Regime elections to be held in 267 townships

The Union Election Commission (UEC) told pro-regime media on Saturday that the planned general elections would take place in 267 out of Burma’s total 330 townships. Regime leader Min Aung Hlaing has said that the elections will begin in December but has not provided the UEC with the exact start date, a timeline, or any details on candidate criteria.

The UEC stated that the elections would be conducted in phases, with specific dates designated for each stage. It added that the electronic voting machines being used for this election will operate on a “simple and secure” microcontroller system without relying on an operating system or wireless connectivity such as the internet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth.

Sources told DVB last week that the regime in Naypyidaw approved only one-fourth of the budget proposed by the UEC. A total of 54 political parties have registered to contest the elections, with only 10 — including the pro-regime Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) — planning to field candidates nationwide in all constituencies, according to the UEC. 

Sixteen arrested, including six-year-old, for killing retired general

A group calling itself the Golden Valley Warriors responded to the regime’s arrest of 16 individuals, including a six-year-old child, in connection with the murder of a retired military general and former diplomat last month as “innocent civilians” with no involvement. Cho Htun Aung, 68, a retired brigadier general who also served as an ambassador, was killed in Yangon on May 20.

The group claimed on May 22 it killed the retired general because of his continued support for military operations, including attacks on civilians. “A total of 16 offenders – 13 males and three females – were arrested,” regime media reported on Friday. In an accompanying graphic, the newspaper carried the image of the six-year-old child, identified as the daughter of the alleged assassin.

The regime claims the group is backed by the National Unity Government (NUG) and reported that the assassin was paid 200,000 MMK ($95.52 USD). NUG spokesperson Nay Phone Latt denied the civilian-led government, which is an alternative to the regime, had made any such payments. “It is not true that we are paying people to kill other people,” he told Reuters. Read more. 

Eight anti-military operations recorded in Yangon last month

An underground pro-democracy group calling itself the Rangoon Scout Network shared on social media June 3 that it has documented eight operations carried out by anti-coup forces, including the People’s Defence Force (PDF), in seven townships of Yangon Region in May. This included the assassination of retired general Cho Htun Aung.

“We noted the regime’s crackdown on battery-powered bicycles and recent operations in Twantay Township, where around 30 suspects were arrested, after the assassination,” a spokesperson for the Rangoon Scout Network told DVB on the condition of anonymity. Twantay is located 28 miles (45 km) southwest of the country’s commercial hub Yangon.

Operations included explosive attacks targeting regime-linked sites, such as a police station in Taikkyi Township, the Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 211 checkpoint in Hlegu Township, a sports ground housing regime troops in North Dagon Township, the Maha Myaing police residence, and a regime administrative office in Sanchaung Township, according to the group. 

News by Region

KACHIN—Residents of Hpakant Township told DVB that nine civilians, including four children, were killed by artillery in Lone Khin Village on Friday. Two others were killed by artillery in Maw Si Sa village on June 3. Hpakant is located 94 miles (151 km) west of the state capital Myitkyina

“The [regime] is deliberately targeting civilians,” a Hpakant resident told DVB. Fighting between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and regime forces is ongoing in Hpakant. The artillery also destroyed at least 16 nearby homes and a factory, according to residents. 

MAGWAY—Residents of Saw Township told DVB that four civilians, who were traders from neighbouring Arakan State, were killed and nine others were injured by an airstrike on a village on Friday. Saw is located 137 miles (220 km) northwest of the region’s capital Magway.

“[The four killed] were visitors from Rakhine. They were temporarily staying in that village,” a Saw resident told DVB. No fighting between resistance and regime forces was reported. The regime has carried out 730 attacks since it announced a ceasefire on April 2, according to DVB data. 

SHAN/KARENNI—The Shan South National Defence Force/Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (SSNDF/KNDF), which operate in southern Shan and Karenni, have been recruiting 100 men for active combat and 10 women for technical, administrative and medical duties since Thursday. 

A SSNDF/KNDF spokesperson told DVB that new recruits must be over age 18. Fighting with regime forces is underway in Pinlaung, Moebye and Pekon towns, located 67-111 miles (107-178 km) south of the Shan State capital Taunggyi and 11-51 miles (17-82 km) north of the Karenni State capital Loikaw. 

ARAKAN—The Arakan Army (AA) stated that it has detained eight people in relation to the alleged rape and murder of an underaged girl in Minbya Township on May 6. Minbya, located 110 miles (177 km) east of the state capital Sittwe, came under AA control in February 2024. 

The AA spokesperson Khaing Thukha added that the eight suspects were currently under investigation. Twelve Arakan civil society organizations issued a joint statement on May 11 calling on the AA to hand out the maximum punishment, if the eight are found guilty. 

(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,440 MMK)

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