Bi-weekly Update on the Current Situation in Myanmar
(16-10-2024 to 31-10-2024)
(45) 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 31 October 2024, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), the military has ruthlessly killed 5,909 people and arrested another 27,612 people. 21,062 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 data collected by AAPP, from October 1 to 31, 2024, (55) women and (82) men; (137) people in total, have been killed by the junta across the country with Rakhine Region recording the highest number of deaths with (44) people. In addition, during one-month period, (22) women and (36) men; (58) people in total, have been arrested by the junta in relation to the Spring Revolution across the country with Magway Region recording the highest number of arrests with (13) people.
Moreover, during the stated period, (8) women and (29) men; (37) people in total, have been given prison sentences under specious charges by courts subservient to the junta and are still detained in prisons across the country. Sagaing Region records the highest number of sentences with (31) people.
Mass Murders, War Crimes, and Crimes against Humanity Committed by the Military Junta
Military Junta Kills 14 Civilians Including Children in Budalin Township
At least 14 civilians, including young children, were killed by military junta troops during a series of attacks on civilians in Budalin Township, Sagaing Region, in the second week of October 2024. The attacks were carried out as retaliation following resistance forces' successful operation in late September.
Over 100 military junta troops from Monywa, located approximately 20 miles south of Budalin, conducted brutal operations targeting civilians. On 14 October, the troops forcibly entered a store in Bandula Ward, Budalin, killing six people. The victims included store owner Phoe Kyar, his wife Daw Thin, their 25-year-old daughter, 16-year-old son, and two children under seven years old.
The night before, the troops attacked Myauk Kyi Village, killing at least seven people. They subsequently entered Tet Hlaing Village, where they killed an elderly man. As of 17 October, the bodies remained unrecovered due to the continued presence of troops in these villages.
The troops have also taken at least 50 civilians hostage, including women and elderly people. Several escapees suggest the death toll could be higher than currently reported. These attacks followed a successful resistance operation on 30 September that resulted in significant losses for the military junta.
The pattern of attacks has changed, with troops moving more slowly between villages and targeting civilians in apparent retaliation. This has forced thousands of residents north and west of Budalin to flee their homes, with many seeking shelter in forests rather than nearby villages due to fears of airstrikes.
Approximately 8,000 displaced people urgently need food, shelter, and medicine. While the military junta maintains presence in Budalin and Ku Taw, resistance forces reportedly controlling most of the township.
These actions by the military junta demonstrate continued violations of international humanitarian law through deliberate targeting of civilians, including children and elderly people, and the use of collective punishment against civilian populations.
Military Junta Airstrikes Kill Eight Civilians in Northern Shan State
According to the Myanmar Now military junta airstrikes across three townships in northern Shan State killed at least eight civilians in the second week of October during their operations to take back their lost territory.
According to residents, the most recent airstrikes targeted a traditional rice liquor distillery in Mae Han Village, Lashio Township, at around 8:35am on 9 October. Mae Han is situated near the southwest entrance to Lashio, the administrative capital and most populous city in northern Shan State, which has been under Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) control since early August.
A Lashio resident stated that a junta jet bombed the distillery near the town entrance. While firefighters managed to extinguish the resulting blaze, the facility suffered major damage. No civilian casualties were reported from this attack.
Local sources confirmed that the military junta has conducted at least 20 rounds of airstrikes on Lashio Township since the MNDAA takeover, targeting both urban areas and its vicinity.
In areas under Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) control, military junta airstrikes resulted in eight civilian deaths and injured twelve others. According to Shwe Phee Myay news outlet, aerial assaults on Ho Mein village in Namhsan Township killed five people, including an elderly woman, and wounded four others on 22 October. Ho Mein village is located approximately 19 miles north of Namhsan.
Tragedy struck Namhsan Township in the morning of 22 October when military jets bombed a local monastery, according to the TNLA's information team. The destruction of this sacred space adds to the mounting toll on civilian life in the region.
The situation in nearby Nawnghkio town has become increasingly dire. Over the first and second week, the military junta's relentless air campaign has brought death and suffering to residential neighbourhoods. 17 October airstrikes wounded four locals going about their daily lives. But on 17 October, it brought even greater heartbreak – a father and his two children were killed instantly when bombs rained down on their neighbourhood in Taung Ward. The violence didn't stop there. That same day, three more residents were hurt when bombs fell on Pa Hat Ward, and another person was wounded in a different part of town.
Military Junta Airstrike Kills Seven Family Members North of Mandalay
Myanmar Now reported that seven people from the same family lost their lives in their sleep during a military junta airstrike on 28 October in Aung Chan Thar Village, located between Mandalay and Madaya Township. A local resident told Myanmar Now on 28 October 2024 that they were bombed even though there was no fighting. All seven killed were members of the same family. Additional airstrikes were reported in western Madaya Township on 27 October night, though no confirmed casualties were reported.
Military junta attacks have inflicted significant civilian casualties north of Mandalay over the past month, particularly affecting displaced populations. On 21 October, five days before the Aung Chan Thar attack, an airstrike on Mwe Tha Laing Village, approximately 20 miles north, killed a 28-year-old woman and her one-year-old child. Ten days earlier, an airstrike targeted an internally displaced persons camp in Waw Su village, Madaya Township, resulting in 12 civilian deaths, including three monks and a child.
Late September saw multiple fatal incidents, including a 21 September attack that killed two women and four children in Thon Se Pay village. Three days prior, military junta shelling in the same village, situated on the Ayeyarwady river's eastern bank about nine miles northwest of Aung Chan Thar, claimed three civilian lives.
According to a humanitarian worker assisting displaced persons, at least 10,000 people have fled their homes in Madaya Township since late June. Some have found shelter with relatives in nearby towns or villages, but there are also many moving from one village to another, constantly seeking food and safety, she said. Beyond air and artillery attacks, the military junta has also initiated ground operations in the area.
Human Rights Abuses
Internet Freedom Continues to Decline as Myanmar Matches China's Low Score
According to the Freedom House Report, a new study released on 16 December 2024 reveals that Myanmar has reached the same low level of internet freedom as China, marking the first time in a decade any country has matched China's restrictive score. The findings come from the Freedom on the Net report by Freedom House, an independent pro-democracy research organization.
Since seizing power through an illegal coup in February 2021, the military junta has systematically restricted online freedoms through extensive censorship and surveillance of digital communications. In May 2024, the junta implemented new measures blocking access to virtual private networks (VPNs), which people had been using to bypass internet controls.
This deterioration of internet freedom in Myanmar reflects broader patterns of human rights violations and restrictions on fundamental freedoms since the illegal coup attempt, particularly affecting civilian access to information and communication.
Myanmar’s military conscripting migrant workers deported from Thailand
Migrant workers repatriated from Ranong's immigration detention centre in southern Thailand are being subjected to forced conscription upon their return to Myanmar, according to local sources.
The workers, detained in Thailand for immigration violations, are immediately transferred to military custody upon repatriation. A Kawthaung resident, whose town lies opposite Ranong in southern Tanintharyi Region, reported that while initial conscription groups consisted mainly of local residents, the third through fifth batches included numerous repatriated workers.
Light Infantry Battalion 342 and Infantry Battalion 262 in Kawthaung process these workers to assess their eligibility for military service, with eligible individuals immediately dispatched for training. In late September 2024, approximately 120 repatriated migrant workers were sent to training centres in Tanintharyi's Palaw and Palauk townships under the junta’s forced conscription measures.
Thar Kyaw, chair of the Ranong-based Meikta Thahaya Self-Administered Funeral Welfare Association, disclosed that military personnel conduct regular visits to the town's immigration detention centre to assess potential recruit numbers. The centre typically processes around 100 deportees at a time and consistently houses approximately 500 migrant workers, nearly double its capacity.
In a significant development last month, 29 conscripted deportees escaped while being transported to a Palaw Township training centre. Most reached territory controlled by the Karen National Union's Brigade 4.
Mr. Kyaw Ni, Deputy Minister for Labour of Myanmar's National Unity Government (NUG), highlighted growing concerns among undocumented Myanmar nationals in Thailand regarding forced conscription. He announced plans to appeal to the Thai government to halt the transfer of deported workers to military authorities, stating that such repatriation essentially condemns individuals to severe risk.
The implementation of conscription has led to increased restrictions on travel. Men aged 18 to 35 are now prohibited from leaving Myanmar for employment purposes. Recent arrests in Tanintharyi Region targeted individuals attempting unauthorized entry into Thailand, with those detained subsequently facing forced conscription. These measures have further exacerbated the economic challenges facing Myanmar's population in the post-2021 coup attempt.
Military Junta Arrests Former Dictator Than Shwe's Son-in-Law Over Social Media Posts
The military junta announced on 24 October the arrest of Dr. Nay Soe Maung, former Dictator Than Shwe's son-in-law, alleging to destabilize the country through his social media comments.
According to the announcement from the military junta's controlled Ministry of Information, Dr. Nay Soe Maung was arrested in Mandalay's Pyigyitagon Township on 23 October 2024. While specific charges were not revealed, the statement referenced several laws, including the Counterterrorism Law, regarding comments allegedly amplifying the National Unity Government's messages.
The arrest followed Dr. Nay Soe Maung's last Facebook post on 11 October about his donation to flood victims in Tantabin Township, Bago Region. On 7 October, he had expressed condolences following the death of Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, Mandalay Region's ousted chief minister, who succumbed to leukaemia after more than three and a half years in the junta custody.
In his tribute, Dr. Nay Soe Maung wrote: If reborn in the next life, may it be in a country that is free, just, and treats people with human dignity, and may you continue to carry the welfare of humanity.
A source close to Dr. Nay Soe Maung indicated the arrest likely stemmed from his response to a question about whether Than Shwe would address Senior General Min Aung Hlaing's actions since seizing power. While Dr. Nay Soe Maung deleted the comment, the source noted it was too late. Following the arrest, many of Dr. Nay Soe Maung's close associates have reportedly gone into hiding and turned off their phones. The deleted comment allegedly described Min Aung Hlaing as a monkey that you raised that comes back to haunt you, adding that attempting to reason with him was like playing a harp to a buffalo.
Dr. Nay Soe Maung is married to Than Shwe's daughter, Kyi Kyi Shwe, and father of Nay Shwe Thway Aung, Than Shwe's favorite grandson. While Dr. Nay Soe Maung had expressed support for anti-coup protesters as a retired public official standing with the public and truth, his son Nay Shwe Thway Aung ceased social media activity days before the 1 February 2021 illegal military coup, contrasting with his father's critical online commentary about the military junta.
Military Junta Arrests Aid Workers Who Assisted at Former Mandalay Chief Minister's Funeral
Myanmar Now reported that military junta forces detained eight members of the Parahita Min Gaung Emergency Rescue Service in Mandalay's Aungmyethazan Township on 26 October, including the organization's chair Khin Maung Tint. According to a representative from another Mandalay-based charity organization, who requested anonymity for security reasons, the arrests occurred when troops arrived in civilian vehicles at the aid organization's office. From what we've heard, we think it's related to Dr. Zaw's funeral; We don't know the situation yet; We can't make contact, the charity worker stated.
Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, 73, who was imprisoned following the 1 February 2021 illegal coup attempt and released shortly before his death, succumbed to leukaemia at Mandalay General Hospital. As Vice-President of the National League for Democracy (NLD) party, he served as a parliament member and Mandalay Region Chief Minister until February 2021.
The Parahita Min Gaung Emergency Rescue Service staff accompanied his body from his residence to the cemetery. During the procession, Mandalay residents gathered to pay respects, chanting We must win! as the chief minister's body was placed in the hearse. The aid organization's social media page has remained inactive for three days, and calls to their offices have gone unanswered.
Actions of Resistance Forces against the Junta
KIA Captures Border Guard Force Station. 1002 Near Chinese Border in Kachin State
The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and allied forces captured Border Guard Force (BGF) station No. 1002 near Pangwa (Pang War) in Chipwe Township, Kachin State on 15 October 2024. The station, located in Lupi village six miles north of Pangwa and within seven miles of the Chinese border, fell after five days of sustained attacks. KIA spokesperson Col. Naw Bu confirmed the capture of the Lupi station. The KIA-led forces also secured several surrounding bases that had been defending the Lupi outpost. The number of captured personnel and weapons remains to be confirmed.
During the operation, the military aircraft strikes targeted KIA-led forces who were attacking the BGF-defended outposts, according to local sources. The area is notable for its rare earth mining operations with substantial exports to China. It also hosts the Chipwe-Nge hydroelectric power project and mining operations, primarily operated as joint ventures with Chinese investment. The KIA has not yet announced its intentions regarding these projects.
The captured Lupi BGF station is strategically located on the road connecting Pangwa to Chipwe and Tsawlaw towns, which KIA and its allies secured in early October. These towns lie within a designated Special Region along the Chinese border, previously under BGF control. The region is home to diverse ethnic communities, including Rawang, Lachik (also known as Lachid or Lashi), Lawngwaw (or Maru), and Lisu peoples.
The BGF battalions in this area were formerly part of the New Democratic Army-Kachin, which entered into a ceasefire agreement in 1989 and was incorporated into a border guard force structure in 2009. In June 2024, Zahkung Ting Ying, the 84-year-old BGF commander, ordered his forces to remove the KIA and their allies from the Special Region.
KIA Captures Border Guard Force Station. 1003 Near Chinese Border in Kachin State
Myanmar Now Stated that the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and allied forces captured Border Guard Force (BGF) station No. 1003 in Shing Jai (Sin Kyaing or Shan Keng) Village, Waingmaw Township, Kachin State on 21 October 2024. The base fell after five days of fighting along Myanmar's border with China. KIA spokesperson Col. Naw Bu confirmed the capture at approximately 5pm, noting that fighting continues along the route to Kanpaikti. This victory follows the KIA-led alliance's seizure of BGF post No. 1002 in Lupi Village, located six miles north of Pangwa (Pang War), Chipwe Township, on 15 October.
The offensive extended into Chipwe Township as KIA and allied forces advanced on Pangwa, a rare earth mineral production center, reportedly securing the town on 19 October. BGF station No. 1003 is situated approximately 10 miles west of Kanpaikti, a historically significant border trading point with China, alongside other major crossings including Lwegel (Lweje or Loi Je) - captured by KIA and allies in April - and Muse, Chin Shwe Haw, and Kengtung in Shan State.
Border trade in Kachin State has virtually ceased since June when KIA-led forces secured outposts along the major trade route connecting Waingmaw and Kanpaikti.
Kanpaikti, along with Chipwe, Tsawlaw, and Pangwa, lies within Special Region 1, an ethnically diverse territory in Kachin State under BGF control. The KIA reports capturing Chipwe, Tsawlaw, and Pangwa with allied support since late September.
The Kachin BGF's three battalions previously operated as the New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K), which separated from the KIA before entering a ceasefire agreement in 1989. The NDA-K leadership agreed to restructure under military command in 2009 as the Kachin BGF. In July 2024, 84-year-old BGF leader Zahkung Ting Ying directed his forces to remove the KIA and its allies from Special Region 1.
Resistance Forces Successfully Defend Ngan Myar Gyi Against Major Offensive in Mandalay Region
Myanmar Now reported that resistance forces in Mandalay Region's Ngazun Township continue to successfully defend against a major offensive during the second week of October 2024. A significant clash erupted on 14 October between resistance fighters and advancing forces on Ngan Myar Gyi, a resistance-held town in the western part of the township, according to a member of the Zarmani Guerrilla Force.
The advancing column attempted to reach the town from the south on the Tada-U-Si Mee Khon road but was intercepted and forced to retreat. A Zarmani Guerrilla Force member confirmed that Ngan Myar Gyi remains under resistance control. Two columns have been advancing on Ngan Myar Gyi since early October. On 8 October, one column approaching from the north on the Ngazun-Ngan Myar Gyi Road encountered landmine resistance, sources reported.
Following reconnaissance aircraft flights over the area the next day, troops raided Nyaunglebin village, where artillery fire injured two residents. The troops detained at least 100 villagers at the monastery, including children as young as 12 or 13 years old, according to an escaped resident. The current status of these detained civilians remains unclear.
Military aircraft have been deployed in the offensive. An airstrike on Moe Htaung Village, south of Ngan Myar Gyi, resulted in the death of a 20-year-old resistance fighter and injured four others, a Zarmani Guerrilla Force officer reported.
Ngan Myar Gyi, situated on the Ayeyarwady River's eastern bank, lies opposite the resistance stronghold of Myaung in Sagaing Region. The naval port village of Si Mee Khon is approximately six miles south.
Activities of the National Unity Government and Ethnic Groups
CRPH Delegation Attends Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Geneva
The Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) announced on 18 October 2024 that Dr. Win Myat Aye, Union Minister of the National Unity Government of Myanmar led Myanmar's delegation at the 149th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, from 13-17 October.
The IPU's 214th Executive Council meeting reaffirmed its recognition of the CRPH as Myanmar's legitimate parliamentary body. Dr. Win Myat Aye addressed the Assembly's General Debate on 16 October, focusing on the theme "Harnessing Science, Technology, and Innovation for a More Peaceful and Sustainable Future."
During the Assembly, Dr. Win Myat Aye met with parliamentarians from New Zealand, Sweden, Malaysia, Thailand, Denmark, France, Belgium, the UK, Germany, Uganda, and Ghana to discuss Myanmar's political crisis and seek international support.
Human Rights Lawyer Daw Ywet Nu Aung Awarded 2024 Ludovic Trarieux Prize
The Ministry of Human Rights announced on October 18 that Daw Ywet Nu Aung, a human rights lawyer unjustly detained by Myanmar’s military council, has been selected to receive the 2024 Ludovic Trarieux International Human Rights Prize. The award is presented annually by the European-based Institut des droits de l’homme des avocats européens (IDHAE). Daw Ywet Nu Aung was recognized for her advocacy in promoting an independent judiciary and defending the legal rights of political prisoners. The award ceremony took place as part of the IDHAE conference in Rome, Italy, on 18 October. NUG’s Union Minister for Human Rights, U Aung Myo Min, accepted the award on her behalf. In December 2022, Daw Ywet Nu Aung was sentenced to 15 years with hard labor without trial, following her efforts to support political prisoners unjustly detained by the junta. She remains imprisoned in Mandalay Obo Central Prison.
NUG Protests Attack on Chinese Consulate-General in Mandalay
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the National Unity Government (NUG) issued a statement condemning the attack on the Chinese Consulate-General in Mandalay. On the evening of 18 October 2024, an explosive device was detonated at the consulate’s office building, causing damage to the premises but fortunately resulting in no casualties. The NUG expressed strong opposition to such acts of terrorism, emphasizing that they undermine diplomatic relations with neighboring countries and violate the sanctity of diplomatic missions that are meant to be protected. The government voiced significant concerns that this incident could exacerbate ethnic tensions and conflicts within the country. The NUG reaffirmed commitment to opposing any actions that may incite ethnic or religious discord.
AA Transfers Bangladeshi Fishermen to Border Authorities, Demonstrates Growing Administrative Control
Myanmar Now reported that the Arakan Army (AA) announced on 14 October that it transferred 21 Bangladeshi nationals to Bangladesh border authorities, highlighting its increasing role in managing border affairs in Rakhine State.
According to the AA statement, on 7 October, AA members discovered a boat near Kyauk Pan Du Beach in Maungdaw Township carrying 16 fishermen from Cox's Bazar District, Bangladesh. The fishermen, who had departed on 28 September, reported being attacked by approximately 60 pirates in motorboats, suffering beatings and robbery before being confined to their vessel's hold. The AA provided medical treatment to the victims before facilitating their return.
The handover took place on Shahpuree Island, located on the Bangladesh side of the Naf River, where the fishermen were transferred to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Bangladeshi police.
In a separate incident on 7 October, the AA intercepted two fishing boats in the Naf River, detaining one vessel with five fishermen while the other escaped. Following discussions with Bangladeshi authorities, these five fishermen were released on 9 October after pledging to comply with border laws. Lt-Col Md Mohiuddin Ahmed, commander of BGB's Teknaf 2 battalion, confirmed receiving the five fishermen.
The AA now controls ten of Rakhine State's 17 townships - Myebon, Minbya, Mrauk-U, Kyauktaw, Pauktaw, Ponnagyun, Rathedaung, Buthidaung, Ramree (Yanbye), and Thandwe - along with Paletwa Township in Chin State. The group is advancing operations in Maungdaw, a strategically significant border town.
Bangladesh and India have recognized the AA's expanding territorial control. In early September, Md Touhid Hossain, foreign affairs adviser to Bangladesh's interim government, noted that engagement with the AA was essential for the potential repatriation of Rohingya people from Bangladesh's refugee camps.
The AA has established trade connections with neighboring countries. In June, it opened a route through Paletwa Township to India's Mizoram state. In February, AA representatives discussed the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Project with Mizoram Legislative Assembly members, including plans for road construction connecting Lairam and Zorampur with Paletwa. As part of the Brotherhood Alliance, the AA continues its operations in Rakhine State despite Chinese diplomatic pressure to enter peace negotiations.
Permanent Representative of Myanmar to the United Nations, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun Makes Series of Statements at 79th UN General Assembly
Statement on Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons - Third Committee (17 October 2024)
Addressing the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, Myanmar's Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun reported that the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Myanmar has surged to over 3.4 million, more than doubling from 1.3 million reported two years ago. He noted that this represents 5 percent of the world's 76 million IDPs, highlighting the scale of displacement relative to Myanmar's population. The Ambassador detailed how over 5,800 civilians have been killed and 18.6 million people need urgent humanitarian assistance, with women and girls comprising the majority. He emphasized that the military junta's daily airstrikes against civilian targets, including schools, hospitals, markets, and IDP camps, have intensified the crisis. The Ambassador rejected the junta's planned elections, warning they would lead to more violence, displacement, and suffering.
Statement on Poverty Eradication and Food Security - Second Committee (17 October 2024)
Addressing joint discussions on poverty eradication and food security at the UN Second Committee, Myanmar's Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun reported that poverty in Myanmar has reached its highest level in 15 years, with nearly half the population now living below the national poverty line. He detailed how poverty has surged to 24.4 percent in 2023 from 5.2 percent in 2017, while 24 percent of the population faces high levels of acute food insecurity. The Ambassador highlighted that more than 55 percent of children live in poverty, with nearly 500,000 children projected to be acutely malnourished in 2024—a 54 percent increase from the previous year. He emphasized how declining incomes have forced households to reduce spending on health and education, with poorest households allocating only 2 percent of their expenditure to education, while attributing the deteriorating situation to the military junta's actions since the 2021 coup.
Statement on International Migration and Development - Second Committee (18 October 2024)
Addressing international migration at the UN Second Committee, Myanmar's Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun identified the military junta's actions as the primary driver of migration in Myanmar, highlighting how thousands of young people are fleeing to remote jungles, mountains, and neighboring countries to avoid forced conscription and arbitrary arrests. He detailed how the junta's systematic terror campaign has plunged the country into deepening poverty, with rising inflation, declining wages, and increasing unemployment, leading to over 3.4 million internally displaced persons. The Ambassador emphasized the National Unity Government's commitment to creating conditions for voluntary, safe, and dignified return of all migrants, including Rohingya, while calling for urgent international cooperation with resistance organizations and civil society to address the root causes of migration.
Statement on Rule of Law - Sixth Committee (18 October 2024)
Addressing the rule of law debate at the UN Sixth Committee, Myanmar's Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun reported how the military junta has systematically dismantled legal frameworks since February 2021, leading to over 5,800 civilian deaths and displacement of more than 3.4 million people. He detailed how the breakdown of rule of law has transformed Myanmar's legal system into an instrument of oppression, citing examples of peaceful protesters being rammed by military vehicles and citizens arrested for wearing flowers. The Ambassador emphasized how this collapse has created safe havens for organized transnational crimes, including cybercrimes, online scams, and drug trafficking, affecting regional stability. He warned that any junta-organized elections would be illegitimate, while calling on the UN Security Council to take concrete action, stating that continued inaction threatens both regional stability and UN credibility.
Statement on Enforced Disappearances - Third Committee (21 October 2024)
Speaking at the Interactive Dialogue with the Working Group on Enforced Disappearance, Myanmar's Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun reported how the military junta is using enforced disappearances as a tool to interrogate suspects, cover up prison crimes, and deter resistance against its rule. He detailed how villagers accused of participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement or affiliating with resistance forces face abduction, with men of all ages being primary targets and their whereabouts kept unknown. The Ambassador highlighted that many cases remain unreported due to fear of retaliation and lack of accountability mechanisms, while citing the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar's conclusion that the junta's brutal war crimes and crimes against humanity have escalated at an alarming rate. He emphasized how these disappearances, often only discovered after victims' deaths, create severe psychological impact on families while undermining fundamental societal values and rule of law.
Statement on Least Developed Countries - Second Committee (21 October 2024)
Addressing Myanmar's development status at the UN Second Committee, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun reported how the military junta's actions have reversed the country's progress toward graduating from Least Developed Country status, which it had qualified for in the 2018 Triennial Review. He detailed how over 15 million people now face food insecurity, 18.6 million need humanitarian aid, and more than 3.4 million are internally displaced, while over 100,000 homes have been destroyed. The Ambassador highlighted that six million children are either displaced, malnourished, or lack of healthcare and formal education, with nearly half the population living below the national poverty line. He emphasized how recent impacts from Typhoon Yagi have compounded these challenges, while noting the National Unity Government and ethnic resistance organizations' ongoing efforts to provide urgent assistance, including humanitarian, education, and healthcare services.
Statement on Nuclear Weapons - First Committee (21 October 2024)
During the Thematic Discussion on Nuclear Weapons at the UN First Committee, Myanmar's Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun warned about the military junta's plans to build a small-scale nuclear reactor with assistance from a nuclear power state, emphasizing concerns about the junta's lack of capability or willingness to implement necessary safety measures. He highlighted how the coup has jeopardized Myanmar's previous nuclear non-proliferation efforts, including plans to ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and implement IAEA protocols. The Ambassador stressed that a junta-operated nuclear facility would pose significant dangers to Myanmar's people and the region, while reiterating calls for states to cease transfers of arms, munitions, dual-use items, and jet fuel to the military junta.
Statement on Weapons of Mass Destruction - First Committee (23 October 2024)
Addressing the thematic discussion on Weapons of Mass Destruction at the UN First Committee, Myanmar's Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun revealed that the military had operated a facility near Tongbo town in the 1980s that produced sulfur mustard, an Annex I chemical, which remained undisclosed until shortly before the 2021 coup. He reported widespread evidence of the military junta employing chemical agents in conflict areas, causing injury, temporary incapacitation, and sensory irritations among affected populations. The Ambassador emphasized that this non-compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention puts Myanmar in violation of multiple treaty obligations, while urging the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and member states to investigate these reports. He called for preventive measures before the junta's potential widespread use of chemical weapons against the population, reiterating appeals to stop flows of weapons, jet fuel, and dual-use technologies to the military junta.
Statement on Human Rights Situation - Third Committee (23 October 2024)
Addressing human rights concerns at the UN Third Committee, Myanmar's Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun reported that over 5,800 civilians have been killed, 26,000 arbitrarily arrested, and 3.4 million displaced since February 2021, while 18.6 million people need urgent humanitarian assistance. He detailed recent atrocities in Butalin, Sagaing Region on October 19, where civilians were decapitated and their dismembered bodies hung on fences. The Ambassador highlighted how the military junta conducts daily aerial attacks and artillery shelling against civilians, having destroyed over 100,000 homes, while emphasizing the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar's conclusion that these actions amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes. He called for international action to restrict the junta's access to arms and jet fuel, while urging direct engagement with the National Unity Government and rejection of any junta-organized elections, which he stressed could never be free, fair and inclusive under current conditions.
Statement on Conventional Weapons - First Committee (24 October 2024)
Speaking at the Conventional Weapons discussion at the UN First Committee, Myanmar's Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun informed of how the junta places landmines randomly near schools and hospitals, forces villagers into mine clearance operations, and uses intermediaries to purchase jet fuel while avoiding international scrutiny. The Ambassador highlighted that Myanmar remains the only Southeast Asian country neither signed nor ratified key weapons treaties, including the Arms Trade Treaty and Mine Ban Treaty, while noting that plans for a National Mine Action Authority were halted by the coup. He emphasized how the junta's bombing campaigns have resulted in over 5,800 civilian deaths, while calling for comprehensive international arms embargo and restrictions on jet fuel supplies.
Statement on Other Disarmament Measures and International Security - First Committee (25 October 2024)
During the discussion on other disarmament measures and international security at the UN First Committee, Myanmar's Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun reported how the military junta has enabled organized cybercrime groups in border areas, with military officers actively participating in or taking bribes from cyber-scam operations. He detailed how militia groups and border guard forces affiliated with the junta have established cyber-scam compounds since the 2021 coup, targeting hundreds of thousands of people from Myanmar and beyond through trafficking, fake job offers, and ransom demands. The Ambassador highlighted the junta's implementation of sophisticated mass censorship and surveillance systems, including routine telecommunications blackouts in conflict areas and wiretapping of citizens both within Myanmar and abroad. He emphasized how the junta employs informants within government ministries to monitor civil servants' online activities, while warning that these digital restrictions make free and fair elections impossible.
Statement on Torture and Inhumane Treatment - Third Committee (25 October 2024)
Addressing torture concerns at the UN Third Committee, Myanmar's Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun detailed systematic atrocities documented by the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, including extreme physical torture, electric shocks, strangulation, and sexual violence against detainees of all genders. He reported that 1,902 people have been killed in detention since February 2021, representing 33.3% of the total 5,712 deaths over 44 months. The Ambassador highlighted the recent death of Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, former Chief Minister of Mandalay Region, on October 7 due to inadequate healthcare while in custody. He emphasized how the military routinely uses torture in interrogation centers and prisons, including sadistic acts like pulling out fingernails with pliers and inflicting burns on sexual body parts, while deliberately depriving detainees of essential medical care.
Statement on Women, Peace and Security - UN Security Council Open Debate (25 October 2024)
Speaking at the UN Security Council's open debate on Women, Peace and Security, Myanmar's Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun reported how the military junta's 2021 coup has reversed progress on women's participation in peace and security sectors, while detailing recent atrocities including the October 19 massacre where civilians, including mentally disabled women, were decapitated and their dismembered bodies hung on fences. He highlighted how women continue to serve at the forefront of resistance despite risks, participating in resistance forces, the National Unity Government, and civil society organizations, though many now require psychosocial support due to trauma. The Ambassador emphasized the need for flexible funding arrangements for women's rights organizations, while calling for immediate action to stop flows of arms, weapons, jet fuel, and financial assistance to the junta to end its crimes against civilians.
Statement on International Criminal Court Report - UN General Assembly Plenary (28 October 2024)
Addressing the ICC's annual report at the UN General Assembly plenary session, Myanmar's Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun reported that over 5,886 civilians have been killed and 21,037 people remain in arbitrary detention, including national leaders and elected representatives, while more than 100,000 homes have been destroyed. He highlighted that resistance forces now maintain administrative presence in approximately 85 towns and cities across Myanmar, demonstrating substantive territorial control that could support cooperation obligations with the court. According to the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), there is substantial evidence of systematic atrocities against civilians and prisoners of war, including torture and deliberate attacks against medical facilities, cultural properties, and educational institutions. The Ambassador detailed recent atrocities in Butalin Township, where military forces executed twenty-four civilians including children, women, and elderly, followed by mutilation of the victims. He emphasized Myanmar's July 2021 Article 12(3) Declaration acknowledging ICC jurisdiction over crimes committed since July 2002, while echoing the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' calls for the UN Security Council to refer Myanmar's situation to the ICC. The Ambassador urged expedited action, stressing that each day of inaction enables further atrocities by the military junta.
Statement on Extrajudicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions - Third Committee (28 October 2024)
Speaking at the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial executions at the UN Third Committee, Myanmar's Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun reported how the military junta has escalated its use of mass killings, air and artillery strikes against civilians over the past three and a half years. He detailed the junta's execution of pro-democracy activists, human rights defenders, and young people, while highlighting the widespread use of torture, including sexual torture and inhumane degrading treatments against civilians, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals. The Ambassador emphasized how the military junta's actions have strangled civil society and journalist voices through arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances. He stressed that these actions represent the junta's attempt to instill fear in the pro-democracy movement, while calling for immediate international action to end the military dictatorship and prevent further extrajudicial killings.
Statement at Combined Briefing on Myanmar - Third Committee (29 October 2024)
At the Combined Briefing on Myanmar at the UN Third Committee, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun reported that the situation has severely deteriorated since the military coup of February 2021, with over 3.4 million people displaced and 18.6 million needing humanitarian assistance. He detailed recent inhumane atrocities of junta in Butalin Township, where victims were decapitated and their body parts hung on civilian house fences, emphasizing that such incidents are not isolated cases. The Ambassador highlighted how military junta actions have pushed half the population below the poverty line, while indiscriminate aerial bombings, mass killings, arbitrary arrests, torture, and forced conscription continue. He also emphasized the vulnerability of Rohingya people, with men and youth facing forcible recruitment. The Ambassador rejected the military junta's planned elections as "completely absurd," stressing that any such elections would neither be free, fair, nor inclusive. He called for the UN Security Council to refer Myanmar's case to the International Criminal Court, while urging member states to end arms supplies and impose targeted sanctions against the military junta.
Statement on International Court of Justice Report - UN General Assembly Plenary (30 October 2024)
Addressing the ICJ's annual report at the UN General Assembly plenary session, Myanmar's Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun emphasized that the National Unity Government has accepted the Court's jurisdiction and withdrawn all preliminary objections in the Genocide Convention case, while regularly submitting reports as required. He stressed that ICJ decisions on Myanmar's representation must align with General Assembly positions, arguing that the military junta cannot claim legal rights from unlawful actions. The Ambassador detailed recent atrocities in Butalin Township, where military forces massacred twenty-four civilians, including three children, three women, and one elderly person, with victims' bodies being mutilated and displayed on civilian house fences. He characterized these acts as not just war crimes but "an assault on the very essence of human civilization," warning that allowing perpetrators space in ICJ proceedings risks undermining the Court's principles of international justice and human dignity. The Ambassador called for immediate UN Security Council action to halt the military junta's campaign of terror, warning that diplomatic obstacles could undermine international humanitarian principles and civilian protection efforts.
Statement on Outer Space - First Committee (30 October 2024)
Speaking at the Thematic Discussion on Outer Space at the UN First Committee, Myanmar's Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun highlighted how the country's space program, including the development of MMSAT-1 satellite with Japan's Hokkaido University, was halted following the 2021 military coup due to concerns over potential military appropriation. He commended Japan's pre-emptive approach in preventing misuse of space technology by the military junta. The Ambassador warned about the dual-use nature of space technologies and space-based communications, drawing parallels to the junta's misuse of jet fuel and surveillance technologies against civilians. He welcomed recent targeted sanctions by the UK, EU, and Canada against the junta, while urging member states to enforce stringent measures limiting the junta's access to dual-use items that could be used to commit atrocities against civilians.
Response of the International Community
UN Special Envoy Calls for End to Violence in Myanmar, Warns of Humanitarian Crisis
United Nations Special Envoy to Myanmar Julie Bishop addressed a UN General Assembly committee on 29 October, expressing concern over the zero-sum mentality among parties involved in the ongoing conflict.
In her first address since her April appointment, Bishop emphasized that Myanmar's path to reconciliation requires ending violence, ensuring accountability, and allowing unrestricted access for the UN and its partners, particularly for marginalized groups including the Rohingya community. Myanmar conflict risks becoming a forgotten crisis. The people of Myanmar, having suffered so much, deserve better, Bishop stated.
The former Australian foreign minister highlighted the unprecedented human suffering, noting that 3.4 million people have been displaced by the fighting. During her visit to Myanmar, Bishop met with various stakeholders, including ethnic armed organizations and political parties, including representatives of detained State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's party.
Bishop echoed UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres's skepticism regarding the possibility of elections amid ongoing conflict. She also expressed alarm over the proliferation of criminal networks operating from Myanmar. The sheer scale of arms production and trade, human trafficking, drug manufacture and trafficking, and scam centers means Myanmar now ranks highest among all member states for organized crime, she reported.
Nicholas Koumjian, head of the UN Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, warned of increasing frequency and brutality of war crimes and crimes against humanity. He specifically noted the rise in military junta airstrikes that killed hundreds of civilians in recent weeks, while also gathering evidence of crimes committed by other armed groups.
The Special Envoy emphasized that addressing the needs of Myanmar's people remains impossible while armed conflict continues across the country. She called for immediate humanitarian access and assistance for affected populations.
EU, UK, and Canada Impose New Sanctions Targeting Military Junta's Aviation Fuel Supply
The European Union, United Kingdom, and Canada announced additional sanctions on 30 October 2024 targeting military junta's access to military materiel, equipment and funds.
Britain stated that the new measures, targeting entities supplying aviation fuel and equipment to Myanmar's military junta, aim to restrict its ability to conduct airstrikes on civilians. British officials noted that August recorded the highest number of military junta airstrikes, resulting in dozens of civilian casualties and constituting gross human rights violations.
The sanctions target six entities involved in providing aviation fuel or restricted goods to the military junta, building upon previous restrictions implemented in 2023 against aviation fuel suppliers and arms dealers following the 1 February 2021 power seizure.
UK junior foreign minister Catherine West stated: The human rights violations taking place across Myanmar, including airstrikes on civilian infrastructure, by the military junta is unacceptable and the impact on innocent civilians is intolerable. She added that the UK remains steadfast in supporting Myanmar's people and their aspirations for a peaceful and democratic future.
The UK Foreign Office reported providing more than £150 million (US $195 million) in humanitarian assistance, healthcare, education, and support for civil society and local communities in Myanmar since February 2021. They noted that over 3.4 million people have been displaced by fighting, with more than 18 million requiring humanitarian assistance amid proliferating serious and organized crime.
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Date: 31 October 2024
Permanent Mission of Myanmar to the United Nations, New York
