National Unity Government calls on US to reject regime elections
The National Unity Government (NUG) Minister for International Cooperation Sasa called on State Department officials in the U.S. not to recognize the regime’s planned elections for later this year at a meeting on June 13. The regime Union Election Commission (UEC) has announced that polls would take place in 267 out of Burma’s total 330 townships, starting in December.
The NUG position is that Burma becoming a failed state would pose a serious problem for the U.S. and that ensuring it returns to its democratic path is part of Washington’s strategic interests. The NUG requested an extension of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for an estimated 10,000 Burma nationals in the U.S., as the current designation is set to expire in October.
NUG Minister Sasa told DVB that he pleaded with the U.S. State Department to reconsider President Donald Trump’s listing Burma, along with 11 other countries, in a travel ban on June 4. He also discussed post-earthquake relief efforts and called for U.S. sanctions against the Myanma Economic Bank, the regime in Naypyidaw’s remaining financial institution for international transactions.
Crisis Group warns of Rohingya militant threat in Bangladesh
The International Crisis Group (ICG) released a report today warning that Rohingya armed groups could damage intercommunal relations in northern Arakan State by continuing to fight against the Arakan Army (AA) and that this could further derail efforts to repatriate over one million Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh to Burma.
“Over the past six months, Rohingya armed groups have paused their turf war in the camps in southern Bangladesh and stepped up recruitment of refugees, telling them the only way to return home is by fighting the [AA], which now controls all of northern Rakhine State,” said Thomas Kean, Crisis Group’s senior consultant on Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Kean added that the Bangladesh government and its security agencies should step up efforts to limit the influence of Rohingya armed groups and instead create space for civil society in the refugee camps so efforts at dialogue can be resumed and humanitarian aid can be more sustainable. Dhaka agreed in principle to a proposed U.N. aid corridor into Burma in April but has since backtracked.
‘Mon Federal Unit’ to be formed by resistance
Following a two-day conference held at an undisclosed location in either Mon State or in neighbouring Thailand, the Mon State Federal Council (MSFC) announced it would draft a charter for a “Mon Federal Unit,” which would include 10 townships, on June 15. It added that it will also oppose any regime planned elections.
“We’ll educate people that the elections will not serve their interests or efforts towards federalism and democracy,” Thiri Mon Chan, an executive member of the MSFC, stated at the conference. He added that they would cooperate with other Mon resistance groups to disrupt and prevent the election from taking place in townships across the state.
The MSFC stated that it would continue its work to implement a “bottom-up federalism” approach to governance in Mon State, while continuing to assist Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) forced to flee their homes due to conflict. Anti-coup forces formed the Mon State Interim Coordination Committee on April 19, 2021, which became the MSFC on Jan. 15, 2023.
News by Region
ARAKAN–Residents of Kyaukphyu Township told DVB that the AA launched artillery strikes on the regime Infantry Battalion 34 headquarters on Sunday. Kyaukphyu is located 317 miles (510 km) south of the state capital Sittwe.
“We heard three or four explosions. Residents in Kyaukphyu town are panicking,” a resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity. The Infantry Battalion 34 headquarters is in two residential wards located next to the Kyaukphyu Airport.
Myebon Township residents told DVB that the regime sent reinforcements from the Khawal navy outpost to Kyaukphyu in the first week of June. Myebon, located 136 miles (218 km) west of the state capital Sittwe, came under AA control on Feb. 15, 2024.
Khawal navy outpost is on Kyunthaya island, located 18 miles (30 km) south of Myebon. Residents told DVB that the regime troops from the Khawal navy outpost have joined forces with their counterparts in Kyaukphyu to fight the AA.
MANDALAY—The People’s Defence Force (PDF) in Nyaung-U told DVB that a principal of a school and her husband, accused of supporting the regime, were killed by an unknown group on Sunday. Nyaung-U is located 100 miles (160 km) southwest of the region’s capital Mandalay.
“We did not conduct this mission. The attack was carried out by another [resistance] force. The responsible group will release a statement,” a PDF spokesperson told DVB. No resistance group has claimed responsibility for murdering the married couple.
SHAN—Sources close to the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) told DVB that three Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) members were killed during fighting in Huson village of Kyaukme Township on Sunday. Kyaukme is located 68 miles (109 km) southwest of Lashio.
“The TNLA had to retreat without being able to retrieve their dead,” a source close to the SSPP told DVB. adding that one SSPP member was injured. Fighting continues between the TNLA and SSPP despite talks last year. The TNLA seized Kyaukme on Aug. 5.
Hsenwi Township residents told DVB that the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) informed them on Sunday that it will begin recruiting youth aged 16 to 30 to serve as police or office staff. Hsenwi is located 31 miles (49 km) north of the region’s capital Lashio.
“The administrators have been told by [the MNDAA] to provide lists of names of those eligible for recruitment,” a Hsenwi resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity. This is the second time that forced recruitment has been carried out in Hsenwi since it came under MNDAA control on Jan. 7, 2024, according to residents.
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,520 MMK)
