Union Solidarity and Development Party registers new members
Residents in Yangon’s Thanlyin, Dagon Seikkan, as well as South, East and North Dagon townships told DVB that the pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) began its election campaign by luring some residents with the promise of National Registration Cards (NRC) if they register with the party.
The NRC is an identification card that allows the holder to access government services. “The [USDP] is using its old strategy of pursuing homeless people in [Yangon] to register them as party members in return for the NRC,” a South Dagon resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity. A resident from Thanlyin reported that the USDP opened its offices in the township on June 22.
A total of 54 political parties have registered with the Union Election Commission (UEC) to compete in the regime-planned elections, which Min Aung Hlaing said would begin in December. The UEC states polls will be held in 267 out of 330 townships nationwide. Only 10 parties, including the USDP, plan to field candidates in all 267 constituencies.
‘Significant’ increase in use of child soldiers, HRW reports
Human Rights Watch reports that the regime has been recruiting children into armed conflict under the age of 18 since it seized power in a military coup on Feb. 1, 2021 with a “significant” increase since it enforced a conscription law on Feb. 10, 2024. It also highlighted the use of child soldiers in seven ethnic armed groups.
“The Myanmar military has a long and appalling history of using children as porters, guides, and in combat roles,” said Shayna Bauchner, the Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The [regime] should immediately stop using child soldiers and cooperate with U.N. officials to release all child recruits from their forces.”
The U.N. reported that 2,138 “grave violations” against children in Burma were verified in 2024, including the recruitment of children, with about 1,200 additional violations pending verification. Since 2021, it has verified over 1,800 cases of children as young as 12 recruited by pro-regime forces, adding that this may be “underreported due to monitoring challenges and the fear of retaliation.”
Chinland Council amends its constitution
Khonumthung News, a media agency covering Chinland, reported on June 20 that the Chin National Front (CNF) reduced the number of its members on the Chinland Council from 27 to 15 for the “unity of Chin resistance groups” at a meeting held at its Camp Victoria headquarters on the Burma-India border June 10-11. The meeting’s objective was to amend the Chinland constitution, which was adopted on Dec. 6, 2023.
Salai Bawi Kung, the second vice president of the Chinland Council, told Khonumthung News that the CNF agreed to reduce its number to allow more representatives from other Chin resistance groups. He added that the total number of Chinland Council members is 140. This number includes Chin lawmakers elected in 2020, representatives from the CNF, as well as administrators from all nine townships in Chinland.
The rival Chin Brotherhood said at an online press conference on June 18 that Paletwa Township — under Arakan Army (AA) control since January 2024 — remained part of Chinland and that any disputes with the AA would be resolved through dialogue. The two factions of the Chin resistance have agreed to merge and draft a Chin National Constitution.
News by Region
MAGWAY—At least five people were killed and an unknown number of civilians were injured by airstrikes on Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in seven villages of Pauk Township on Monday. Pauk is located 136 miles (218 km) north of the region’s capital Magway.
“At least 20 bombs [were dropped],” a People’s Defense Force (PDF) spokesperson told DVB. He added that one bomb killed a member of the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) and his wife at an IDP camp in Bomae village. Their son survived but was injured.
SAGAING—Residents of Pale Township told DVB that nearly 30,000 civilians living in 24 villages have fled their homes due to fighting between the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and regime forces since Monday. Pale is located 35 miles (56 km) southwest of the region’s capital Monywa.
A member of People’s Administration Team under the National Unity Government (NUG) in Pale told DVB that nearly 100 regime troops launched a counteroffensive against the PLA in Kandaunt village on June 19. PLA-led resistance forces seized a police station in the village on June 2.
SHAN—The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) announced on Monday that a ceremony was held for its officers who will be stationed in Hsenwi (Theinni) on June 20. Hsenwi is located 31 miles (50 km) northeast of the regional capital Lashio and has been under MNDAA control since November 2023,
A source told DVB on the condition of anonymity that the MNDAA agreed to hand over Hsenwi to the regime in September but no official statement has been made by either side. The MNDAA completed its handover of Lashio to the regime on April 22 as agreed to in its ceasefire signed in January.
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