Bi-weekly Update on the Current Situation in Myanmar
(1-10-2024 to 15-10-2024)
(44) months ago, on 1 February 2021, the military junta attempted an illegal coup, toppled the civilian government, and unlawfully detained State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint, and other senior members of the civilian government, parliamentarians and activists. Since then, the military junta has ignored the will of the people of Myanmar, placed the country in turmoil, and made people suffer tremendously as a result of its inhumane and disproportionate acts.
As of 15 October 2024, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), the military has ruthlessly killed 5,842 people and arrested another 27,551 people. 21,048 people remain in detention and 170 people have been sentenced to death, including 119 post-coup death row prisoners and 44 in absentia since 1 February 2021, when the military unleashed systematic and targeted attacks and violence against innocent civilians. Four democracy activists who were sentenced to death were executed by the military junta in July 2022.
Crimes committed Across Myanmar by the Junta Troops and its affiliates
Crimes perpetrated by the junta troops and its associates, militias across Myanmar include extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detentions, torture, sexual violence, enforced disappearances, and the targeting of civilians, including children. These atrocities have led to widespread displacement, destruction of civilian properties, and a climate of fear and insecurity among the civilian population. The junta's widespread and systematic tactics of brutality are aimed at suppressing dissent and maintaining its grip on power, regardless of the human cost and violations of international law.
According to the data collected by the AAPP, from October 1 to 15, 2024, (31) women and (39) men; (70) people in total were killed by the junta across the country, including (14) children who were under the age of 18 and (9) elders who were over 60. The identities of those who have been verified. Among (70) deceased, Rakhine State records the highest number of deaths with (29) people, followed by Sagaing Region with (17) deaths. Of these (70) deaths, the number of people killed by the junta’s airstrikes was the highest with (49), followed by detainment with (9) people.
Mass Murders, War Crimes, and Crimes against Humanity Committed by the Military Junta
Military Junta Airstrikes Kill Four Civilians, Injure 11 in Northern Shan State
Myanmar Now reported that, military junta airstrikes against civilians killed at least four civilians and injured 11 others in Hsipaw Township, northern Shan State on 23 and 24 September 2024, according to the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) information team.
On 23 September, six civilians sustained injuries from the airstrikes. The following day, four civilians were killed and five others were injured, including a social welfare team member. Among those killed were a seven-year-old child and three civilians in Hkar Lein village, located less than three miles southwest of Hsipaw town. Another civilian was killed within Hsipaw Town.
The TNLA reported that while airstrikes continued through 25 September, no additional casualties were confirmed. Multiple residential buildings sustained damage from the attacks.
Earlier on 23 September, military junta airstrikes hit Nar Loi Village, approximately 25 miles northwest of Hsipaw, killing two elderly women and two teenage boys. The attack also left three people with serious injuries, including a two-year-old child.
Hsipaw's strategic location between TNLA-controlled Kyaukme and Lashio - northern Shan State's largest city captured by TNLA ally Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army two months ago - has made it a focal point of conflict.
Local humanitarian groups estimate that half of Hsipaw's population has been displaced by the recent junta’s attacks. Most displaced civilians are currently sheltering in four locations within the town and near a pagoda approximately five miles west of Hsipaw.
A Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF) representative stated that there are no food shortages for the displaced people, but we are concerned about their safety as bombs have landed near their camps. SHRF data documents that between 19 July and 25 August 2024, military junta airstrikes in Hsipaw resulted in 19 civilian deaths and 19 injuries.
Military Junta Airstrike Kills Mother of Six in Karen State
A military junta airstrike in Hpapun, Karen State killed Naw Hae Hku, a mother of six children, on 4 October 2024, according to Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) Brigade 5. Two military junta aircraft conducted 10 bombing raids on two urban wards despite no recent fighting in the area.
This incident follows a pattern of civilian casualties from military junta airstrikes in Karen State. In March 2024, military junta airstrikes hit a Buddhist monastery in Hpapun, killing eight civilians who had sought shelter there.
While KNLA-led forces captured Hpapun on 26 March 2024, military junta maintains a tactical hilltop base south of the town. KNLA Brigade 5 spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Saw Kler Doh reported that military junta forces sustain their position through regular airdrops of supplies and air support.
Military junta also intensified artillery attacks on civilian areas. On 1 October 2024, their forces shelled Hpa Lu Gyi Village, destroying two school buildings. Additional strikes hit Hpa Lu Lay Village, injuring two civilians. In September, artillery attacks from Light Infantry Division 44 and Artillery Battalion 310 wounded seven civilians, including elderly women, in Mon State's Kyaikto and Bilin townships.
These attacks demonstrate military junta's continued targeting of civilian infrastructure and populations across Karen State.
Military Junta Airstrikes Kill Eight Civilians in Magway Region
Military junta conducted airstrikes, artillery attacks, and drone strikes across Magway Region on 7 October 2024, killing eight civilians including two children and injuring at least 10 others.
In Kyin Village, Tilin Township, airstrikes killed five civilians: 18-year-old mechanic Naing Htet, 13-year-old Hpone Waiyan Min and his father, Zaw Win Htun, and 19-year-old Nandar Aye. The attacks injured a seven-month-old infant and an elderly woman. Six houses were destroyed along with vehicles at an auto repair shop.
In Pang Sang Village, Kyaukhtu, artillery and drone strikes killed 41-year-old Khin Toe and her 14-year-old daughter Khine Su Lwin. The attack wounded 10 others.
In Yae Shin Ma Village, Gangaw Township, precision airstrikes killed 43-year-old Maung Lwin, targeting a location where resistance administration members were scheduled to meet. These strikes continue military junta's pattern of targeting civilian infrastructure. In September 2024, their airstrikes killed at least 93 civilians across Myanmar, particularly in areas under resistance control or suspected of resistance activity.
Military Junta Airstrikes Kill Eight Civilians in Sagaing Region
Military junta airstrikes killed eight civilians, including two children, in Sagaing Region's Ye-U and Kawlin townships on 12 September 2024.
In Ye-U Township's Tin Tein Yan Village, an airstrike killed a woman, her six-month-old daughter, and a six-year-old boy. Two other women sustained leg injuries. This followed an earlier airstrike on 9 September that killed one woman and injured a man at the village marketplace.
In Kawlin Township, military junta aircraft struck Koke Ko Kone Village, killing four civilians including two men and two women. One victim remains unidentified. The attack damaged a house near a local school.
These airstrikes occurred as resistance forces led by the Kachin Independence Army captured Pinlebu Town, located 40 miles northwest of Kawlin. The People's Defence Forces have been increasingly active in northern Sagaing Region, which has seen persistent conflict since the illegal military takeover in February 2021.
Tin Tein Yan Village, which serves as a local commercial hub, was largely evacuated on 13 September. The village had previously suffered arson attacks by military junta ground forces in 2022 that destroyed over 100 houses.
Military Junta Escalates Arson Attacks in Chin State
Military junta forces intensified arson attacks across Chin State since July 2024, with forces from Light Infantry Battalion 274 repeatedly burning civilian homes in Mindat Township.
In September 2024, military junta troops destroyed at least 50 houses through artillery strikes and deliberate arson attacks using petrol. The attacks concentrated near their battalion base and western Mindat Township, where they maintain one of their last positions in the area.
Military junta conducted at least 10 airstrikes on the town since September, alongside ground attacks. The violence forced civilians who had returned in August to flee again. Schools in villages under anti-military junta control have remained closed since July due to the junta’s airstrikes.
The Mindat Township Internally Displaced Persons' Camp Management Committee reported challenges in providing aid to displaced civilians due to limited funding and road conditions worsened by Typhoon Yagi's heavy rains.
The military junta's campaign of destruction appears aimed at maintaining control of their remaining position west of Mindat Town, while most rural areas are now under anti-military junta forces' control.
Military Junta Airstrikes Kill Four Civilians, Injure 16 in Rakhine State's Kyauktaw
Military junta airstrikes in Kyauktaw, Rakhine State killed four civilians and injured at least 16 others on 10 October 2024, according to local sources. The town is currently under the control of Arakan Army (AA).
Military aircraft dropped two bombs near No. 2 High School and Pyaing San Shar Gristmill along the town's main road. The victims were identified as gristmill owner Aye Kyaw, 43, from Pyi Taw Thar Ward; Kyaw Thein Hla, 53, from Paik Thei Ward; Maung Htun Naing, 45, from Ywar Ma Ward; and Thandar Aye, 18, from Ah Pauk Wa Village.
Among the injured were the mill owner's wife Khine San Wai, 42, eleven adults aged 24 to 65, and four children between six and 14 years old. Two victims remain in critical condition.
The airstrikes have created widespread fear in Kyauktaw, with residents staying indoors and businesses closing. The AA has controlled Kyauktaw, including Military Operations Command 9 (MOC-9), since February 2024.
Previously in May, military junta air attacks on Ah Lel Kyun village injured four locals and five others, including a Buddhist monk. The military junta has lost control of most Rakhine State townships to the AA over the past year.
Human Rights Abuses
Military Junta's Prison Authorities' Negligence Leads to Deaths of 12 Political Prisoners
Twelve political prisoners died between January and September 2024 due to denial of adequate medical treatment by military junta prison authorities, according to a report released on 3 October by the Political Prisoners Network-Myanmar (PPNM).
The deaths occurred across multiple detention facilities: three at Daik-U Prison in Bago Region, two at Kyaikmaraw Prison in Mon State, and one each at Insein Prison in Yangon, Obo Prison in Mandalay, Pyay Prison in Bago Region, Thaton Prison in Mon State, and Magway and Thayet prisons in Magway Region.
Among the deceased were two police officers who joined the Civil Disobedience Movement opposing military junta rule, and two women aged 22 and 35. Six prisoners died after interrogation when prison authorities denied medical care for reported abdominal pain. The remaining six, who suffered from pre-existing conditions including hypertension, cancer, liver, kidney, or heart ailments, were denied necessary medications and treatments.
PPNM reports that prison authorities systematically confiscate medications sent by families during visits, distributing them arbitrarily or insufficiently. According to a family member of a political prisoner, authorities deliberately place political detainees in cells with inmates carrying communicable diseases like tuberculosis. When medications are provided, they are limited to one pill per day.
PPNM representative Thike Tun Oo confirmed that prison authorities across Myanmar systematically deny political prisoners proper healthcare and withhold family-provided medications. He noted increased restrictions since April 2024 during the Buddhist Thingyan festival.
The PPNM statement emphasizes that prison hospitals function as temporary holding cells rather than treatment facilities for political prisoners. The report concludes that prisons have become another front in military junta's campaign against resistance forces, with authorities deliberately creating conditions leading to deaths of political opponents. As of 1 October 2024, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners-Burma documents 21,002 individuals imprisoned for political reasons across Myanmar.
Military Junta Arrests Prominent Democracy Activist in Yangon Night Raid
Myanmar Now reported that Paing Phyo Min, a prominent democracy activist and protest leader, was arrested during a night-time raid on 9 October 2024 in Thaketa Township, eastern Yangon, according to Nan Lin from the Anti-junta Alliance Yangon protest group.
Another activist, Shein Wai Aung, was also arrested along with his family members. Amnesty International confirmed both activists were sent to an interrogation center.
In 2019, Paing Phyo Min was sentenced to six years imprisonment for performing a satirical poem criticizing the military under the civilian government. He was released in 2021 and subsequently helped organize pro-democracy demonstrations in Yangon following the illegal military takeover in February 2021.
Amnesty International's Myanmar researcher Joe Freeman called for urgent disclosure of the whereabouts and wellbeing of Paing Phyo Min, Shein Wai Aung, and his family. He emphasized they should be immediately released unless charged with an internationally recognized crime.
According to a local monitoring group, over 27,000 people have been arrested in the crackdown on dissent since February 2021. The United Nations rights office reported at least 290 people had died in custody as of 2022, with rights groups documenting widespread use of torture and sexual violence.
Displaced Rakhine Civilians Face Extortion at Military Junta Checkpoints
Residents fleeing violence in Rakhine State's Gwa Township reported paying excessive bribes at military junta checkpoints along the Ayeyarwady Region during September and October.
Many civilians lack identification documents due to the collapse of administrative services after military junta-appointed civil servants fled Gwa Township following the Arakan Army's (AA) offensive launch on 10 August 2024.
Displaced persons without proper documentation must pay up to 300,000 kyat at checkpoints to enter Ayeyarwady Region. Most have fled to Ahthoke, Kyonpyaw, Hinthada, Ngathaingchaung, Pathein, Thabaung, and Yegyi towns.
Some civilians now traverse forests and the Rakhine Yoma hills on foot to avoid the four military junta checkpoints between Gwa and Ayeyarwady Region. Those reaching Ayeyarwady face additional challenges including high rents and strict residential registration rules.
The AA has captured Kyeintali Town, though military junta forces continue artillery and aerial attacks in the area. Between 3-26 September, military junta airstrikes on Kyeintali and Thandwe Townships killed over 20 civilians. On 12 October, three more civilians died in Gwa Township from aerial bombardment.
The AA now controls more than half of Rakhine State's 17 townships: Myebon, Minbya, Mrauk-U, Kyauktaw, Pauktaw, Ponnagyun, Rathedaung, Buthidaung, Ramree, Thandwe, Maungdaw, and Paletwa Township in southern Chin State.
People’s Resilience Against Junta
Major Tobacco Company Closes Operations Following Public Boycott over Military Links
According to Myanmar Now, The Virginia Tobacco Co., Ltd. (VTCL), producer of Red Ruby and Premium Gold cigarettes, is ending its operations after facing widespread boycotts over its connections to Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL).
The decision to dissolve the company, a joint venture between MEHL and Singapore-based Rothmans Myanmar Holdings Singapore, was made at a 29 February 2024 board meeting.
Established in 1993, VTCL was previously one of Myanmar's leading tobacco brands. The company employed approximately 1,000 people at its factory in Mingaladon Industrial Zone near Yangon.
Justice for Myanmar (JFM) spokesperson Yadanar Maung welcomed VTCL's closure as evidence that economic pressure is effective. VTCL has faced a mass boycott for more than three years, and MEHL has been subject to international sanctions, she added.
Moe Kyaw, an appointed liquidator from Win Consulting, confirmed the ongoing dissolution process, stating that assets and shares are being divided among shareholders.
Alternative products like Red & Blue cigarettes have emerged, reportedly produced by Myawaddy Trading Limited and Golden Hill International Ltd since late 2022.
JFM emphasized the importance of maintaining vigilance to ensure any successor tobacco company cannot evade boycotts and sanctions.
Actions of Resistance Forces against the Junta
TNLA Captures Last Military Junta Base in Hsipaw, Northern Shan State
According to the Myanmar Now, the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) captured Infantry Battalion (IB) 23 base, the last military junta stronghold in Hsipaw Township, northern Shan State, on 12 October 2024, completing control of the area.
The TNLA press team confirmed the capture in a statement on 15 October. The base fell around 1pm after military junta forces abandoned their posts, according to TNLA sources.
Located 40 miles southwest of Lashio, Hsipaw has seen intense fighting since early August. The TNLA captured Light Infantry Battalion 503 and 504 bases in late September. The military junta responded with frequent airstrikes to defend IB 23, its final position in the township.
Since 19 July, military junta airstrikes and artillery attacks have killed 37 civilians and injured 53 in Hsipaw Township, according to a local human rights group. Over 120 civilian buildings including houses, schools, monasteries, and healthcare facilities were damaged during two months of fighting.
Around two-thirds of Hsipaw residents fled in mid-August when TNLA forces took control of the town. Recent military junta airstrikes on 16 October killed three men and wounded a woman and a four-year-old child in Ei Naing Village, near Lashio.
The TNLA has captured five towns since June 2024, including Hsipaw and Mogok. Combined operations with allied forces have brought 12 towns under their control since Operation 1027 began in October 2023.
AA Launches New Offensive in Central Rakhine State
Myanmar Now stated that Arakan Army (AA) has initiated a new offensive in Ann Township, central Rakhine State, where the Junta’s Western Regional Military Command headquarters is located. The operation began on 26 September, focusing on Mae Taung Hill, approximately five miles from Ann Town, according to AA spokesperson Khaing Thukha.
A local resident monitoring the situation reported continuous fighting in the area. The military forces have deployed significant numbers from the town to Mae Taung Hill, leaving minimal presence within Ann. Heavy artillery exchanges continue, with AA operations targeting the Western Command headquarters.
In northern Rakhine State, AA forces are advancing on the last remaining military outpost in Maungdaw Township. Local sources reported multiple airstrikes near Border Guard Police Battalion 5 outpost on 29 September.
In southern Rakhine State's Gwa Township, military forces continue attacks on AA-controlled Kyeintali town through shelling and airstrikes. Khaing Thukha reported a two-hour battle near Kyaukbasap village on the Kyeintali road on 24 September.
KIA Forces Capture Two Strategic Towns in Kachin State
The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Kachin People's Defence Forces (Kachin PDF) captured Tsawlaw Town on 4 October 2024, following their successful capture of Chipwe Town, according to KIA spokesperson Colonel Naw Bu.
The allied revolutionary forces launched operations on 2 October 2024 targeting military junta outposts and police stations around Chipwe in Kachin State's Special Region 1, approximately 75 miles northeast of Myitkyina. They also attacked a tactical hill base in Tsawlaw Township.
Colonel Naw Bu confirmed that by 3 October evening, they had secured control of Chipwe, followed by Tsawlaw at 7:30 am next morning. The military junta responded with airstrikes while ground forces attempted resistance before their positions were overrun. Kachin forces continue operations to clear remaining military junta troops and affiliated militia members from the area.
The area holds strategic importance, hosting the Chipwe Nge hydropower project - a joint venture between the military junta and Chinese investors - and rare earth mining operations.
This offensive follows KIA and allied forces' recent military successes, including the capture of Sadung Town in September. Since March 2024, KIA-led forces have captured multiple towns including Sumprabum, Injangyang, Sinbo, Myo Hla, Dawthponeyan, Momauk, and Lwegel in Kachin State, as well as Mabein in northern Shan State.
Revolutionary Forces Capture Pinlebu Town in Sagaing Region
According to Myanmar Now, allied resistance forces including People's Defence Force (PDF), Kachin Independence Army (KIA), and other groups captured Pinlebu Town on 10 October 2024 after seven weeks of fighting. The National Unity Government’s Spokesperson Nay Phone Latt confirmed their complete control of the town. Military junta responded with airstrikes from three fighter jets on the morning of capture.
The town of 7,000 residents has been largely abandoned since April 2022, when military junta airstrikes halted an earlier offensive resistance. Pinlebu witnessed one of the first armed clashes in April 2021 after military junta killed three local protesters.
Resistance forces now control four towns in Sagaing Region: Khampat, Maw Luu, Shwe Pyi Aye, and Myo Thit. They briefly held Kawlin for three months until February 2024 and Depayin in August 2024, where they freed political prisoners before strategic withdrawal.
Activities of the National Unity Government and Ethnic Groups
Acting NUG President Criticizes Regional Interference in Myanmar’s Internal Affairs
National Unity Government (NUG) Acting President Duwa Lashi La expressed concern over increasing regional interference in Myanmar's internal affairs during a cabinet meeting on 8 October 2024.
"The interference of regional countries in the current internal affairs has become more profound than we thought. Countries in the region are currently observing recent domestic events and trying to maintain regional stability as much as possible," he stated.
The Acting President emphasized that Myanmar's crisis stems from long-standing support of military dictators. He called on regional countries to recognize that the problems rooted in the military system cannot be resolved through short-term political solutions.
While reaffirming commitment to democratic principles, Duwa Lashi La cautioned that elections planned by the military junta would not follow democratic standards and were designed to legitimize their illegal seizure of power.
NUG Prime Minister Commends Formation of Interim Political Plan Committee for Mandalay Region
National Unity Government Prime Minister Mahn Winn Khaing Thann sent a message on 8 October 2024, congratulating the formation of the coordination and drafting work committee tasked with developing an interim political plan for the Mandalay Region. The message noted that the committee’s approval marks the first step toward creating an interim plan essential for the ongoing revolution in the region. This plan will be developed in collaboration with revolutionary forces, based on mutual respect, equality, and trust. The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the plan would serve as a pioneering roadmap for the Mandalay Region during the revolution and the subsequent transition period. While revolutionary forces with diverse political ideologies will contribute to the plan, the message stressed the importance of considering the interests of all people in the region throughout the process.
UN Special Rapporteur Addresses Myanmar Issues with NUG Support Group
The National Unity Government's Ministry of Human Rights reported that UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, Tom Andrews, met with NUG/CRPH Support Group Australia on 10 October 2024.
Andrews expressed opposition to Chinese interference in Myanmar's affairs, stating it violates national sovereignty. He committed to investigating companies exporting jet fuel to the military junta and implementing pressure measures against them.
The Special Rapporteur highlighted Japan's successful advocacy at the UN Human Rights Council to reduce diplomatic relations with the military junta. He reported progress in preventing arms and ammunition sales, noting Singapore has decreased support to the military junta by approximately 90 percent.
Given Vietnam's role as a primary jet fuel exporter, Andrews indicated he would urge Vietnamese authorities to impose sanctions. He pledged to continue efforts to restrict resources reaching the military junta.
Permanent Representative of Myanmar to the United Nations, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun Makes Series of Statements at 79th UN General Assembly
Statement on Social Development - Third Committee (4 October 2024)
Myanmar's Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun reported to the Third Committee on 4 October 2024 that over 5,700 people have been killed and 3.4 million displaced since February 2021, with 18.6 million needing urgent humanitarian assistance. He highlighted that women and girls comprise over half of those requiring aid, while 6 million children face interrupted healthcare and education, many studying in makeshift bunkers due to military junta airstrikes. The Ambassador emphasized how Typhoon Yagi has worsened conditions and called on the UN Security Council to cut off arms, weapons, jet fuel, and financial supplies to the military junta, while rejecting any military junta-organized elections as neither free nor fair.
Statement on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, Countering the Use of Information and Communications Technology for Criminal Purposes, and International Drug Control - Third Committee (7 October 2024)
Speaking on crime prevention, technology crimes and drug control at the UN Third Committee on 7 October 2024, Myanmar's Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun reported that opium production has doubled in Shan State since February 2021, contributing to rising transnational crimes across the Mekong region. He detailed how the military junta's actions have created conditions for increased human trafficking, scam operations, and cyber-crimes, citing Laukkai and Shwe Kokko incidents as examples. The Ambassador emphasized that the collapse of rule of law under military junta control has transformed Myanmar into a haven for international criminal syndicates, while expressing commitment from the National Unity Government to work with UNODC and international partners to combat organized crime.
Statement on Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters - Sixth Committee (7 October 2024)
Addressing disaster response at the UN Sixth Committee, Myanmar's Permanent Representative Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun called for improvements to international legal frameworks covering both natural and human-made disasters. He highlighted Myanmar's dual crisis under military junta control, citing Typhoon Yagi's impact which affected one million people and killed over 360, while emphasizing how military junta incompetence worsened the disaster's effects. The Ambassador detailed how 18.6 million people need humanitarian aid, with over 15 million facing food insecurity. He called for international cooperation with the National Unity Government and Ethnic Resistance Organizations to facilitate humanitarian assistance, while criticizing the military junta's weaponization of aid distribution.
Statement on Sustainable Development - Second Committee (8 October 2024)
Addressing economic decline and development challenges at the UN Second Committee, Myanmar's Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun reported how Myanmar's previous 6.2% GDP growth under civilian government has plummeted to a projected 1% for 2024 following the military takeover. He detailed widespread business disruptions caused by electricity outages, material shortages, and foreign exchange restrictions. The Ambassador highlighted that 3.4 million people are internally displaced, nearly half the population lives below the poverty line, and 15 million face food insecurity. He emphasized how Typhoon Yagi has further damaged infrastructure and livelihoods, while the military junta impedes humanitarian access. The Ambassador called for international support for the National Unity Government's efforts to provide essential services and humanitarian assistance.
Statement on Crimes Against Humanity - Sixth Committee (10 October 2024)
Addressing crimes against humanity at the UN Sixth Committee, Myanmar's Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun reported that military junta atrocities have escalated to horrific levels, with evidence collected by the UN Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) showing violations amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity. He detailed that in September alone, military junta attacks claimed 117 lives, including 12 children, with five airstrikes on 6 September killing 24 civilians including 10 children in Shan State, Chin State and Magway Region. He pointed out that if the international community fails to prevent these crimes, it will diminish humanity. The Ambassador called for the UN Security Council to end its inaction and use all available tools to stop military junta atrocities, emphasizing that perpetrators belong "before the bench of international criminal courts" rather than in positions of power.
Statement on Financing for Development - Second Committee (10 October 2024)
Addressing development financing at the UN Second Committee, Myanmar's Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun reported severe economic deterioration since the military takeover, with foreign investment dropping 42% and financial sector reforms stagnating. He highlighted how forced conscription by the military junta has driven youth from private sector jobs into hiding, while a domestic banking crisis has affected 5 million microfinance customers. The Ambassador cited UNCTAD data showing $1,347 million in illicit financial flows from opiate exports alone, emphasizing how the breakdown of rule of law under military junta control has fuelled underground economies and transnational crime. He called for urgent international action to combat illicit financial flows, corruption, money-laundering and tax evasion, in line with the Pact for the Future.
Statement on Protection of Children's Rights - Third Committee (14 October 2024)
Addressing children's rights at the UN Third Committee, Myanmar's Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun reported that 6 million children among 18.6 million people need humanitarian assistance, with children comprising nearly 40% of 3.4 million displaced persons. He highlighted how military junta airstrikes have forced children to study in bunkers and temporary camps, citing a recent viral video of a child attempting to shoo away military aircraft with his shoes. The Ambassador reported that in 2024 alone, at least 600 children have been killed or injured, including 10 children who died in five military junta airstrikes on 6 September in Shan State, Chin State, and Magway Region. He called for immediate suspension of jet fuel shipments and arms to the military junta to protect children from further harm.
Statement on Sustainable Development - Second Committee (14 October 2024)
Addressing sustainable development at the UN Second Committee, Myanmar's UN Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun highlighted how military junta actions have undermined all SDG targets in Myanmar. Through a series of pointed questions, he detailed how the military junta has obstructed development by burning crops and livestock, attacking healthcare facilities and schools, perpetrating gender-based violence, and forcing youth into conscription. The Ambassador emphasized how nearly half the population now lives below the poverty line, while the breakdown of rule of law has created safe havens for transnational organized crimes. He pointed out the military junta "the root cause and primary driver of human suffering," urging immediate international action to prevent further deterioration of development gains.
Statement on Decolonization and Self-Determination - Fourth Committee (14 October 2024)
Addressing decolonization at the UN Fourth Committee, Myanmar's UN Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun emphasized the right to self-determination's importance for Myanmar's future. He detailed how military junta-organized elections would violate self-determination principles, citing six key failures: lack of democratic institutions, dissolution of political parties, ongoing violence, loss of territorial control, misuse of census data, and absence of public trust. The Ambassador highlighted the National Unity Government and ethnic resistance organizations' January 2024 commitment to establishing a federal democratic union based on self-determination principles. He urged member states to reject military junta election plans, emphasizing that any solution must center on the Myanmar people's legitimate aspirations.
Statement on Advancement of Women - Third Committee (16 October 2024)
During the General Discussion on Advancement of Women at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly's Third Committee, Myanmar's UN Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun delivered a statement drawing attention to the dire situation faced by women and girls in Myanmar since the military junta's illegal coup in February 2021. The Ambassador emphasized the military's systematic use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and intimidation, and the disproportionate impact of the military attacks on women and girls, particularly in areas of active fighting. Despite the challenges, he commended the resilience and courage of women human rights defenders who continue to fight against the military dictatorship and work towards building a federal democratic union in Myanmar. Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun called upon the international community to support the aspirations of the people of Myanmar, including women and girls, and to play a vital role in ending the military dictatorship by cutting off all supplies of arms, weapons, jet fuel, and financial support to the junta.
Intervention on Human Rights Situation in Myanmar - Third Committee (16 October 2024)
During the Interactive Dialogue with the High Commissioner for Human Rights at the Third Committee of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, Myanmar's Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun delivered a compelling intervention highlighting the dire human rights situation in Myanmar since the military junta's illegal coup attempt in February 2021. The Ambassador acknowledged the High Commissioner's powerful statement and the OHCHR's reports, which reflect the grim reality of gross human rights violations and the absence of the rule of law in Myanmar. He emphasized the severe consequences and suffering imposed on innocent people, including the impact on mental health due to constant fear, anxiety, and the junta's atrocities amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity. Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun expressed the National Unity Government's readiness to responsively carry out the High Commissioner's recommendations and echoed the renewed calls for the UN Security Council to refer the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court. The Ambassador stressed the urgent need for decisive action from the UN and the international community to end the crisis and asked the High Commissioner about practical means for member states to effectively implement the recommendations to bridge the gap between Geneva and New York.
Statement on Proposed Programme Budget for 2025 - Fifth Committee (16 October 2024)
During the discussion on the proposed programme budget for 2025 at the Fifth Committee of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, Myanmar's UN Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun delivered a statement highlighting the importance of external support for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in Myanmar as a least developed country. The Ambassador emphasized the suffering experienced by the people of Myanmar due to the military junta's atrocities amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity since the illegal coup attempt in February 2021. He stressed the vital role of the UN, particularly the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy, the Special Rapporteur, and the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), in finding a sustainable solution to the crisis and bringing justice to the victims. Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun recommended the allocation of sufficient funding to these entities to effectively implement their respective mandates. He urged all member states and the UN to pay serious attention to the aspirations and calls of the people of Myanmar to take effective action to end the military dictatorship and support efforts to build a federal democratic union.
Statement on Universal Jurisdiction - Sixth Committee (16 October 2024)
During the General Debate on the scope and application of the principle of universal jurisdiction at the Sixth Committee of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, Myanmar's Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun delivered a powerful statement highlighting the necessity of universal jurisdiction in cases where states are unable or unwilling to conduct credible prosecutions for serious crimes, particularly in the context of Myanmar. The Ambassador emphasized that the military junta has systematically dismantled the rule of law and escalated brutality against the people, making impartial inquiries impossible within the country. He cited alarming data on serious human rights violations and judicial abuses committed by the junta, including the sentencing of 164 pro-democracy supporters to death and the complicity of the judiciary sector in facilitating grave human rights violations. Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun called upon the UN Security Council and the international community to refer the military junta to the International Criminal Court, impose a global arms embargo and sanctions on jet fuel supplies, and apply universal jurisdiction to prosecute members of the junta for their crimes. He stressed the importance of a robust and comprehensive multilateral system that closes gaps in international law and ensures no safe havens remain for perpetrators of serious international crimes in Myanmar and elsewhere.
Response of the International Community
Indonesia Hosts International Meetings on Myanmar Crisis
Indonesia hosted international talks involving the United Nations and opponents of Myanmar's military junta on 6-7 October 2024, ahead of the ASEAN summit in Laos.
The two-day meeting included representatives from the United Nations, ASEAN, European Union, and Myanmar's National Unity Government (NUG). Military junta representatives were not present at the discussions.
Indonesian foreign ministry spokesperson Roy Soemirat confirmed plans for talks between ASEAN special envoys on the Myanmar crisis but provided no further details about attendees or timing.
The meeting occurred as ASEAN's three-year-old 5PC on Myanmar showed limited progress despite repeated calls for dialogue. The bloc, currently chaired by Laos, expressed openness to additional support for its plan, including mediation from neighboring countries and external organizations.
UN Expert Warns Global Response to Myanmar Crisis Failing
United Nations Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews warned on 7 September 2024 that global efforts to halt Myanmar's civil war were clearly ineffective, urging international leaders to prevent the military junta from continuing its attacks on civilians.
Andrews highlighted that over three million people have been displaced by fighting in three years, describing the situation as having gone from bad, to worse, to horrific.
Southeast Asian leaders meeting in Laos in the second week of October pressed the military junta and opposition forces to take concrete action to stop the violence.
Since its illegal seizure of power in February 2021, the military junta has arrested more than 20,000 people in its crackdown on dissent and conducted airstrikes on opposition-controlled areas. Despite its firepower, it has failed to suppress multiple armed offensives from ethnic groups and civilian militias across several states and regions.
During his Australia visit, Andrews revealed the military junta has lost tens of thousands of soldiers in battle and turned to forced conscription. He estimated that military junta forces have killed more than 5,600 civilians in response to battlefield losses.
Andrews called for increased legal, financial and trade sanctions, emphasizing the need to deprive the military junta of money, weapons and legitimacy. He urged Australia and other nations to support prosecution of Myanmar's leaders for genocide and war crimes at the International Criminal Court.
Elections Impossible in Myanmar amid Ongoing Crisis
AFP reported that free elections in Myanmar are currently impossible amid widespread conflict, according to US Ambassador-at-Large Beth Van Schaack on 11 October 2024. This statement follows Min Aung Hlaing's announcement of proposed polls backed by China.
Since the illegal seizure of power in February 2021, thousands have been killed and arrested amid widespread suppression of dissent. Despite losing control of territories to ethnic armed groups and Peoples Defence Forces, Min Aung Hlaing continues to push for new polls, though the timeline has been repeatedly delayed.
The National League for Democracy party, which has substantial public support, was dissolved last year. A national census is being conducted as a prerequisite to any potential polls.
Ambassador Van Schaack emphasized that any election under current circumstances would merely serve to maintain power, noting that widespread conflict makes it logistically impossible to administer fair elections across the country.
At the ASEAN summit in Laos, leaders condemned efforts to implement a peace plan as substantially inadequate, according to a draft summit statement reviewed by AFP.
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Date: 15 October 2024
Permanent Mission of Myanmar to the United Nations, New York
