Rising fuel prices cause transportation fare increase
Bus passengers and companies told DVB that ticket prices have doubled on the Yangon-Naypyidaw and the Yangon-Mandalay route due to a rise in fuel prices triggered by war in the Middle East, since the U.S. and Israel launched its attacks on Iran on Feb. 28. “I only travel when it’s absolutely necessary,” a bus passenger told DVB on the condition of anonymity at Yangon’s Aung Mingalar Bus Terminal.
A bus owner told DVB on the condition of anonymity that ticket prices are expected to continue rising as long fuel prices go up. Fares on the Yangon–Naypyidaw route increased from 21,000 to 45,000 MMK ($5-11 USD), while fares for the Yangon–Mandalay route rose from 23,000 to 50,000 MMK ($5.70-12 USD) over the last week, according to Yangon residents.
Petrol station owners told DVB that prices for one liter of 92-octane gasoline rose from 2,534 to 2,830 MMK ($0.60-0.7 USD), 95-octane gasoline from 2,595 to 2,930 MMK ($0.60-0.70 USD), and diesel from 2,610 to 3,205 MMK ($0.60-0.80 USD) over the last week. The regime announced on March 4 that it has a 40-day fuel reserve and will not face shortages despite disruptions to the global energy supply chain. Read more
Over 35,000 political prisoners pardoned in 20 amnesties
The Institute for Strategy and Policy (ISP-Myanmar), an independent non-governmental think tank, released a report on March 12 documenting that a total of 20 prisoner amnesties have been granted by the regime in Naypyidaw since it took power in a military coup on Feb. 1, 2021. Over 140,000 prisoners have been pardoned, including 35,271 political prisoners, with 22,387 having their full records expunged.
“The release of key figures, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi [and President Win Myint], should be considered as crucial to have any political impact,” said Naing Min Khant, a program associate at ISP-Myanmar. He added that three “mass case closures” by the regime in Naypyidaw saw charges against 4,320 anti-coup activists dropped in 2021, 5,580 dropped in 2025, and 12,487 dropped earlier this month.
A source close to a former political prisoner told DVB on the condition of anonymity that some who were expected to be released in the 20 regime amnesties remain in prison. ISP-Myanmar used data compiled by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), which has documented a total of 30,640 people have been jailed since 2021 for opposing the coup with 22,436 of them remaining in detention.
Report on student migration from Myanmar to Thailand
A report called “Student Migration from Myanmar to Thailand after the 2021 coup” by Nyi Nyi Kyaw from University of Bristol and Sirada Khemanitthathai from Chiang Mai University (CMU) was released on March 10. The 90-page report cited that students from Burma in-degree programs in Thailand have increased significantly since 2022 due to “a deepening youth and talent drain” from Burma since Feb. 1, 2021.
“The post-2021 migration of Myanmar students to Thailand represents, not merely an educational choice but a complex response to political upheaval, systematic disruption and existential threats,” the report stated, adding that enrollment of students from Burma in Thai universities rose from between 2,500-2,800 in 2021-22 to an estimated 12,000 in 2024 and 17,000 in 2025, for degree programs alone.
The report is based on a survey of 355 university students across Thailand from Burma. Support was provided by the Nelson Mandela Center for Conflict Resolution, Atrocity Prevention and Human Security, at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Political Science, the Chiang Mai University Regional Center for Social Science and Sustainable Development (RCSD), and the Hanns Seidel Foundation in Germany.
Read our latest op-ed by Kannikar Petchkaew: What Thailand’s new government means for Myanmar
News by Region
AYEYARWADY—Rescue workers said that seven civilians were killed and nine others were injured by landmines planted by unknown armed groups in Thabaung, Lemyethna, Ingapu, Yekyi and Kyangin townships last month. The five towns are located 28-124 miles (45-199 km) north and west of the region’s capital Pathein.
A rescue worker told DVB on the condition of anonymity that the landmines were planted inside farms and land belonging to residents. The seven killed were farmers displaced from their homes due to conflict. Four civilians were killed by landmines in the region in January, he added.
KACHIN—Residents of Hpakant Township told DVB that at least five miners were killed when a man-made tailings pond from the Sein Sein Company jade mine, located in the Hmawsisa neighborhood, collapsed on Tuesday. Hpakant is located 94 miles (151 km) north of the state capital Myitkyina.
“The pond collapsed because of the rain. Five bodies have been recovered so far,” a Hpakant resident told DVB, adding that rescue operations were still ongoing on Wednesday. At least 10 jade miners were killed and 10 were injured when a man-made tailings pond collapsed in Hpakant on Feb. 16.
NAYPYIDAW—Regime Secretary Aung Lin Dwe was elected Speaker of the Amyotha Hluttaw, or upper house of parliament, on Wednesday. The regime’s Minister of Health and Sports, and Hotels and Tourism Jeng Phang Naw Htaung was elected his deputy speaker. A total of 213 elected members attended the first session since the 2021 coup on March 18.
Aung Lin Dwe was elected for the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) representing Constituency 11 in Mandalay Region and Jeng Phang Naw Htaung was elected for the USDP representing Constituency 2 in Kachin State. USDP Chairperson Khin Yi was elected Speaker of the Pyithu Hluttaw, or lower house of parliament, on March 16.
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,050 MMK)
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