Weekly Updates on Current Situation in Myanmar
(16-07-2023)
More than twenty-nine months ago on 1 February 2021, the Myanmar military 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 Myanmar military has ignored the will of the people of Myanmar, placed the country in turmoil, and made people suffer with inhumane and disproportionate actions.
As of 14 July 2023, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), the military ruthlessly killed 3,793 people and arrested 23,870 people. Among the arrested, 19,495 people remain in detention, whereas 158people have been sentenced to death, including 115 post-coup death row prisoners and 43 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.
Atrocities and violent crimes committed by the Junta
People in Ayeyarwady, Magway and Mandalay Regions being killed and arrested
According to AAPP, from February 2021 to 11 July 2023, 37 people in Ayeyarwady Region were killed by the junta. During the given period, a total of 1,194 people was arrested in Ayeyarwady Region, and 1,007 are still in detainment, of which 240 were given prison sentences under specious charges.
Another report by AAPP stated that from February 2021 to 13 July2023, junta killed 305 people: 55 females and 250 males, in Magway Region. Of the 305 victims, 112 of them were killed by gunshot, while 99 of them were killed in detainment. Moreover, a total of 1,603 people: 269 females and 1,334 males, were arrested in Magway Region, and 1,430 are still in detainment. 230 individuals among those detained were given prison sentences under specious charges.
AAPP also reported that from February 2021 to 14 July 2023, 384 people in Mandalay Region were killed by the junta. Of the 384 victims, 148 of them were killed by gunshot, whereas 134 of them were killed in detainment. Among the 4,511 people being arrested in Mandalay Region for the given period, 4,210 are still in detainment. Of those being detained, 2,654 were given prison sentences under specious charges.
People being killed in detainment by junta
According to AAPP, from February 2021 to 12 July 2023, 1,302 people were killed in detainment by the junta across the country. The highest number of deaths with 717 people were in Sagaing Region. Reportedly, of the 1,302 victims, 101 of them were killed during interrogation, while 57 of them in prisons.
Deaths of seven political prisoners
Regarding the deaths of seven political prisoners who were transferred from Daik-U Prison, AAPP reported that dozens of prisoners including Khant Linn Naing, Aung Myo Thu, Pyae Phyo Hein and Min Bhone Mahar, were removed from Daik-U Prison on 27 June 2023. Since then, their whereabouts are unknown, without any trace of information available on their location. In the first and second week of July 2023, Daik-U Prison sent signed letters to the families of Khant Linn Naing, Pyae Phyo Hein and Aung Myo Thu, and to the families of Zin Myint Tun and Pyae Phyo Aung, respectively to inform them of their deaths. According to the letters sent with the signature of the Prison Staff Officer, while transferring prisoners from Daik-U Prison to another prison, a transport vehicle was involved in an accident, and as the prisoners allegedly seized the opportunity and attempted to escape, they were subsequently killed by junta forces who fired “warning shots” at them in an attempt to recapture.
Attacking and torching the villages in Kachin State
According to AAPP, on 4 and 5 July respectively, the junta forces attacked and set fire to Bo Kone and Chaung Wa Villages as well as Tha Pyay Hla Village in Shwegu Township, Kachin State. Due to those attacks and arsons in the area where no clashes were taking place, over 100 houses were burned down and more than 2,000 locals were forced to flee for safety.
Attacking, torching and looting villages in Mone Township, Bago Region
According to Yangon KhitThit News, the Karen National Union (KNU) announced that junta forces raided Yaetwinkonegyi Village of Mone Township, Bago Region. The raid began since 2 July 2023 when the junta launched heavy artilleries and entered the village. As the junta troops left on 11 July, Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and its allied forces entered the village on the next day to check the situation inside the village. It was found out that the junta soldiers killed and buried a fifty-eight-year old mentally disabled villager U Aung Zaw Htay and looted 76 houses in the village. They also burned one house in the village. On 13 July, junta launched heavy weaponries onto the villages under KNU’s control and injured four civilians in BanLaung Village and one in KyaukSaung Village. Furthermore, KNU announced that 3,335 civilians from ZaHarYwar, Yaetwinkonelay and KyeeYoe Villages have fled for their safety.
Raiding and attacking the villages in Ye-U Township, Sagaing Region
According to Myanmar Now news, resistance forces said that junta forces bombed and attacked YaeMyet Village, Ye-U Township, Sagaing Region by using a fighter jet. Consequently, a village school building was damaged and unexploded bombs were left inside the village. According to the spokespersons for People’s Defence teams, the military aircraft also fired on the monastery and the village school for more than twenty minutes by using machine guns. At the time of reporting, there was no civilian injuries but significant damage to some buildings including a school. A spokesperson of local resistance forces said that one bomb detonated between the village monastery and school, two others fell and detonated inside and just north of the village, and five more exploded in the nearby fields. Two unexploded bombs were also found after the raid, one in front of the monastery’s main building and another inside the village. According to a worker of locally active aid group, there were no resistance fighters present in the area at the time of attack as well as the village is far from where the resistance groups operate. In December 2021, YaeMyet Village was previously attacked by the military aircrafts and raided ground troops, who carried out arson attacks, forcing some 5,000 local people to flee their homes.
Raiding, killing and torching the villages in Wetlet Township, Sagaing Region
According to Yangon KhitThit News, terrorist junta burned and killed one civilian of Thone Sint Kan Village, Wetlet Township, Sagaing Region on 13 July 2023 and torched more than hundred houses in the village. The victim was a sixty-year-old man and due to the arson, the local residents were in need of food and shelters.
Raiding and arresting the villagers in Yinmabin Township, Sagaing Region
Yangon KhitThit News Media reported that, according to SagaingPyithuPhaymaku Network on 12 July 2023, junta forces, by using Mi35 helicopter, conducted two aerial attacks onto MyoGyi Village of Yinmabin Township, Sagaing Region. At the same time, the junta troops raided the village and torched the houses. As a result, junta forces burned and killed a 90-year-old woman who was suffering from paralysis. Over fifty houses in the village were burnt and destroyed.
Raiding and arresting the villagers in Pakokku Township, Magway Region
According to Yangon KhitThit News Media, on 12 July 2023, junta troops raided HpaLanOh SanPya Village of Pakokku Township, Magway Region, and torched over thirty houses inside the village. The indiscriminate shootings of the junta soldiers injured one female villager in her head. Reportedly, junta soldiers also looted many valuable items inside the houses before burning them down.
Killing innocent civilians
Myanmar Now news reported that according to locals, on 11 July 2023, three civilians, a 17-year-old boy, a 20-year-old woman and a 42-year-old man, were shot and killed in Loikaw Township, Karenni (Kayah) State when troops from a junta convoy opened fire on the area. According to news, junta soldiers were travelling from Moebye, near the Karenni border in southern Shan State, and started firing from within their cars along the Moebye-Loikaw road between Kone Thar and Nwar La Woe Villages at 7 am. The three victims were from Kone Thar and Nwar La Woe Villages and there were many other civilians injured from the shootings. According to a spokesperson in the Progressive Karenni People’s Force, a local monitoring group, junta soldiers fired the gunshots into the middle of a market, so there could be several injuries. According to a local resident who cited eyewitnesses, the junta convoy had been attacked with explosive devices and light weapons, damaging five trucks. However, news reported that no Karenni resistance organization has released a statement acknowledging or claiming responsibility for the reported strike on the junta unit. News also reported that on 10 July 2023, a 40-year-old man from PaDarNyay Village, Loikaw Township was also shot dead by junta troops on the same road.
According to Yangon KhitThit News, junta soldiers stationing in one of the checkpoints in Myaing Township, Magway Region shot a passenger vehicle and killed two civilians on 11 July 2023. It was reported that there were also police forces and pro-junta PyuSawHtee militias among those who fired the gunshots.
Death of a prisoner and denial to return his body
According to AAPP, on 2 July2023, the police station informed the family of Sein Win, from Ma Kyee Su Village in Myingyan Township, Mandalay Region, that he died from gastrointestinal bleeding while being detained in Myingyan Prison. He was arrested by junta forces on 7 July 2021 and sentenced to serve 3 years in prison under Section 505 A of the Penal Code. The family was told that the body would be returned to them. However, when the family members went to retrieve his body from the hospital’s mortuary, they were denied. Reportedly, the junta forces cremated his body on 3 July.
Arbitrary arrest of civilians
AAPP reported that on 10 July, Myo Chit Aung (aka Phoe Nyo) from Won Lel Village in Pauk Township was arrested by junta forces at one of their checkpoints to the entrance of Seikphyu Township in Magway Region for allegedly being a member of PDF. At the time of arrest, he was going to Minbu Town for treatment.
According to Yangon KhitThit News, KNU announced that junta forces arrested twenty civilians from Kyauktaga Town, Bago Region from 6 July to 11 July and they informed the family members of the detainees that most of them would be charged with prison sentence. They are the local villagers who went to Kyauktaga Town to buy food. Among the twenty arrested, one was released and nineteen are still detained. The twenty villagers arrested are Kyaw Htwe, Zaw Htay, Soe Lin Oo, Zaw Khaing, Kyaw Swar Win, Aye Min Soe, Zaw Naing Htwe, Ye Htwe, Saw Be Htwe, Saw Kabaw Htoo, Saw Ye Myin, Aung Ko Min, Saw Bel Nay Htoo from KyaukMhawPhayargyi Village; Htet Htet and Soe Thu Win from Padelgaw Village; Than Tun from Bamar-Wetlartaw Village; Sai Ko, Than Soe Oo, Kyaw Htet Lin from Darkalar Village and Zaw Oo from YwarInnGyi Village. The villager being released was Htet Htet from Padalgaw Village.
Airstrikes and heavy artillery attacks onto civilian areas
According to AAPP and Irrawaddy news, on 8 July 2023, at around 11 am, without any clashes taking place in the area, junta’s fighter jet bombed Wone Khon Village in M’ghinghlaw Village Tract, Mindat Township, Chin State. Reportedly, Light Infantry Battalion 274 from Mindat Town also shelled the village during the attack. As a result, three local women; a nine-year-old girl, a breastfeeding mother and a 65-year-old woman, were killed and a 50-year-old man was seriously injured. According to Mindat Township People’s Authority, ten houses and a school in the village were damaged by the bombing.
Yangon KhitThit News Media reported that according to the statement by TaAaung National Liberation Army (TNLA), the heavy artilleries shelled by the junta troops on 9 and 11 July injured three civilians from villages in Kutkai Township, Shan State. On 9 July, the shells fired onto NarPhai Village injured two civilians and destroyed one houses and on 11 July, a 21-year-old woman from LoiMeinSar Village who was travelling to Kutkai Town was injured by the bombs fell near ManPang Village.
News from Irrawaddy News Media and Yangon KhitThit News Media stated that on 11 July 2023, a middle-aged woman died and her brother was injured when their house in the Kalay Town was shelled by the junta forces. News also reported that during the junta’s shelling from Kale Town onto MyoHla, SharTaw, Set Kant and See San Villages in the resistance stronghold of western Sagaing Region on 13 July 2023, at least two people were killed and five injured. A Kale PDF representative said that a married couple in their 20s were killed and their three-year-old child and another woman were injured in See San Village and three others from Set Kant Village were also injured. The junta shelling continues throughout Kale Township, despite the absence of fighting in the area and sometimes they fire around 20-30 shells a day.
News reported that during the midnight of 11 July 2023, the junta bombed a village inside PhaSaung Township without any clashes taking place. The bombardment killed an 11-year-old child and injured two villagers. It also damaged a church and six houses inside the village.
According to news from Irrawaddy and Myanmar Now News Media, junta used fighter jet and bombed KyaukSu Village, Mese Township at 11 pm on 11 July and DawNoeKu IDP camp in Shadaw Township at Thai-Karenni Border on 12 July 2023 at around 1.30 am. News reported that, according to local PDF officer and local social workers, during those two aerial attacks by junta, a man and a child were killed and four civilians injured. In KyaukSu Village, a ten-year-old boy was killed and two were injured. A church and six houses were also sustained major damage. Moreover, at the IDP camp, a 30-year-old displaced man was killed and two other residents were in critical condition. Some 10,000 IDPs from eastern Demoso and Shadaw Townships had been living in the camp, and many were fleeing to Thailand after being displaced again by the attacks. Reportedly, a school, a clinic and the shelter households were damaged.
According to Yangon KhitThit News, junta launched heavy artilleries onto Launglon Village, Launglon Township, Tanintharyi Region on 12 July 2023. According to a representative from Dawei Information Center, due to those attacks, a 16-year-old Ma Yin Mar New was killed and an 11-year-old child was injured. Reportedly, junta forces raided NaKhanTaw Village with four military trucks in the early morning of 12 July and from NaKhanTaw Village, they fired heavy artilleries. In that evening, junta soldiers captured local villagers from NaKhanTaw and KhaMaungTaung Villages and looted from the villagers. News reported that among those captured were old-aged villagers who were not in good health. News also stated that due to the raids and heavy artillery attacks, the local villagers from NaKhanTaw, KhaMaungTaung and TaungMinPyaung Villages had to flee from their villages for their safety.
Yangon KhitThit News reported that junta troops fired heavy weaponry onto MokePaLin Village of Kyaikto Township, Mon State on 14 July 2023. When a bomb fired by the junta forces fell on a monastery, a Buddhist nun was injured and many buildings inside the monastery compound were destroyed.
Charges against the pro-democracy activists
According to AAPP news, on 5 July 2023, Sa Thein Zaw Min, a member of Kayin Literature and Culture Committee, from Einme Township in Ayeyarwady Region, was sentenced to serve 10 years in prison with hard labor. He was sentenced by Myaungmya Prison Court under Section 50(a) and 52(a) of the Counter-Terrorism Law. He was arrested by junta forces at his home on 20 January 2023.
Activities of the National Unity Government
On 10 July 2023, the National Unity Government published a Weekly Press Update 27/2023. In the Press Update, articles related to the activities of the NUG have been included. Those articles included the NUG welcoming intention of Karenni National People’s Liberation Front, NUG appointing U Aung Kyaw Moe as Deputy Minister for the Ministry of Human Rights, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration announcing that the terrorist military council has committed 93 arson attacks nationwide in June, and Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun’s statement at the United Nations’ General Assembly Plenary Session on the Protection and Prevention of the Responsibility to Protect, Genocide, War Crimes, Ethnic Cleansing and Crimes against Humanity.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the NUG released a press statement on 10 July 2023 regarding the official visit of Foreign Minister H.E. Daw Zin Mar Aung to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. The statement explained the purpose of the visit which is to enhance relationships with countries in the region, build stronger and closer ties with neighbouring countries and promote the role of Myanmar in regional organizations. In the statement, the detailed activities of the delegation were explained, including attending to the inauguration ceremony of the new government which was held in 1 July 2023, holding meetings with relevant officials such as the President, the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and the President of the National Parliament of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. In the statement, it was mentioned that during the meetings, the relevant officials from the Timor-Leste warmly welcomed the NUG delegation, wholeheartedly supported the Myanmar People’s revolution and shared their own experiences. The statement also informed that the NUG’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has consistently prioritized fostering cordial relations with neighbouring countries and regional countries since its establishment and that the Ministry remains committed to further strengthening relationships and promoting cooperation as its foremost objective.
On 10 July 2023, the Ministry of Human Rights of the National Unity Government made a news statement regarding the junta’s shootings in Wetlet Township where junta soldiers killed seven locals, injured six and kidnapped fourteen. While explaining the situation of how the junta forces indiscriminately shot, killed and injured the villagers of ThaMaYoe, Ayardaw and KuuToKine Villages, the ministry also informed how the junta soldiers kidnapped fourteen villagers as hostages and released only thirteen of them at NgweTwin Village, Ayardaw Township. By holding up the objectives of equality, peace and justice for the people of Myanmar, the Ministry further expressed its commitment to hold the junta forces accountable for all the crimes it has perpetrated.
On 13 July 2023, H.E. U Lahphai Maw Htun Awng, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Electricity and Energy attended and delivered a statement at the Exhibition “We are the Seeds (The Art of Myanmar's Spring Revolution)” organized by the German Solidarity with Myanmar Democracy. Deputy Minister also met with the attendees to this one-week long exhibition, including Head of Southeast Asian Political Affairs Department of German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Parliamentarians and former ministers of Germany, Executive Members of Hertie School of Governance Berlin and Myanmar citizens abroad. During the meetings, Deputy Minister explained about the NUG’s on ground activities in Myanmar including health, education, electricity and power, judiciary and administration. He further discussed on regular meetings and policy discussions with German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, cooperation for humanitarian assistances and possible support in eradication of dictatorship in Myanmar and establishment of federal democratic Myanmar.
On 14 July 2023, the National Unity Government issued a Statement (6/2023) regarding the disclosures made by the Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, to the ASEAN Foreign Minister’s Meeting and to the press, of an engagement with the State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on his recent trip to Myanmar. The statement mentioned that the NUG considered such disclosures contravene ASEAN’s authority, the ASEAN Five Point Consensus, and the role of the ASEAN Special Envoy. It informed that the Thai Foreign Minister’s unilateral report of the alleged views and position of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi are unacceptable and illegitimate, in view of her inability to not only receive factual and complete information, but to also speak freely and openly under her current arbitrary detention and solitary confinement. Stating that the NUG will continue to welcome all good faith efforts of the international community, to promote a lasting and durable peace, justice and freedom, and the flourishing of a federal democracy in Myanmar, it stressed that these outcomes will never be achieved by enabling, engaging, and cooperating with the illegitimate military coup council. The statement further explained that ultimate goal of Myanmar’s Spring Revolution which is the permanent removal and ending of decades-long dictatorships and to establish a federal democratic system free from the influence and remnants of dictators. It underlined how various revolutionary forces and organizations with diverse representation have united and are working together hand-in-hand in order to successfully achieve this goal. The NUG, in conclusion, pledged to continue in its efforts to achieve these revolutionary goals established in line with the aspirations of the people, unwavering and unshakeable until victory. The full statement is attached as annex for information.
On 14 July 2023, the National Unity Government issued a news release on its Facebook page that when ASEAN leadership were engaged in meetings, the genocidal military junta was busy bombing civilians in Karenni (Kayah) State, Myanmar, less than 24 hours ago. This heinous attack resulted in the loss of the innocent lives and the destruction of homes and places of worship. It pointed out that the genocidal junta's actions not only disregard ASEAN's five points on Myanmar but also violate each one, including a previous attack on an ASEAN humanitarian convoy. It underlined that a thorough review of ASEAN's five points on Myanmar and an evaluation of the roles and responsibilities of ASEAN Special Envoys are imperative. By mentioning that the people of Myanmar can no longer endure these crimes against humanity, it also emphasized that every passing minute costs lives under this brutal reign of terror. It highlighted that mere words of five points are insufficient; immediate and decisive actions are needed to protect the people of Myanmar, end crimes against humanity, and establish a federal democratic New Myanmar for the ASEAN region and the world.
On 14 July 2023, H.E. Daw Zin Mar Aung, Union Minister for Foreign Affairs of the NUG attended a virtual meeting with the Hon. Robert Oliphant, Member of Parliament and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada. The Hon. Robert Oliphant attended the meeting on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Mélanie Joly. During the meeting, the Union Minister discussed bilateral cooperation, current situation in Myanmar, the atrocities and terrorist acts of the junta and the possible ways to prevent those acts, to hold perpetrators accountable, and to support the people of Myanmar. Canada side also reiterated the close cooperation with the National Unity Government.
Actions and Remarks by the International Community in response to the Military Coup d’état
According to the news, on 11 July 2023, the IndustriAll global union federation and its affiliated European Trade Union reiterated their call for the European Union to withdraw its support for Myanmar’s clothing industry, which helps fund the military regime, as well as for the withdrawal preferential tariffs under the Generalized System of Preferences. It said that EU citizens and public funds should not be used to benefit the military junta, nor should they be associated with an EU-funded project where workers are threatened, dismissed or arrested without cause. The federation added that the presence of EU brands in Myanmar provides vital foreign currency flows that sustain the military junta and facilitate its purchase of arms, ammunition and fuel. In the article, it said that the EU is currently funding the 3-million-euro Multi-Stakeholder Alliance for Decent Employment in the Myanmar apparel industry (MADE in Myanmar), running from December 2022 to 2026 and the project supports workers’ access to functional grievance mechanisms at both factory and industry level as well as facilitating dialogue between employers, workers and international stakeholders. It said that the project also promotes industry best practices for occupational health and safety, social compliance and environmental management. It stated that while noting the receipt of the letter of 28 June 2023 from Mario Ronconi, on behalf of the European Commission, the federation dispute various important points in this letter, and it is believed to be of the utmost importance to inform the leaders of the three EU institutions of the ongoing abuse of workers in Myanmar, including the links to EU engagement and funding in the country. It informed that since the last letter, the military has arrested eight workers from two garment factories and two members of a Labour NGO, Action Labour Rights. It underlined that the arrests of these labour activists demonstrate that Freedom of Association is not possible in Myanmar and that the MADE project does not protect labour activists from the military junta.
On 12 July 2023, the International Labour Organization (ILO) posted a press release and expressed its deep concern over reports of the re-arrest of Thet Hnin Aung, General Secretary of Myanmar Industry Crafts & Services Trade Unions Federation (MICS-TUsF), which is an ILO constituent. The press release stated that Thet Hnin Aung was arrested by Myanmar military authorities in June 2021 and released on 26 June 2023. However, he appears to have been rearrested and his whereabouts remain unknown. ILO also called for his immediate release and urges the local authorities to uphold its commitments under the ILO Convention on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize, 1948 (No. 87) which Myanmar has ratified as an ILO Member. It underlined that workers and employers must be able to exercise their freedom of association rights in a climate of freedom and security, free from violence and threats.
On 13 July 2023, the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting released a joint communiqué. In the joint communiqué, matters related to Myanmar were included such as: we commended the AHA Centre’s leading role in supporting and assisting Myanmar in the aftermath of the severe impact of Tropical Cyclone MOCHA through the mobilization of relief items from the Disaster Emergency Logistics System for ASEAN (DELSA) to the affected communities; we appreciated the support from the ASEAN Member States and ASEAN Secretariat through the deployment of the ASEAN Emergency Response Assessment Team (ASEANERAT), including the completion of the Needs Assessment of the affected areas in Rakhine State; we also looked forward to strengthening collaboration with Dialogue Partners, UN agencies, and other relevant agencies, including in mobilizing resources to the affected communities of Tropical Cyclone MOCHA in Myanmar; we reaffirmed ASEAN’s continued support for Myanmar’s efforts to bring peace, stability, the rule of law, promote harmony and reconciliation among the various communities, as well as ensure sustainable and equitable development in Rakhine State; we emphasized the importance of and reiterated our continued support for Myanmar’s commitment to ensuring safety and security for all communities in Rakhine State as effectively as possible and facilitating the voluntary return of displaced persons in a safe, secure, and dignified manner; we noted 24 engagement and cooperation between Myanmar and Bangladesh for the pilot repatriation project, to facilitate 7,000 returnees by the end of 2023 and welcomed Myanmar’s efforts to work towards the implementation of this project.
In the joint communiqué, regarding the development of Myanmar it was stated as follows: we discussed the developments in Myanmar and reaffirmed our united position that the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) remains our main reference to address the political crisis in Myanmar; we strongly condemned the continued acts of violence, including air strikes, artillery shelling, and destruction of public facilities and urged all parties involved to take concrete action to immediately halt indiscriminate violence, denounce any escalation, and create a conducive environment for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and inclusive national dialogue; we appreciated the support from all stakeholders in Myanmar for helping the completion of the JNA by the AHA Centre in an inclusive manner facilitated by the ASEAN Chair; we called for additional support from the international community for humanitarian assistance to implement the JNA Report; we appreciated the Chair’s efforts in intensifying engagement with all relevant stakeholders in Myanmar to build trust and confidence, create a conducive environment, and bridge gaps and differences leading toward an inclusive dialogue for a comprehensive political solution; we supported sustaining such engagements to push for the implementation of the 5PC in its entirety, in line with our Leaders’ decision at the 42nd ASEAN Summit. We called for continued support of the External Partners, including the UN and neighbouring countries of Myanmar, to work with ASEAN for concrete implementation of the 5PC.
It also stated that in line with paragraph 14 of the ASEAN Leaders’ Review and Decision on the Implementation of Five-Point Consensus, they were briefed by Thailand on its recent activities on Myanmar, which a number of ASEAN Member States viewed as a positive development. They reaffirmed ASEAN unity and reiterated that any effort should support, in line with 5PC and in coordination with the Chair of ASEAN and that they will conduct comprehensive review of the 5PC implementation and submit recommendation to the 43rd ASEAN Summit.
In the Chairman’s Statement at the 13th East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on 14 July 2023, the development in Myanmar has been mentioned as follows: the Meeting discussed the development in Myanmar and reaffirmed our united position that the 5PC remains our main reference to address the political crisis in Myanmar; the Meeting strongly condemned the continued acts of violence, including air strikes, artillery shelling, and destruction of public facilities and urged all parties involved to take concrete action to immediately halt indiscriminate violence, denounce any escalation, and create a conducive environment for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and inclusive national dialogue; the Meeting also commended the AHA Centre for its partial delivery of aid to 400 households of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Hsiseng Township, located in the Southern Shan State, on 7 July 2023; the Meeting appreciated the support of the relevant stakeholders in ensuring safe delivery; the Meeting called on further facilitation to ensure the humanitarian assistance can safely reach the 1.1 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) identified in the Joint Need Assessment (JNA) Report of the AHA Centre; the Meeting appreciated the support from all stakeholders in Myanmar for helping the completion of the JNA by the AHA Centre in an inclusive manner facilitated by the ASEAN Chair; the Meeting called for additional support from the international community for humanitarian assistance to implement the JNA Report; the Meeting appreciated the Chair’s efforts in intensifying engagement with all relevant stakeholders in Myanmar to build trust and confidence, create a conducive environment, and bridge gaps and differences leading toward an inclusive dialogue for a comprehensive political solution; the Meeting supported sustaining such engagements to push for the implementation of the 5PC in its entirety, in line with ASEAN Leaders’ decision at the 42nd ASEAN Summit; the Meeting called for continued support of the External Partners, including the UN and neighboring countries of Myanmar, to work with ASEAN for concrete implementation of the 5PC.
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Date: 16 July 2023
Permanent Mission of Myanmar to the United Nations, New York
