Malaysia ‘not likely’ to send observers to Myanmar elections
Malaysia Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said on Monday that it is unlikely that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) would agree to sending observers for regime elections in Burma, scheduled to begin on Dec 28. Regime media reported on Friday that Hasan had agreed to send observers from Malaysia to the polls in Burma, but he clarified that the issue would be decided by the regional bloc.
“The matter will be discussed and decided at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ meeting, but I don’t expect ASEAN to agree [to it],” Hasan told media on Oct. 13 after inspecting preparations for the upcoming ASEAN 47th Summit, set to begin on Oct. 26. Talks were held between Hasan and regime officials, including Min Aung Hlaing, in Naypyidaw on Oct. 9.
Charles Santiago, a former Malaysian lawmaker and the chairperson of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), told the media in Kuala Lumpur that agreeing to send observers to Burma would amount to an endorsement of the regime. Twenty anti-regime groups, including the National Unity Government (NUG), have rejected any elections under the regime.
ASEAN urged to reject regime polls at October summit
The Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M), a group of three human rights experts on Burma, urged ASEAN to reject regime elections. Former Malaysia and Thai foreign ministers Saifuddin Abdullah and Kasit Piromya joined SAC-M, stating that the upcoming ASEAN summit must “unequivocally reject the junta’s planned sham election” and “launch a complete strategic reset on Myanmar.”
“The military junta’s blatant lie on 10 October that Foreign Minister Hasan had ‘vowed to send election observation teams to Myanmar’ exposes the junta’s continuing propaganda campaign to fabricate legitimacy, again at ASEAN’s considerable expense,” stated the SAC-M press release, backed by Malaysia’s Saifuddin Abdullah and Thailand’s Kasit Piromya, on Oct. 14.
As Malaysia completes its chairmanship of ASEAN at the end of this year and hands over to the Philippines in 2026-bypassing Burma–the SAC-M recommended that the term of Malaysia’s Special Envoy Othman Hashim should be extended to ensure continuity in ASEAN engagement on Burma. It called for a ceasefire and dialogue with the NUG, ethnic armed groups, and civil society organizations.
Kyaukme, Shan State in shambles after regime regains control
Ten days after it was recaptured by regime forces from the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), Kyaukme Township in northern Shan State stands eerily silent. Schools have reopened but the town’s once-busy market is mostly empty. Vendors at some stalls closed them at the sight of visiting journalists, visibly nervous.
The once-thriving town located 66 miles (106 km) south of the regional capital Lashio is in shambles, an Associated Press journalist confirmed on Friday in a rare visit to the war-torn area of northern Shan allowed to join a trip organized by pro-regime media, the only representative of foreign media who was permitted to do so. The regime in Naypyidaw bars journalists from entering conflict zones independently.
The journalists saw the charred wreckage of official buildings, such as the courthouse, police station and government housing. Much of the area around the town’s hospital was destroyed, with its operations temporarily shifted to a nearby Chinese temple. At least one of the town’s fire engines was burnt out. Most of the town’s original population of 46,000 had fled. Read more
News by Region
SHAN—Residents of Kyaukme town in northern Shan told DVB that a regime counteroffensive had reached three miles (11 km) southwest of Hsipaw Township on Monday. The regime is attempting to retake control of Hsipaw, which was seized by the TNLA on Oct. 13, 2024.
“The TNLA left only a few troops behind [to guard Hsipaw],” a resident told DVB, adding that regime forces might recapture Hsipaw by Oct. 14. A source close to the regime in Naypyidaw told DVB on the condition of anonymity that the Lashio-Hsipaw-Mandalay road will be reopened by Oct. 20.
CHINLAND—The Chinland Defence Force (CDF), and residents of Hakha Township, told Khonumthung News that two children were killed during an airstrike on a school in Vanha village carried out by the Burma Air Force on Monday. Vanha is located 30 miles (48 km) east of the state capital Hakha.
Four people, including three children, were killed in airstrikes on two villages in Mindat Township, located 272 miles (437 km) south of Hakha, on Oct. 8. The CDF Mindat released a statement that three people were injured by a regime airstrike in Mindat Township on Oct. 4.
KARENNI—The Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) stated on Monday that its forces have killed around 20 regime troops in fighting across the state, and in Pekon Township of southern Shan State, since Oct. 1. Pekon is located 21 miles (33 km) north of the state capital Loikaw.
A KNDF source told DVB on the condition of anonymity that it is currently engaged in fighting against regime forces in Loikaw, Demoso, Hpruso, Bawlakhe townships, as well as Pekon in neighbouring Shan. Mese, Shadaw and Hpasawng townships are under Karenni resistance control.
KAREN—A total of 107 Burma nationals were detained by Thai authorities at the Khao Min Monastery in Kanchanaburi Province after they had entered the country, via the Three Pagodas Pass in Payathonzu town of Kyainseikgyi Township, without necessary documentation on Saturday.
Kyainseikgyi is located 87 miles (140 km) south of the state capital Hpa-An. Thai officials stated that nearly 100 undocumented Burma nationals seeking work in Thailand were arrested at a checkpoint near Khao Ton village on Sept. 30. The 107 detained on Oct. 11 will face deportation. Read more
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,075 MMK)
Watch or listen to ‘Burmese Python’ Aung La Nsang retires from historic MMA career on DVB English News YouTube, Spotify, Patreon, Amazon Music or Apple Podcasts.
