Nationwide census underway in Myanmar
The military regime began its nationwide census on Tuesday, which will conclude on Oct. 15, in order to compile voter lists for its general elections tentatively scheduled for November 2025. Census workers are going door-to-door across the country, often accompanied by soldiers and members of pro-military militias.
“Military vehicles have arrived at the ward office since the morning, and soldiers are stationed at both ends of the road in the ward. Census workers are being guided by ward administrators,” a Yangon resident told DVB. The regime has reopened and deployed troops near ward administration offices, many of which had been closed since Feb. 1, 2021, as a part of its efforts to collect census data.
Resistance groups and pro-democracy activists have called on citizens to boycott the census, warning that it’s an attempt by the regime to gather personal information. The census is being held as more than 3.3 million people have been displaced from their homes, according to the U.N. Burma’s previous census was conducted in 2014.
Price of goods remain high for consumers despite stronger kyat
The Myanmar kyat made gains after the regime’s Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) sold over $13 million USD on Monday. According to currency exchange operators, the rate decreased from 4,850 kyat per dollar on Sept. 28 to approximately 4,600 kyat on Wednesday.
The kyat has been appreciating since mid-August, but the price of basic commodities have not decreased. “Most goods are still not going down,” a Yangon resident told DVB. The CBM sold a total of around $300 million USD between mid-August and the end of September.
It has also sold Chinese yuan and Thai baht in the past month in a bid to stabilize the country’s ailing economy. Despite the rally of the kyat, its value remains significantly below pre-2021 coup levels, with the exchange rate being around 1,300 kyat per dollar at the end of January 2021.
Thai officials says Myanmar civil war bolstering drug trade
The Deputy Secretary-General of Thailand’s Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) Apikit Ch.rojprasert said that the number of drugs trafficked from Burma into Thailand has surged. Thai officials claim that narcotics labs have been set up in areas under the control of armed groups in Shan and Kachin states.
“Because of the armed conflict, the drug trade is one of the factors used to fund weapon purchases or drive the fighting forces,” Apikit told the Reuters news agency. “We have to be vigilant about crimes that are linked to drug trafficking and work with neighbouring countries.”
The ONCB states that the number of meth tablets seized in northern Thailand’s Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son provinces, which are located along the Burma border, has increased by 172 percent this year compared to 2023. The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) stated last year that Burma has become the world’s largest producer of opium.
News by Region
CHINLAND—The military set fire to civilian homes in Mindat Township, located around 171 miles (275 km) south of the Chinland capital Hakha on Tuesday. The Chinland Defense Force (CDF) Mindat claimed that more than 30 homes were burned down.
“The troops carried fuel with motorcycles, poured it on houses and intentionally set fire to them. All homes along the Mindat-Matupi road from the Bayinnaung junction were destroyed and the fire continued in the town until the evening,” a Mindat resident told DVB. The military opened fire on residents who tried to extinguish the flames.
MANDALAY—Six military personnel were killed during drone strikes conducted by resistance forces on the Central Region Military Command (RMC) headquarters on Sept. 29. A resistance group calling itself the Brave Warriors for Myanmar claimed responsibility for the attack.
“Out of the six drones we deployed, two hit their targets,” a spokesperson told DVB. The Central RMC was previously attacked in early September and in December 2023. Thirteen out of 14 RMCs remain under military control. The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) seized the Northeastern RMC headquarters in Lashio, northern Shan State, on Aug. 3.
SAGAING—Resistance forces detained around 20 military personnel as prisoners of war during an attack on a column of 80 troops in Butalin Township, located around 23 miles (37 km) north of the Sagaing Region capital Monywa, on Monday. Ten troops reportedly escaped.
“Fighting took place for four hours. A fighter jet assisted the soldiers,” a Butalin resident told DVB. Thousands of Butalin residents have been displaced from their homes since fighting between the military and resistance forces intensified in the township on Monday.
SHAN—The instructors of 18 medics who drowned in floodwaters during training by the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) were held responsible for their deaths in Pekon Township on Sept. 11, located around 105 miles (169 km) south of the Shan State capital Taunggyi. The KNDF stated that the instructors knew that flooding may occur, but failed to mitigate the risks before conducting the medic training.
“Three of the instructors also consumed alcohol prior to the training. The trainers were unable to estimate the speed of the floods caused by the landslides,” stated the KNDF in a press release on Tuesday. Two of the instructors admitted to being responsible for the medics’ deaths. The KNDF will convene its central committee to determine what actions to take.
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,600 kyat)
