French President renews call for Aung San Suu Kyi’s release
Kim Aris, the youngest son of jailed State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, shared a letter, via social media, on Thursday from French President Emmanuel Macron reiterating a call he first made on Oct. 1, 2025 for the unconditional release of all political prisoners in Burma, including Aung San Suu Kyi. Aris has had no direct contact with his mother since she was detained during the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021.
France supports the request of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 2026 Chair, the Philippines, for ASEAN Special Envoy to Burma Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro to meet Aung San Suu Kyi, adding that he “raised this issue” with the Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul during a meeting in Paris on May 25. The regime in Naypyidaw publicly rejected the meeting request at a press conference on June 30.
Macron wrote in his undated letter that he expressed France’s support for the extension of E.U. sanctions against the regime in Naypyidaw by one year, until May 2027, which include asset freezes, travel bans and an arms embargo for 105 individuals and 22 entities. Aris launched a “Proof of Life” campaign in April, which has led to global demands for the regime to provide independent verification that his mother is alive.
NLD condemns campaign to erase General Aung San legacy
The National League for Democracy (NLD) party has strongly condemned the regime in Naypyidaw’s escalating campaign to dismantle statues of Burma’s independence hero, General Aung San. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the NLD described the regime’s systematic removal of the monuments as a deliberate attempt at “destroying Myanmar’s national identity and history.”
The NLD highlighted that the statues were erected using public donations during the party’s civilian administration from when it took office in 2016 up to the 2021 military coup. This news comes amid a surge in demolitions ahead of Martyrs’ Day on July 19, the annual national holiday commemorating the 1947 assassination of General Aung San—the father of Aung San Suu Kyi—and his cabinet.
Media reports suggest the regime plans to remove all Aung San statues erected during the NLD administration by July 19. At least 16 statues of the General have been removed across the country since 2021, according to DVB data. At least five statues were demolished by regime authorities in Magway Region’s Kamma, Yesagyo, Taungdwingyi, Sinbaungwe, and Minbu townships in July. Read more on our website
Myanmar Navy shelling compounds civilian suffering
The Arakan Army (AA) stated that at least six civilians, including two children, were injured by over 80 artillery shells fired by four Burma Navy warships from coastal areas of Arakan State’s Gwa Township on Wednesday. Gwa, located 504 miles (811 km) south of the Arakan State capital Sittwe, was seized by the AA in late 2024.
This comes as an unknown number of residents in Gwa and across Arakan continue to face flooding and heavy rain in the aftermath of tornadoes that damaged around 200 houses on July 5 – one day after the AA announced that it had seized two regime outposts in Ayeyarwady Region’s Yegyi Township, located 40 miles (65 km) east of Gwa.
Residents in Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U and Minbya townships told DVB that floods have inundated at least 50 villages and 10,000 acres of farmland since July 4. The three towns, located 60-110 miles (96-177 km) north of Sittwe, were seized by the AA in 2024. A farmer in Kyauktaw told DVB that his paddy fields have been submerged for four days. Read more on our website
News by Region
KARENNI—The regime’s Ministry of Transportation stated on Wednesday that the Myanmar National Airlines (MNA) Yangon-Loikaw route will resume operations after the service was suspended on Sept. 30, 2022, after an MNA plane was damaged by an unknown armed group.
An MNA staff member told DVB that the official announcement of the resumed Yangon-Loikaw route, which costs 320,000 MMK ($74 USD), will happen “soon.” The state capital Loikaw, Demoso, Hpruso, Hpasawng, and Bawlakhe towns are under regime control. Mese and Shadaw were seized by resistance forces in 2023-24.
MANDALAY—Two regime-appointed administrators were killed by unknown armed men in Singu Township’s Shwegondaing village tract on Wednesday. Singu, located 58 miles (93 km) north of Mandalay, was recaptured by regime forces on Dec. 18 after it was seized by the People’s Defense Force (PDF) in July 2024.
A Singu resident told DVB that five unknown individuals opened fire at the two men in their 50s at a teashop, who were later identified as local administrators working for the regime. Pro-military social media channels blamed the killing on the PDF, which has not responded to the accusations.
YANGON—The price of palm oil reached a black market rate of 18,000 MMK ($4.18 USD) July 3-9 after the Myanmar Edible Oil Dealers’ Association set the reference rate at 7,245 MMK per viss ($1.68 USD). This follows the regime’s reduction of the daily palm oil quota from 2.25 to 1.65 viss (3.67-2.69 kg) per person in July.
A Yangon resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity that regime ward administration officials no longer allow residents who have relocated from other regions, and are staying as registered guests, to purchase subsidized palm oil. Sales are limited to those on household registration records.
(One viss = 1.63 kg | Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,310 MMK)
