The Strategist (February 25) published a report revealing that each night for more than a week, unregistered flights between Yangon and Kunming have been transporting unknown goods and personnel from China to Myanmar. It said Myanmar's military regime is trying very hard to hide the flights, with the Chinese government and Myanmar Airways claiming that the aircraft were transporting seafood. It said Myanmar's military junta had banned international flights and very few flights are presently using Yangon airport. It said two of the planes are painted with Myanmar Airways colours and the other is unmarked. All are leased from private firms. The planes’ transponders have been turned off, a violation of international aviation rules and the Kunming Airport does not register them online as arrivals. Flight data is often missing from international flight databases, including flight numbers, call signs and even destinations. The Strategist claimed that despite these precautions it had information sent via satellite from the engines and airport workers in Yangon and members of Myanmar’s civil disobedience movement opposed to the military coup have posted photos on Twitter from the airport of flight details and nightly arrivals and departures of the planes. The three aircraft bear the registrations XY-AGV, XY-ALJ and XY-ALK. XY-ALJ is an Airbus A320-214 and XY-AGV, is an Airbus A319-111 with colours of Myanmar Airways International. The A320-214 is owned by DAE Capital and the A319-111 is owned by AerCap Holdings. The Strategist suggested that the aircraft are either bringing in Chinese troops and cyber specialists to help the military junta control access to information and the internet, or they are augmenting the Tatmadaw’s weapons stores.
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