APHR warns against normalizing relations with Myanmar
The ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), a network of current and former lawmakers focusing on how to improve human rights in countries across Southeast Asia, issued a statement on Tuesday warning against what it called a “lack of concrete action” on Burma by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) following the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, Philippines, on May 7-8.
APHR highlighted statements made by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who described the crisis in Burma since the 2021 military coup as a “thorny problem” without any clear solutions. It added that ASEAN’s principles of consensus and non-interference continue to hinder any concrete action in Burma, while Thailand and other member states risk “normalizing” ties with the regime by engaging with them.
There have been repeated calls by APHR for ASEAN to engage with Burma’s “democratic representatives,” including the National Unity Government (NUG), and to join international calls for the immediate and unconditional release of jailed State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. The Philippines, the 2026 ASEAN Chair, urged Burma to allow its Special Envoy Ma. Theresa Lazaro to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi.
NUG criticizes Naypyidaw response to ASEAN exclusion
The NUG criticized the regime’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday after it accused the 10 other ASEAN member states of “excluding the Myanmar government” from the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, Philippines, May 7-8. The NUG called on the international community not to recognize Min Aung Hlaing, who was inaugurated as Burma’s president by pro-military lawmakers on April 10 after “sham” elections.
Naypyidaw accused ASEAN of “non-constructive” engagement with the new Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) administration that was “democratically elected,” via military-run polls, which ended on Jan. 25. By not acknowledging the military-proxy USDP’s landslide victory without any opposition parties on the ballot, the regime claims that ASEAN “disregards the genuine will of Myanmar voters.”
Naypyidaw sent its Permanent Secretary at the regime Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hau Khan Sum, to the ASEAN 48th summit, as all senior regime officials have been barred from attending high-level meetings since April 2021. Min Aung Hlaing has failed to implement the Five-Point Consensus, the bloc’s peace plan for Burma, which calls for an end to violence, release of political prisoners, and inclusive dialogue.
Remaining CDM members to leave TNLA territory
Members of the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), which are former civil servants who refused to work under the military following the 2021 coup, are leaving Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) controlled territory after the ethnic armed group sent a congratulatory message to Min Aung Hlaing on April 15 – five days after he was inaugurated as Burma’s president by a pro-military parliament in Naypyidaw.
A CDM member told DVB on the condition of anonymity that the NUG will relocate the remaining CDM members from TNLA-controlled territory, which includes Namhsan and Manton – constitutionally recognized as the Palaung Self-Administered Zone (SAZ) – as well as Namtu, Namhkam, Mongngawt, and Monglon in northern Shan State, which were seized during Operation 1027 that began on Oct. 27, 2023.
The Ta’ang Civil Society Network denounced the TNLA for the message on April 16. The NUG controls areas in Sagaing and Magway regions. It has lost Mandalay Region’s Thabeikkyin, Madaya, Singu, and Tagaung towns, as well as Sagaing’s Tigyaing, Indaw, and Mawlu towns, to a military counteroffensive since 2024. The TNLA signed a China-brokered ceasefire with Min Aung Hlaing’s regime on Oct. 29.
Read our latest DVB English News op-ed: How Myanmar’s Spring Revolution is evolving toward unity – Part 1.
News by Region
CHIN—Wong Sun Htan, the regime’s Chief Minister, met with officials in Falam Township to discuss the return of nearly 5,000 residents displaced by fighting since April 2025. Falam, located 41 miles (66 km) north of the state capital Hakha, was recaptured by regime forces on April 25.
Falam residents told Chin World that they fear renewed fighting with resistance forces. The Burma Air Force reportedly carried out an airstrike on Mindat Township, 272 miles (437 km) south of Hakha, as part of its ongoing counteroffensive against Chin resistance forces in the state.
NAYPYIDAW—Three media outlets had their licenses revoked under the Printing and Publishing Law on Monday. Myaelatt Athan, Red News Agency, and “Asia Citizens” are accused of violating “national security, rule of law, and public peace,” the regime Ministry of Information reported.
A total of 12 other media outlets have had their licenses revoked since 2021, including DVB, Khit Thit, 7 Day, Delta News Agency, Mizzima, Myanmar Now, The 74 Media, Myitkyina News Journal, Tachileik News Agency, Chin World, Khonumthung Media, and Nowadays News, according to DVB data.
SHAN—A total of 86 Chinese and five Burma nationals were arrested for alleged connections to cyber scam operations in Laihka and Mongpan townships in southern Shan May 4-9. The two townships are located 90-169 miles (145-273 km) northwest and southeast of the state capital Taunggyi.
Fourteen computers, 90 mobile phones and other electronics were discovered during the raids. The regime claimed that it will speed up the crackdown on online cyber scam and gambling operations in the country by cooperating with domestic and international organizations. Read more
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