners around him, 60-year-old P. T. Adhikari sits surrounded by shoes and sandals in different colours and styles, and is less concerned about the closure of the borders and its impact on cross-border unregulated trade. “I’m not worried. I’ll see what happens,” he says.

A few doors down, despite his everyday worries, Mohammad Faizal is hopeful. “Myanmar will solve its problem in one month.” Long-term observers of Myanmar aren’t as certain that it will. But if and when the border gates open, it is not clear whether it will be business as usual for shopkeepers like Faizal, or whether the people of Moreh will see a different Myanmar.

Mizoram Declares 16th Feb As Public Holiday

Aizawl, Feb 4 : The Government of Mizoram had declared the 16th February 2021 (Tuesday) as Public Holiday for Government Servants including employees under both Central and State Public Sector Undertakings, Financial Institutions, Educational Institutions who are registered as voters under Aizawl Municipality to enable the voters to exercise their franchise in the General Election to the Aizawl Municipal Corporation, 2021.

The Department of Information and Public Relations of the Government of Mizoram shared the news on their official Twitter account.

They wrote,

'Government of Mizoram declares 16th February 2021 (Tuesday) as Public Holiday for Government Servants'Government of Mizoram declares 16th February 2021 (Tuesday) as Public Holiday for Government Servants https://t.co/W6ZEnHE5lc— DIPRMizoram (@dipr_mizoram) February 3, 2021  The election will be held on February 16. Polling will be held from 7 am to 4 pm.

The votes will be tallied on February 18. In case of repolling, the repolling will be held on February 17, as informed by the Mizoram State Election Commissioner Laima Chozah. The present AMC''s term came to an end in December last year, but the election could not be conducted due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

An administrator has been appointed to run the civic body till the polls are held and results declared. The AMC poll might see a three-way contest among the incumbent Mizo National Front (MNF), chief opposition Zoram People''s Movement (ZPM) and the Congress. At least 66 candidates, including 20 females have filed nomination papers for AMC polls. 

The reigning Mizo National Front (MNF), Congress and Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) have 19 candidates each while the BJP has nine candidates for the upcoming poll.During the previous elections in 2015, the MNF won 11 seats, while the Congress got seven. The Mizoram People''s Conference won one seat.

There are 19 seats in AMC, out of which 6 are reserved for women.Polling will be held in 274 polling stations with electronic voting machines.

Manipur House session begins, budget to be tabled on Feb 5

 IMPHAL, Feb 3: The 12th session of the 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly began with an address by Governor Dr Najma Heptulla in Imphal on Wednesday.

The session will have 13 sittings excluding Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays.

In her continuous one and half hour long address, Governor Dr Heptulla highlighted the achievements of more than 3 and half-year-old BJP led coalition government in the state.

On the steps taken up in combating Covid 19 pandemic since the first positive case was reported here on March 23 last year, she said the government could restrict the damage the Covid 19 pandemic could have inflicted.

On vaccination drive, she said, a total of 1,02,000 doses of Covishield vaccine has reached the state. The vaccine is being administered on priority to the healthcare workers in the 1st phase, followed by the Frontline workers in the 2nd phase, to persons above 50 years of age in the 3rd phase, followed by people below 50 years of age but with co-morbidity in the 4th phase.

In the law and order front, she said 258 drug-related cases were registered during the year and 357 persons arrested. Large quantities of drugs like heroin powder and (contraband)WY tablets were seized and over 2,800 acres of poppy plantation destroyed.

On the other hand, in the power sector, the government decided to set up a 100 MW capacity solar power plant on 600 acres of land identified at Jiribam.

Realising the potential of organic farming, central government has allocated additional 50 Farmer Producer Companies with new area expansion of 25,000 hectares during 2012-24 for organic cultivation of nine crops-pineapple, king chilli, ginger, turmeric, kiwi, passion fruit, black aromatic rice, maize and high yielding variety rice, she said.

Brahmaputra Board has agreed to prepare a master plan for Manipur river basin for bringing out a long term solution to the problem of floods, she added.

To achieve the mission of providing functional household tap connection by 2024 under Jal Jeevan Mission, she said the government is taking up implementation for covering 4,51,566 households at a total cost of over Rs 4524.6 crores.

Later the speaker of the assembly Yumnam Khemchand adjourned the house session which was held as per existing COVID 19 protocols for 15 minutes for a group photograph session. After resuming the session, the leader of the house presented the 15th report of the business advisory committee 2021 and the house was adjourned for the day.

The house, which has an effective strength of 52 members, will witness obituary references and discussion on the Governor's address on the following day (February 4) and the Budget estimates 2021-22 will be tabled on February 5 followed by general discussion on the budget estimate on February 6.

Military Coup Underway In Myanmar

Civilian Leaders Arrested - State TV Off Air, Internet Cut

It appears a military coup is underway in the Southeast Asian country of Myanmar (formerly Burma), where a state of confusion has descended on the population with soldiers now patrolling major city streets, and given state TV has also been taken off the air, according to Reuters. 

The national army says a recent major vote won by the National League for Democracy (NLD) party was "fraudulent," as a breaking BBC report details:

Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Myanmar's governing National League for Democracy (NLD) party, has been arrested, the spokesman for the party said. It comes amid tensions between the civilian government and the military, stoking fears of a coup.

The NLD won enough seats in parliament to form a government in November, but the army says the vote was fraudulent.

The army has called on the government to postpone convening parliament, which was due to take place on Monday.

Image: A rift between Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, left, and commander in chief Min Aung Hlaing had been growing over the past week over contested election results.

Additionally President Win Myint and senior party figures have been detained as of early morning (local time). 

Reuters is saying the coup was sparked by an overnight raid:

Spokesman Myo Nyunt told Reuters by phone that Suu Kyi, President Win Myint and other leaders had been "taken" in the early hours of the morning.

"I want to tell our people not to respond rashly and I want them to act according to the law," he said, adding he also expected to be detained.

And Reuters further suggests a state of chaos in the capital given "phone lines to Naypyitaw, the capital, were not reachable in the early hours of Monday," and with the military initially refusing to speak to international press.

⚠️ Confirmed: Internet disrupted in #Myanmar amid military uprising and reports of detention of civilian leadership; real-time network data show national connectivity falling to 75% of ordinary levels from 3:00 a.m. local time; incident ongoing 📉

📰 https://t.co/Jgc20OBk27 pic.twitter.com/CgBkyamrP6

— NetBlocks (@netblocks) January 31, 2021

Myanmar National TV just canceled its program today for both broadcasting and Radio. pic.twitter.com/cddl93RRmO

— Wai Wai Nu (@waiwainu) January 31, 2021

International reports are also saying that the internet has been cut in the capital of Naypyitaw, further with soldiers having taken over the streets.

The situation is incredibly tense not only as a near total information blackout is underway, but also also as supporters of the NLD could hit back at the army with sporadic violence or organized militia activity, potentially sliding the country into civil war.

India's Vaccine Production Capacity Is Best Asset World Has Today, Says UN Chief

 "I think that production capacity of India is the best asset that the world has today. I hope the world understands that it must be fully used," United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.

UN chief's statement comes as India gifted over 55 lakh doses of Covid vaccine to neighbouring countries

Washington, Jan 29:

Calling for India to play a major role in global vaccination campaign, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday termed the vaccine production capacity of India as the "best asset" that the world has today.

Addressing reporters here, the UN chief said, "I know that in India there is a very high level of production of Indian developed vaccines. We are in contact with Indian institutions for that. We strongly hope that India will have all the instruments that are necessary to play a major role in making sure that a global vaccination is campaign is made possible."

"I think that the production capacity of India is the best asset that the world has today. I hope the world understands that it must be fully used," he added.

On the need to democratize access to medicines, Guterres said, "I would say a very important element on the democratization of access to medicines all over the world. I appealed once again today for the licenses to be made available in order for companies around the world to be able to produce some of the vaccines that already exist."

UN chief's statement comes as India has gifted over 55 lakh doses of coronavirus vaccine to neighbouring countries.

Addressing a weekly briefing, External Affairs Ministry (EAM) spokesperson Anurag Srivastava on Thursday said India plans to gift vaccines doses to Oman, CARICOM countries, Nicaragua, Pacific Island states.

Srivastava said New Delhi plans to supply 1 crore or 10 million vaccine doses to Africa and 10 lakh to United Nations health workers under GAVI's (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation) COVAX facility.

"There is interest in many countries to access vaccine from India. In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement that India sees international cooperation in the fight against the pandemic. We have played the role of the first responder in the neighbourhood," Srivastava said.

"From 20th January 2021 onward, we have gifted over 55 lakh doses of coronavirus vaccines to our neighbouring countries and in the extended neighbourhood--1.5 lakh to Bhutan, 1 lakh to Maldives, Mauritius and Bahrain, 10 lakhs to Nepal, 20 lakhs to Bangladesh, 15 lakhs to Myanmar, 50,000 to Seychelles, 5 lakh to Sri Lanka. In the coming days, We plan to gift further quantity to Oman that is of 1 lakh doses, 5 lakh doses to CARICOM countries. 2 lakh to Nicaragua, 2 lakh doses to the Pacific island state," he added.

India, Srivastava said, plans to commercially export coronavirus vaccine to Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Canada, Mongolia and other countries.

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"On a commercial level, the export has taken place for Brazil Morocco and Bangladesh. Further supplies to countries on commercial bases are likely to take place to Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Canada Mongolia and other countries. We plan to supply 1 crore or 10 million vaccine doses to Africa and 10 lakh to United Nations health workers under GAVI," he said.