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Karenni youths raise funds for IDPs, Junta Education Ministry claims seven million students enrolled

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FROM THE DVB NEWSROOM

Karenni youths hold fundraising event in Chiang Mai

Karenni youths hosted a fundraising event in Chiang Mai for internally displaced people (IDPs) from Karenni State on Dec. 3-4 at the Chiang Mai Drama Centre 2. The event was a part of the Creative Christmas Market organized by the center and vendors raised funds by selling traditional Karenni snacks as well as Christmas cards created by students from refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border. 

Index on Censorship’s Tyrant of the Year 2022: Min Aung Hlaing?

In its annual Tyrant of the Year, the Index on Censorship has nominated Burma’s junta chief Min Aung Hlaing alongside other despots such as North Korea’s Kim Jong-Un, and China’s Xi Jinping. Min Aung Hlaing faces off against his allies, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, and Belarus’ Alyaksandr Lukashenka as the most despised dictator in the world. Vote for MAH here.

UNOCHA 2023 Global Humanitarian Overview addresses lack of education for school children in Burma 

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) Asia Pacific: Needs and Response for 2023 states that since the 2021 coup in Burma: “More than 4 million children — half of Myanmar’s school-aged children — have not accessed formal education for two full academic years. While efforts are under way to support alternative education solutions, this is currently reaching only a fraction of children. This situation places children at much higher risk of negative coping mechanisms, such as child labour, trafficking and early marriage, and the longer it goes on, it increases the likelihood of permanent disengagement from education.” Read more here.

The junta’s Ministry of Education claims that seven million students are currently enrolled in the 2022-2023 academic year. It goes on to state that the enrollment rate in the upcoming academic years will increase. The number of students enrolled in school in Sagaing region, Kayah and Karen states, is in decline due to the conflict in these areas. 

News by Region

BAGO—Junta airstrikes took place in three villages of Nyaunglebin District on Dec. 2, the Karen National Union (KNU) announced. It stated that five explosions occurred. No casualties have been reported as most locals had already fled the area. 

KARENNI—The Karenni Revolution Union (KRU) announced that it had seized Kone Thar village in Demoso town from the Burma Army on Dec. 2. “There were some clashes before we took the whole village back. Maybe they left the village because there is a coalition force of Karenni Army and Karenni National Defense Force near this area,” a KRU spokesperson said.

RAKHINE—The Arakan Army (AA) announced on Dec. 1 that it will assist in harvesting paddy fields in Buthidaung, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U and Minbya townships of Rakhine State. The paddy was planted by both locals and those displaced from their homes due to the conflict between the AA and the Burma Army. A “humanitarian ceasefire” was signed between the warring armies on Nov. 26.

SAGAING —A 14-year-old was killed and his three family members were injured by artillery in a village of Indaw Township on Dec. 3.  “At first, I didn’t know where the artillery came from. Then, I learned that they were shot from Indaw police station. Four artillery shells were dropped in Natmahote village,” a villager told DVB. In June, a 50-year-old woman was killed in a similar incident.

A 40-year-old man was reported to have been injured by a knife in a village of Kanbalu township on Dec. 13. “When the villagers entered the village, they found the injured man. He [had been] stabbed with a knife, so he was gravely wounded.” a resident told DVB. “The [Burma Army] entered the village. They destroyed the villagers’ properties and took what they wanted,” a resident added. It is said about 60 local residents were arrested and examined, and their mobile phones were confiscated.


Two elderly women were killed by arson in Salingyi Township. The victims – one 90-years-old, the other 85 – were visually impaired. “When the village was attacked, the two elderly died because they could not flee,” a villager told DVB. In addition, on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, the Burma army is said to have also conducted arson in three nearby villages, damaging an estimated 250 houses. 

Moe Nyo Revolution Force (MNRF) said it attacked the Burma Army at a school compound in Myinmu town on Dec. 1. The MNRF told DVB that the female commando unit had carried out its first mission against the Burma Army. On Nov. 30, seven Burma Army troops were reportedly killed after local defense forces attacked Taw Chaung Oo police station in Myinmu township.

TANINTHARYI—Six People’s Defense Force members were killed in clashes against the Burma Army during the month of November, according to the Dawei District People’s Defense Front. There were operations in Thayatchaung Township, Myeik District, Pulaw District and Tanintharyi Township. The DDPDF claims it killed several Burma Army troops.

Dawei District Court handed out an additional seven year sentence to Yazar Tun, according to the Dawei Political Prisoners Network. Yazar Tun, 24, is now sentenced to 48 years in prison. He was convicted of murder under Sec.302/114 of the Penal Code. Last October he was convicted of Sec. 50 (j), Sec. 54 and Sec 302/34.

YANGON—Nine members of urban guerrilla groups were arrested in Botahtaung and North Okkalapa townships from Nov. 26 to 30. The junta media said that the nine were arrested with a pistol, 13 bullets and two handmade explosive devices. “The People’s Defense Force are from people. We had different lives before the coup. I’m sure that people who joined the local resistance forces are not thieves or jobless. We do not do such things that harm the people,” said Akara, a spokesperson in North Okkalapa township.

DVB Athan: A Message for the International Community from Burma

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Burma’s youth want their voices to be heard by the international community: #whatshappeninginmyanmar

“The Dictators tell us that the democratic world is crumbling. But here in Myanmar we are fighting for a democratic future. The fascists claim that social justice makes people weak, but these are the values which are inspiring normal people here to do great things. They are the values which we have set aside our lives to stand up for; which our friends have gone to prison and been martyred for. The coup regime would like for you to believe that our struggle is doomed. But we are just getting started. We will never live at peace with dictatorship, and we will never stop fighting until Myanmar democracy has secured its place in a world of liberty and social justice for all. But we need the world’s help. Foreign governments must stop funding this illegitimate coup regime which is waging a war against Myanmar people. In particular, we call upon the Thai government to stop buying gas from the junta. This week, Thailand is hosting leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region at an APEC Economic Summit, which aims to ‘support sustainable economic growth and prosperity.’ But it should be clear by now that authoritarian violence is the greatest threat to stability and economic growth around the world today. Here in Myanmar, they have plunged the country into chaos. Every day businesses are destroyed and villages are burned, and thousands more refugees are created. Just a few years ago, Myanmar was supposed to be, and was in fact becoming, one of the new frontiers of global economy growth. But now, thanks to the military junta’s genocidal violence and insane lust for power, Myanmar’s economy is being driven into the ground. How can the Thailand government and other attendees to the APEC Economic Summit talk about ‘sustainable economic growth’ if they are actively enabling these terrorists?”

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More junta airstrikes on Karen State mining sites

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Three Chinese nationals were killed, and eight others were injured, after an airstrike on a mining site in Payathonzu Township on Nov. 16.

KAREN—A fighter jet from the Hmawbi Air Force attacked No. 6 Megatha lead mining site in Payathonzu Township on Dec. 2, according to the People’s Defense Force (PDF). No casualties were reported. This follows a previous junta airstrike on mining sites located in Kyainseikgyi and Payathonzu towns on Nov. 29. “Chinese nationals pay taxes to the Karen National Union (KNU) and operate the lead mining sites between Kyainseikgyi and Payathonzu,” a local said. On Nov. 21 the junta air force struck two mining sites in the KNU Duplaya District. Buildings were damaged, according to a KNU spokesperson. The junta air force has increased its airstrikes on KNU-controlled territory in recent months, as the conflict between the KNU and the Burma Army has escalated. Three Chinese nationals were killed, and eight others were injured, after an airstrike on a mining site in Payathonzu Township on Nov. 16.

DVB English News: Japan’s Kubota speaks out, New NGO law concerns civil society in Burma

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DVB brings you the Weekly News in English:

-Recently released Kubota urges Japan to scrutinize their economic ties to Burma

-The Karen Women’s Organization 16 days of activism against gender-based violence -A new NGO law could restrict aid to the 1.4 million displaced people across Burma

-Agricultural workers on the Thai border say they’re earning half of what’s legally owed

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About DVB

The DVB (Democratic Voice of Burma) is a non-profit Burmese media organization committed to independent and responsible journalism. The DVB Foundation is registered in Oslo, Norway since 1992.

Ei Pencilo’s book ‘Burma Spring Revolution: 100 Days of Darkness’ is now available

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Ei Pencilo’s new book “Burma’s Spring Revolution: 100 Days of Darkness” was published earlier this year in the Korean language. It was the first book about post-coup Burma to be published in South Korea. “This is so meaningful for the people in Burma who are dealing with the military coup. It is also very important to bring those experiences to the people abroad who don’t exactly know about the situation in Burma,” Gim Shi Yeo, Pencilo’s Korean book publisher, told DVB. Pencilo hopes to soon publish the Burmese language version of “Burma’s Spring Revolution: 100 Days of Darkness” and distribute e-books and physical copies to people inside Burma. All proceeds from sales of the book will go toward supporting the fight against the junta and its army in Burma, Pencilo told DVB.

DVB Reads will feature Ei Pencilo discussing her new book in an upcoming podcast episode. Stay tuned.

Tyrant of the year 2022: Min Aung Hlaing, Burma

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By Index on Censorship

“As a child Aung San Suu Kyi was a celebrated heroine in my family home and Myanmar, an authoritarian regime determined to squash democracy.  For a few years there was hope, although not for the Rohinghya community (thanks to Min Aung Hlaing), until the military coup of 2021,” says Index on Censorship CEO Ruth Anderson.  

In February 2021 Min Aung Hlaing seized power – declaring himself commander-in-chief of Myanmar and consolidating all political power into the State Administration Council – a body which he also chairs. He has since sought to quash all dissent. Challenge is not tolerated, politicians have been arrested and imprisoned on spurious charges. Since the coup 2,530 civilians have been killed by the military, 13,000 people remain in detention and 128 political prisoners have been sentenced to death, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.  

In a series of court cases since the military coup, former leader Aung Sun Suu Kyi has now been sentenced to 26 years’ imprisonment. 

“These acts alone would warrant his crown as Tyrant of the Year but when you also consider his personal treatment of the Rohingya community then it’s difficult to see how anyone else qualifies for the title,” says Anderson. “Even before the coup Min Aung Hlaing was accused of acts of genocide against the Rohinghya minority – over one million Rohingya have been forced to flee Myanmar, and available data suggests that over 24,000 Rohingya have been systematically murdered by the state, over 18,000 women and girls raped and 36,000 thrown into fires. All by direct order of Min Aung Hlaing. The UN has declared that he should be tried for war crimes at the Hague. This man is a tyrant by every definition.”   

To vote for Min Aung Hlaing, go to www.indexoncensorship.org/tyrantoftheyear22

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