Myanmar regime to hold by-elections in April amid conflict
The regime in Naypyidaw will hold special elections to fill parliamentary vacancies next April in its first vote since the 2025-26 polls that critics said was designed to cement military rule. The by-elections will fill vacancies left by elected representatives who took ministerial or government posts and will include areas previously unable to vote because of conflict.
The by-election is unlikely to change the balance of power in Burma’s Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, bicameral legislature, currently controlled by the military-proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), but it may provide a measure of public support for the pro-military parties contesting the vote. Some of the constituencies are in seven states and regions where armed conflict against resistance forces are ongoing.
The Union Election Commission (UEC) stated that the April 4 by-elections will be held in 55 constituencies, including 34 seats in the Pyitthu Hluttaw, or lower house of parliament, five in the Amyotha Hluttaw, or upper house, and 16 in regional and state parliaments, regime media reported on Nov. 6. At least seven of the constituencies are in towns that the military recently recaptured from resistance forces.
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Japan denies seeking Myanmar’s removal from FATF blacklist
Japan’s Ministry of Finance has denied pushing for Burma to be removed from a global financial watchdog’s blacklist after Reuters reported last week that it was among countries supporting the removal.
Burma was added to the Financial Action Task Force’s blacklist in 2022 as the country was plunged into turmoil and widespread civil war following a military coup on Feb. 1, 2021.
The blacklist requires countries to apply enhanced screening to financial transactions with Burma to avoid money laundering and terrorist financing. “There is no fact that the Japanese government sought to have Myanmar removed from the FATF blacklist. Japan hopes that Myanmar will make the necessary improvements to strengthen its measures against money laundering and related illicit activities,” it stated to Reuters.
Burma remained on the blacklist following a closed-door meeting of the 40-member global body in Paris, France, on Oct. 30. Japan did not state at the Paris meeting that it wanted Burma removed, the ministry said in its statement. Reuters reported on Oct. 30 that Japan was pushing for Burma’s removal, according to a senior Japanese government official and another person familiar with the matter.
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German envoy marks ousted President Win Myint’s 75th birthday
The Embassy of Germany’s Head of Mission in Yangon, Mathias Licharz, shared a video message on Sunday marking ousted President Win Myint’s 75th birthday outside of his family home in Tamwe Township, Yangon Region. Win Myint was transferred from prison to house arrest in the capital Naypyidaw after being released on April 17.
“U Win Myint is not a free man. He’s not allowed to meet who he wants to meet. And he’s not allowed to communicate independently,” said Licharz in a video posted on Nov. 8. “I reiterate the calls by the General Assembly of the United Nations, the Security Council, as well as my government, to unconditionally release all those who are arbitrarily detained, including U Win Myint and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,” he added.
The United Nations still regards Win Myint the President of Burma and Aung San Suu Kyi as the State Counsellor despite efforts by the 2021 military coup leader Min Aung Hlaing to replace the country’s democratically elected government with a pro-military administration, following 2025-26 polls that ended on Jan. 25 but were described as a “sham” to cement military rule.
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News by Region
KAREN—The Karen National Union (KNU) confirmed to DVB that regime forces regained control of two outposts from the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) in Hpapun Township on Oct. 31. Hpapun, located 110 miles (177 km) north of the state capital Hpa-An in KNU Brigade 5, was seized by the KNLA in March 2024.
Saw Htoo Robin, the spokesperson for KNU Brigade 5, told DVB that the military used “overwhelming” firepower, including airstrikes, to recapture the regime’s Nilarkone and Mawlaw outposts, which were seized by the KNLA in April. No casualties were reported. Read the full article on our website
SAGAING—At least eight civilians were killed and six others were injured—two critically—in three attacks carried out by three regime gyrocopters in Kani Township’s Nyaungpinle village on Saturday. Kani, located 37 miles (59 km) northwest of the region’s capital Monywa, has been partially controlled by resistance forces since 2021.
A gyrocopter is a miniature helicopter used for short-range, low-level attacks typically on defenceless targets, according to security analyst Anthony Davis. The military has increasingly deployed low-cost commercial paramotors and gyrocopters to carry out deadly aerial attacks against civilians, according to Fortify Rights.
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