‘Proof of Life’ campaign culminates on Aung San Suu Kyi’s 81st birthday
Jailed State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi’s son, Kim Aris, completed an 81-kilometre skateboarding challenge in London’s Hyde Park on Wednesday. This was part of his self-initiated “81 for 81” campaign, carried out two days before his mother’s 81st birthday today, to strengthen global calls for independent verification that the Nobel Peace Prize laureate is still alive.
“This has been a hard push, but we can keep on going because we know that what we’re pushing for, and what we’re fighting for, is right,” Aris stated in a video message from Hyde Park. He launched the fitness challenge on June 1, urging supporters around the world to run, walk, cycle, or take part in activities in increments of 81 to mark his mother’s June 19 birthday and to protest her continued isolation.
Aung San Suu Kyi was detained during the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021. Unverified regime reports claimed that she was transferred from prison to an undisclosed house arrest location in Naypyidaw on April 30. Regime leader Min Aung Hlaing has repeatedly denied independent international observers—including the U.N. and the Red Cross—any physical access to verify her health or whereabouts. Read more
Myanmar GDP growth forecast cut amid new gas ‘discoveries’
The World Bank stated that the forecast for Burma’s real gross domestic product (GDP) growth was cut to 2.0 per cent in the 2026-27 fiscal year, which began in April, from a projection of 3.0 per cent made before the war in Iran caused the global energy shock. Melinda Good, World Bank division director for Thailand and Burma, stated that the country’s economy is under “significant strain” despite signs that economic conditions have “stabilized” following the 2021 military coup.
Geologists have confirmed that “significant” natural gas reserves exist in deep-water offshore sites in Tanintharyi and Ayeyarwady regions, with estimated capacities of 95 trillion cubic feet (2.69 trillion cubic meters) and 14 trillion cubic feet (396.4 billion cubic meters). Regime media reported that the findings were based on the results of exploratory drilling wells and three-dimensional surveys of sandstone reservoirs beneath the seabed conducted on an undisclosed time.
Burma hosts four offshore natural gas extraction sites with a daily production capacity of over 1.3 billion cubic feet (36.8 million cubic meters) of which 1 billion cubic feet (28.3 million cubic meters) is exported to China and Thailand. The Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), which has been under regime control since the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021, is sanctioned by the E.U., the U.S., and Switzerland.
China endorses Min Aung Hlaing’s new administration
China and Burma have issued a comprehensive joint statement pledging deep mutual support on core geopolitical interests, signaling a major diplomatic endorsement from Beijing for Naypyidaw’s new Min Aung Hlaing-led Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) administration.
The statement, released on Wednesday following high-level summits in Beijing between Chinese President Xi Jinping and regime leader Min Aung Hlaing, who was inaugurated Burma’s president by a pro-military parliament on April 10, outlines a sweeping roadmap for border security, resource exploitation, and multi-billion-dollar infrastructure developments.
In a notable diplomatic victory for Naypyidaw, Beijing formally welcomed the Myanmar regime-held polls that ended in January and reaffirmed its staunch support for the administration’s localized strategies to achieve domestic peace, stability, and sustainable development. Furthermore, Beijing committed to defending Myanmar’s administrative interests on the global stage. Read more
Read our latest DVB English News op-ed by Khin Ohmar: Min Aung Hlaing is not Myanmar’s ‘President’ so stop reporting it as fact
News by Region
CHIN—An unknown number of homes were destroyed by airstrikes in the east of Mindat Township after over 70 bombs were dropped by three Burma Air Force fighter jets on Wednesday, residents told DVB. Mindat, located 127 miles (275 km) south of the state capital Hakha, was seized by the Chin Brotherhood in 2024.
A Mindat resident told DVB that the military deliberately targeted the town in order to destroy civilian infrastructure. Fighting between resistance and regime forces have intensified in eastern Mindat since June 16. At least 25 rounds of airstrikes were documented in Mindat June 8-13, according to residents.
KACHIN—Three civilians were killed and five others were injured by artillery attacks launched by regime forces on Shwegu Township on Wednesday, residents told DVB. Shwegu is located 119-181 miles (191-291 km) southwest of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) headquarters in Laiza and south of the Kachin State capital Myitkyina.
The KIA stated on June 17 that regime forces disguised as KIA and People’s Defence Force (PDF) were conducting reconnaissance operations in Shwegu. A military counteroffensive heading to Bhamo Township via Shwegu began on June 12. Fighting over control of Bhamo, 64 miles (102 km) east of Shwegu, has been ongoing since Dec. 4, 2024.
SAGAING—Five civilians, including a five-year-old, were killed in Wetlet Township’s Nyaungpingyitaw village by airstrikes carried out by the Burma Air Force on Wednesday, resistance forces told DVB. Wetlet, located 50 miles (80 km) east of the region’s capital Monywa, is partially controlled by the National Unity Government (NUG).
A member of the NUG People’s Administration Team (PAT) told DVB that the Air Force jet took off from Mandalay’s Tada-U Air Force base. One woman was killed and two of her family members were injured by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), or drones, in Wetlet’s Wetluai village on June 16.
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,200 MMK)
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