Myanmar rejects ASEAN calls to free Aung San Suu Kyi
The regime’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday accused the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 2026 Chair, the Philippines, of “exerting undue pressure” on Burma for demanding the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners held since the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021, in its statement on Aug. 7.
Naypyidaw responded that the jailed National League for Democracy (NLD) party leader and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi was convicted of “electoral fraud, corruption and mal-administration,” adding that her full and unconditional release can only be carried out “in accordance with the law.” She is currently serving 18 years out of the original 33-year sentence handed to her by a regime court in 2022.
Aung San Suu Kyi was reportedly transferred from prison to house arrest on April 30. The regime criticized the ASEAN Chair, stating that Aung San Suu Kyi’s unconditional release has “implications” on Burma’s judicial process and does not reflect the “constructive efforts” it has taken by allowing the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to meet with her after holding the civilian leader in isolation for over five years.
ACLED assesses Min Aung Hlaing’s 100-day plan
A report published by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) Project on Friday states that regime leader Min Aung Hlaing’s “100-day peace plan,” which ended on July 31, was as a tactical mechanism to manage conflict, fragment resistance forces, and project governance stability rather than a genuine effort toward political resolution.
ACLED’s assessment in its Aug. 7 report indicates that the regime continues to rely primarily on military offensives and economic containment to re-establish control, while highlighting that military operations focus on isolating the People’s Defense Force (PDF) from established Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) is the main goal.
It projects that over the next six months, the military will redeploy battalions freed by peripheral ceasefires to Sagaing, Magway, and Mandalay regions. While the regime is expected to maintain overall military ascendancy in central areas, ACLED assesses that an existential or decisive victory against the broader resistance remains unlikely.
Commemorating the 38th anniversary of the ‘8888’ Uprising
To commemorate the 38th anniversary of the beginning of the Aug. 8, 1988 pro-democracy protests in Burma, known as the ‘8888 Uprising,’ events were held in the U.S., Europe, Australia, Japan, South Korea, India, Thailand, and Canada on Aug. 8. Demonstrators demanded the immediate release of all political prisoners, including jailed State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.
“We are united with the people in Myanmar,” Nay Tin Myint, the New York City Burmese Community (NYCBC) spokesperson and a former 88 Generation Students Group member, told DVB. The NYCBC organized a commemorative event and demonstration in solidarity with Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement at Times Square in New York City, on Aug. 8..
Participants held red umbrellas bearing the Burmese numeral “8”, in what has come to be known as the “Umbrella Strike” after protesters in Yangon walked the streets with umbrellas on Aug. 8, 2023, to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the ‘8888 Uprising’. “Thirty-eight years ago, the people of Burma rose together to demand freedom, democracy and dignity. My mother answered that call,” said Kim Aris, Aung San Suu Kyi’s son.
News by Region
MANDALAY—Residents of four neighborhoods in Mandalay Region’s Mogok Township have been evacuated due to flash flooding caused by heavy rainfall since Thursday. The stairway of Hpaung Daw Oo pagoda collapsed and the entrance to the monastery was closed, residents told DVB.
“The rain started pouring yesterday morning, causing speedy flooding. The water level rose up very quickly and people in flooded areas had to move to the safe places,” a rescue worker from Mogok told DVB on the condition of anonymity. Read more on our website
SAGAING—Six residents were killed after being swept away by floodwaters in Depayin Township as days of heavy rainfall and large water releases from the Thapanzeik dam inundated more than 50 villages in Depayin and neighboring Taze Township, forcing over 10,000 people to evacuate their homes.
“We are providing emergency medical assistance and moving elderly residents and those in poor health. Water levels are rising rapidly. In some areas, even the upper floors of two-storey houses are completely submerged,” a PDF member told DVB. Read more on our website
YANGON—The market price for onions has surged by 10 times, a retailer at Bayint Naung Wholesale Market in Mayangone Township told DVB. One viss, or 1.6 kg, of onion is 6,000 MMK ($1.40 USD) up from 600 MMK ($0.1 USD) in 2025. The price of one viss of onion is expected to reach 7,000 MMK ($1.6 USD).
Over 170,000 acres of land was used for growing onions nationwide in 2023. Farmers in the Ayeyarwaddy Region have planted onions instead of rice, due to the price decline of the food staple in 2024. The amount of onion planted acres decreased by more than half in 2025 due to a decline in onion prices.
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,440 MMK)
