Myanmar offers maritime repatriation for 5,000 refugees
Malaysia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Monday that Burma’s military regime has expressed willingness to repatriate 5,000 refugees by ship. Mohamad Hasan emphasized that while Malaysia has identified the initial group, any transfer remains strictly contingent on comprehensive safety and security guarantees. This represents a shift from the regime’s previous reluctance to accept refugees from Malaysia.
The repatriation was discussed at an “informal” meeting between Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers and regime Foreign Minister Tin Maung Swe on July 12. “They stated their willingness to bring back these 5,000 refugees by ship. But the issue is the safety of these 5,000 people—will they be safe when we send them back? What will happen to them?” Mohamad Hasan asked.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced on July 29 that Naypyidaw agreed to the repatriation, but he said that no returns will proceed if individuals face persecution, arbitrary detention, or life-threatening conditions upon return to Burma. His government has begun screening individuals held in immigration detention centers, with approximately 4,000 nationals initially processed toward the 5,000 target.
Sweden closes embassy in Yangon, moves operations to Thailand
The Embassy of Sweden in Yangon permanently closed its section office on Friday, marking the latest closure of a diplomatic outpost in Burma. The official announcement gave no explicit reason for the shutdown. In a statement posted to social media on Aug. 7, Sweden stated that all official matters relating to Burma will be managed through the Swedish Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Yangon office’s Facebook page will also be shut down, with future communications directed to the website and official channels of Sweden’s Bangkok mission. In September 2025, Stockholm announced that it would phase out all bilateral development cooperation with Burma by June 30, while continuing humanitarian assistance.
The decision, made under Sweden’s “Development Assistance for a New Era” policy, forms part of a wider restructuring of foreign aid priorities that includes increased support for Ukraine. Human Rights Myanmar responded to the decision on Sept. 12, warning that this move could weaken human rights abuse documentation and undermine support for Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement.
CPJ honors jailed Myanmar journalist Sai Zaw Thaike with award
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) will honor jailed photojournalist Sai Zaw Thaike of the independent news agency Myanmar Now with its prestigious 2026 International Press Freedom Award (IPFA). The 36th annual IPFA ceremony and benefit dinner will take place in New York City on Nov. 19.
“CPJ is honoring Sai Zaw Thaike to draw global attention to the plight of Myanmar’s journalists who have been wrongfully jailed, harassed, and driven into exile since the 2021 military coup,” said Shawn Crispin, CPJ’s senior Southeast Asia representative.
“Through lawfare and bogus security charges, the junta has jailed scores of reporters in a bid to erase years of pre-coup press freedom gains. Sai Zaw Thaike is the brave face of Myanmar’s independent media, which continues to report the news in defiance of that repression,” Crispin added.
News by Region
ARAKAN—Residents living in 14 townships, which were seized by the Arakan Army (AA), told DVB that they have had to pay service fees of up to 9,000 MMK ($2.04 USD) to withdraw 100,000 MMK ($22.72 USD) in cash through KBZPay agents this month.
KBZPay is a mobile payment service operated by the KBZ Bank. “Older people rely on remittances from their children abroad. Steep service fees for cash withdrawals hurt them financially,” Soe Kyaw, a Mrauk-U Township resident, told DVB. Read more on our website
MAGWAY—At least two civilians were killed and three others were injured in airstrikes and gyrocopter attacks carried out by regime forces in Magway Region’s Myaing Township, located 130 miles (209 km) north of the region’s capital Magway, over the weekend.
Myaing residents told DVB that three Myanmar Air Force jets dropped 56 bombs around Yargyipyin and Manyin villages targeting civilians on Sunday. No casualties were reported. Myaing is contested by the People’s Defence Force (PDF). Read more on our website
KACHIN—The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) commemorated the 51st Kachin Martyrs’ Day to honor those who were assassinated on Aug. 10, 1975 at its headquarters in Laiza on Monday. Laiza is located on the Burma-China border, 63 miles (101 km) south of the state capital Myitkyina.
The National Unity Government (NUG) shared a message “honoring Kachin leaders and martyrs,” describing the KIO, a fellow member of the Steering Committee for the Emergence of the Federal Democratic Union (SCEF), as a key force in efforts to end military rule and establish a federal democratic union. See photos of the event on our Facebook
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,400 MMK)
