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Myanmar opposes full Timor-Leste ASEAN membership; Regional lawmakers call to free political prisoners

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Zin Mar Aung, the National Unity Government Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta in Dili on June 19, 2024. (Credit: Tatoli)

Myanmar opposes full Timor-Leste ASEAN membership

The regime in Naypyidaw has informed Malaysia, the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the ASEAN Secretariat that it opposes the proposed accession of Timor-Leste as the 11th member state at the 47th ASEAN Summit to be held on Oct. 26, sources told Thai media.

In a letter, Naypyidaw stated that it wants ASEAN to “suspend all related procedural considerations until Timor-Leste revises its approach and demonstrates a clear commitment to rectifying its policy towards Myanmar.” It urged Timor-Leste to “refrain” from engaging with entities that are explicitly opposed to, or in conflict with, the positions of ASEAN member states.

The letter was signed by Han Win Aung, the director-general and Alternate Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) Leader of ASEAN–Myanmar. It added that if Dili continues to violate the non-interference principle in Burma’s internal affairs, “we must firmly reject any consideration of granting ASEAN membership to Timor Leste.” 

Regional lawmakers call to free political prisoners

The ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), a network of more than 175 current and former elected policymakers in Southeast Asia, announced on Wednesday that it wants the “immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners” in Burma to be at the top of the agenda at the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM), in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 8-9.

“ASEAN can no longer postpone justice,” said Mercy Chriesty Barends, the APHR Chairperson and member of the Indonesian House of Representatives. “The continued detention of political prisoners is a stain on our regional conscience. Their release must be a top priority at the AMM and an integral part of ASEAN’s engagement with Myanmar moving forward.”

The Political Prisoners Network Myanmar (PPNM) has documented that at least 130 political prisoners have died in custody with 50 killed during the March 28 earthquake at Obo Prison. Another 60 have died from a lack of adequate medical care. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) states that are currently 22,188 people in detention for opposing the 2021 military coup.

Regime gains ground in northern Shan State

Sources on the frontline in northern Shan State told DVB that regime forces have reached Ommakah and Nawng Au villages, located eight miles (13 km) southwest and six miles (10 km) south of Nawnghkio Township, which came under Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) control on July 10 and is located 96 miles (154 km) south of the region’s capital Lashio.

A source close to the resistance in northern Shan told DVB on the condition of anonymity that both sides relied heavily on firepower from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), or drones, and artillery during fighting. The source added that ethnic armed groups and the People’s Defence Force (PDF) faced difficulties in replenishing their weapons and ammunition supply. 

The TNLA announced on Tuesday that 11 airstrikes killed three civilians and injured one on July 1 in Nawnghkio’s Thonezel village. It claimed that 130 airstrikes, 60 drone strikes, and 53 artillery strikes were carried out by regime forces during fighting in eight villages of Nawnghkio on June 24 but did not share casualty figures. Naypyidaw launched a counteroffensive to retake Nawnghkio in April

News by Region

The ashes of where homes once stood in a village of Nyaung-U Township, Mandalay Region, following military raids in late June. (Credit: CJ)

MANDALAY—Residents of Nyaung-U and Taungtha townships told DVB that at least five civilians were killed and more than 100 homes were burned down by regime forces in five villages June 22-30. Nyaung-U and Taungtha are located 87-110 miles (140-177 km) southwest of Mandalay.

“In retaliation [for an ambush, regime forces] fired heavy artillery, causing civilian deaths,” a PDF member told DVB. Over 1,000 residents from 20 villages fled their homes. Aid groups have issued an urgent appeal for food and medicine for the 1,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

BAGO—The Karen National Union (KNU) announced on Monday that five civilians were injured, including three children, during an airstrike in Kyaukkyi Township on Monday. Kyaukkyi is located 108 miles (173 km) northeast of the region’s capital Bago in KNU Brigade 3 territory. 

The National Unity Government (NUG) Ministry of Defense stated that at least seven regime troops were killed and 22 were detained, along with 28 weapons and various military supplies, by the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and the PDF in Kyaukkyi on June 26.

Sources told DVB that at least 50 people from Taungup Township in Arakan State were detained by the authorities at the Nawaday Bridge Gate checkpoint in Pyay Township June 25-27. Family members of the 50 detainees fear they’ll be sent for conscription. 

“Among those detained are students heading to Yangon for school and others planning to work abroad,” a detainee’s relative told DVB. Pyay, located 160 miles (260 km) north of Yangon, serves as a transit hub for travelers from western Burma into the central regions. 

TANINTHARYI—A total of 229 Burma nationals were deported from Ranong, Thailand to Kawthaung Township June 25-30, with sources along the Thai-Burma border reporting that conscription-aged men are being forcibly taken by regime authorities upon return.

“They were deported in two separate groups,” a Kawthaung resident told DVB. The deportations were carried out by sea as the two countries are separated by a short maritime distance of about 4-6 miles (7-10 km). Kawthaung is located 406 miles (653 km) south of the region’s capital Dawei. Read more

(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,520 MMK) 

Pro-regime parties await December election announcement as resistance calls on citizens to boycott polls

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Nay Phone Latt from the National Unity Government made a plea to reject the regime-planned elections in December during an online briefing on July 1. (Credit: NUG)

Nay Phone Latt, the spokesperson for the National Unity Government (NUG) Prime Minister’s Office, stated on Tuesday that all 54 political parties which have registered with the regime’s Union Election Commission (UEC) to run candidates in the planned general elections lack “public support.”  

“Even combined, they failed to secure 10 percent of seats in the Parliament during the 2020 general elections,” said Nay Phone Latt, adding that the regime’s plan to hold polls by December “will not resolve the issues Myanmar is facing” and called on all citizens to reject any election held by the regime in Naypyidaw, which seized power after the 2021 military coup.

The NUG held an online briefing on Tuesday as a response to the regime’s “Peace Forum 2025” held in Naypyidaw June 25-27. The regime met with representatives from the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC), which is a coalition of ethnic armed groups that have continued to hold talks with the regime since 2021. 

During his opening speech at the forum on June 25. regime leader Min Aung Hlaing promised to re-establish a “multi-party democratic system” after an election was held. He announced elections would begin by December during a visit to Belarus earlier this year

Former regime minister and ex-National League for Democracy (NLD) lawmaker Thet Thet Khine told the media at a press conference after the forum that around 120 suggestions from attendees regarding the planned elections and peace process were recorded at the forum. Her People’s Pioneer Party (PPP) is one of the 10 political parties planning to contest polls nationwide.

Wunna Aung, a member of the regime National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee (NSPNC), told the attendees that the committee will review the discussions and present them to Min Aung Hlaing.

FPNCC members, including the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), sent delegations to the forum. Ethnic armed groups which are resisting the 2021 coup were not in attendance.

Kachin Independence Army (KIA) Spokesperson Naw Bu told DVB that the regime did not send them an invitation. He acknowledged the importance of elections but said he was not convinced that any polls under the 2008 military-drafted Constitution could guarantee peace.

The KIA has seized 14 towns in Kachin State, as well as Mabein in northern Shan State, since it launched its most recent offensive against regime forces in March 2024. It has been fighting for control of Bhamo Township, located 120 miles (193 km) south of the state capital Myitkyina, since Dec. 4.

Critics of the regime were dismayed over the decision by the UEC to dissolve the ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) party, which Aung San Suu Kyi led to landslide victories in the 2015 and 2020 elections, for not re-registering.

This is also the case for the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), which came third after the NLD and the pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) with the most number of seats won nationwide in the 2020 elections. 

People’s Party Chairperson, and former political prisoner, Ko Ko Gyi told DVB that the regime-planned elections are vital for the “transition to a democratic system.” His party attended the forum in Naypyidaw and is committed to fielding candidates nationwide like the PPP and the USDP.

The 2021 coup deposed the democratically-elected NLD government, led by State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, over allegations of voter fraud. Both Aung San Suu Kyi and Win Myint have been held in detention since Feb. 1, 2021. 

A one-year state of emergency was enforced on the same date with the regime committing to hold a new election by 2022, but still no date has been set and the emergency has been extended every six months since 2022. The state of emergency would have to be lifted on July 31 by Min Aung Hlaing for an election to begin in December.

Regime blacklists company linked to Karen Border Guard Force leader

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Saw Chit Thu received an honorary award called Thiri Pyanchi from regime leader Min Aung Hlaing in January 2023. (Credit: Regime)

The regime Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) has blacklisted the Chit Linn Myaing Toyota Company — reportedly owned by Saw Chit Thu, leader of the pro-regime Karen Border Guard Force (BGF) — along with 196 other companies for “failing to deposit foreign currency earnings from exports.”

The CBM statement dated June 27 claimed that the companies failed to deposit their export earnings from 2016 to 2020 into their domestic bank accounts in foreign currency within a designated period which violates the 2012 Foreign Exchange Management Law. 

The law requires earnings from exports to Asian countries to be deposited within 30 days of shipment, while earnings from exports to other countries must be done within 60 days. Failure to do so may result in a prison sentence of up to one year, a fine or both.

The CBM also blacklisted Saw Chit Thu — who registered his company under the name San Myint — along with his three adult children and two associates who are in charge of the company, according to the statement. 

On May 5, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against Saw Chit Thu and his two sons, Saw Htoo Eh Moo and Saw Chit Chit, over alleged ties to online scam operations in Myawaddy Township of Karen State along the Myanmar-Thailand border.

The E.U. sanctioned Saw Chit Thu’s company for his alleged ties to cyber scam operations and human trafficking in October. Saw Chit Thu has denied all allegations against him

Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI) sought arrest warrants for Saw Chit Thu and two other BGF leaders in February. Thai media reported that the case has not made any progress as the prosecutors deemed the evidence against him “insufficient.” 

The Karen BGF was established in 2010 with assistance from the military after it split from the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), which itself split from the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) in 1994. 

It attempted to rebrand itself as the Karen National Army in March 2024 after announcing its decision to stop receiving support from the regime in Naypyidaw. 

But, when the KNLA took control of the sole remaining regime outpost in Myawaddy one month later, in April 2024, it took only 12 days for the BGF to abandon the KNLA and resume assistance to the military.

It allowed regime forces to retake control of the outpost, so lucrative border trade with Thailand could resume in Myawaddy, which is located 81 miles (130 km) east of the Karen State capital Hpa-An and across the Moei (Thaungyin) River from Thailand’s Mae Sot, Tak Province.

Interim Constitution for Sagaing Region faces criticism; Bangladesh party asks China to broker Rohingya repatriation

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Representatives from Sagaing Federal Unit Hluttaw and Sagaing Forum Federation met to discuss post-quake recovery and its Interim Constitution at an undisclosed location in Sagaing Region on May 9. (Credit: SFUH)

Interim Constitution for Sagaing Region faces criticism 

Human Rights Myanmar, a collective of human rights experts in Burma, criticized the fourth draft of the 18 chapter Interim Constitution adopted by the Sagaing Federal Unit Hluttaw for “lacking civil and political rights and unclear wording which could lead to future violations” on Tuesday. The first draft was published on Oct. 25 and the fourth draft became law eight months later, on June 25.

It criticized the use of terms such as “public safety,” “hatred,” and “dignity”, describing them as “vague and subjective.” It drew parallels to the previous regime’s 2008 Constitution, highlighting that it also included vague wording in order to justify the suppression of dissent. It recommended banning the death penalty, and including comprehensive fair trial rights, the right to vote, and a right to access the internet.

It proposed a definition of emergency powers and judicial review. Sagaing Region was renamed the “Sagaing Federal Unit” after the Interim Constitution was adopted on June 25, retaining the same geographic territory as it had under the 2020 general election, which was overturned in the 2021 military coup. The Interim Constitution promises ethnic nationalities the right to establish Self-Administered Zones. 

New pension rule forces seniors to obtain Unique ID

Pensioners told DVB that the regime Ministry of Immigration and Population now requires them to present the Unique Identity (UID), a 10-digit number card issued by the regime since late 2023, to collect their pensions starting this month. They previously only needed to present national registration cards to receive their pensions.

“My mother’s name was entered incorrectly on the application form. After a three week delay, I had to pay a bribe,” one pensioner told DVB on the condition of anonymity. The regime distributes pensions through the Myanma Economic Bank (MEB), which informed pensioners of the new rule at its branches on June 23. 

Families of pensioners told DVB that the regime should provide a way for physically challenged senior citizens to complete the process without having to travel to the Immigration Department. Despite being a free service, sources accused regime officials of taking bribes from 5,000 MMK ($1.2 USD) to “speed up the process.” 

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party held a press conference at its Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s office in the capital Dhaka on June 30. (Credit: Daily Sun)

Bangladesh party asks China to broker Rohingya repatriation

Bangladesh’s largest political party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), called on China to mediate between Dhaka and Naypyidaw over the repatriation of Rohingya refugees from Cox’s Bazar to Arakan State on Monday. A nine-member BNP delegation visited China at the invitation of the Chinese Communist Party June 22-27.

“During our recent visit to China, we called for a greater and more effective Chinese role in resolving the Rohingya crisis,” said Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the BNP secretary general, at the party’s office in Dhaka on June 30. He added that Beijing assured the BNP that it was committed to resolving the issue by convincing Naypyidaw to begin quick repatriation.

Nearly 1.2 million Rohingya refugees live temporarily in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char, an island off the coast of Bangladesh where a refugee camp was established, despite objections, in 2021. Bangladesh’s interim government Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus met with Min Aung Hlaing to discuss Rohingya repatriation during a regional summit in April.

News by Region

AYEYARWADY—A fortified bunker is being built at the Pantaing inspection gate and near Bo Myat Tun Bridge on the Yangon-Pathein highway in Nyaungdon Township, according to residents. Nyaungdon is located 63 miles (101 km) northeast of the region’s capital Pathein. 

A source close to the regime administration told DVB on the condition of anonymity that this was due to security concerns. Commuters claimed that a tax of 1,000-3,000 MMK ($0.2-0.6 USD) is being levied on cars and 3,000-8,000 MMK ($0.6-1.7 USD) for trucks at the gates. 

BAGO—Residents told DVB that they were on alert as the regime Department of Meteorology and Hydrology warned on June 30 that the Bago River could break its banks in the next 36 hours. The water level is at 845 cm (27.7 ft), just 35 cm (1.1 ft) below the town’s danger level on Tuesday.

“Some neighbours have already reinforced their homes with sandbags,” a resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity, adding that Bago has faced floods over the past two years. Taungoo Township residents told DVB that flooding occurred in 10 villages due to heavy rainfall since June 19, forcing many to evacuate their homes

Aid groups told DVB that five civilians were killed and 70 others were injured in retaliatory airstrikes carried out by the Burma Air Force during fighting against the People’s Defence Force (PDF) in Phyu Township on Sunday. Phyu is located 100 miles (160 km) north of the region’s capital Bago. 

Residents claimed that more than 60 civilians have been hospitalized and 15 are in critical condition. At least 10 regime troops and one PDF member were killed during an attack on a military outpost in Walgyi village on June 29. The military has blocked the road in Walgyi village that leads to Phyu town following the fighting.

YANGON—Bahan Township authorities evicted homeless people from informal settlements inside Kandawgyi Park on Saturday after images were shared on social media showing people living outdoors near Kandawgyi Lake, one of two lakes in the city centre. 

“There has been crime, such as robberies and murders, reported around the lake,” a worker at Kandawgyi Park told DVB on the condition of anonymity. DVB reported that the bodies of two women were recovered near the lake in 2024, causing fear among Bahan residents. 

(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,560 MMK) 

Over 200 Myanmar nationals deported from Thailand in June; Reports of forced military conscription

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Thai immigration officials process 98 Myanmar nationals at a port facility during deportation on June 30. (Credit: Ranong Immigration Office)

Thailand has deported a total of 229 Myanmar nationals in two separate operations during the last week of June, with sources along the Thai-Myanmar border reporting that conscription-aged men are being forcibly taken by regime authorities upon return to Myanmar.

“They were deported in two groups within a week of June,” said a Kawthaung resident in Myanmar’s southernmost Tanintharyi Region. “We know the regime is taking them, but we don’t know exactly how many.”

The deportations were carried out by sea from Thailand’s Ranong Province across the Kraburi River to Myanmar’s Kawthaung Township, with the two countries separated by a short maritime distance of about 4-6 miles (7-10 km).

Kawthaung is located 406 miles (653 km) south of the Tanintharyi Region capital Dawei. Those deported from Thailand to Myanmar reportedly included individuals arrested for lacking proper travel or work documents. 

Ninety-eight Myanmar migrant workers were deported from Thailand on June 30. Thai immigration officials did not provide specifics about the gender of the deportees. But Kawthaung residents said that the majority were men. There have been no reports of forced conscription among these 98 deportees. 

But on June 25, residents said that 131 Myanmar nationals – 104 men and 27 women – were deported from Thailand and upon arrival in Kawthaung, conscription-aged men 18 to 35 were taken by regime authorities and the women were released.

The exact number of those forcibly conscripted upon arrival in Myanmar is unknown. Both Thai and Myanmar authorities have not publicly commented on these allegations.

On August 26, military personnel held 98 Myanmar nationals at the 262nd Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) in Kawthaung and threatened to send the males away for conscription following their repatriation from Thailand.

On September 26, another 127 migrant workers deported from Thailand were reportedly taken for conscription shortly after their arrival in Kawthaung.

The regime enforced its conscription law on Feb. 10, 2024. It amended the law with stricter guidelines in January.

Human rights groups and activists marked World Refugee Day on June 20 by warning of the forced return or refugees, or refoulement, and the risk of military conscription or forced recruitment in Myanmar.

Healing Homes: Support for earthquake recovery

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Participants of the fashion show at Healing Home: Support Myanmar Earthquake Recovery in Myanmar at Chiang Mai University on June 29. (Credit: DVB)

An event called “Healing Homes: Support earthquake recovery in Myanmar” was held at the Chiang Mai University (CMU) Faculty of Humanities on June 29. The Myanmar Centre at CMU, in collaboration with the Myanmar community in Chiang Mai, organized the event.

“I would like to thank all the volunteers and friends who participated in making this event happen. I also want to thank all the students. Thank you to all the vendors, university teachers, and guests who came to support the event, as well as the ethnic peoples who performed in the show,” said Mee Mee, the organizer of Healing Homes.

The event included traditional ethnic nationality dancing as well as a fashion show. All proceeds raised from ticket sales and donations went towards earthquake relief in Myanmar.

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