Weekly Updates on Current Situation in Myanmar
(23-10-2022)
Over twenty months ago, on 1 February 2021, the Myanmar military attempted an illegal coup, toppled the civilian government, and unlawfully and unjustly 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 the people suffer with inhumane and disproportionate actions.
As of 23 October 2022, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), 2,377 people have been ruthlessly killed by the military, whereas 15,913 people have been arrested and a total of 126 individuals have been sentenced to death, of which 84 (including 2 children) are detained and 42 in absentia since 1 February 2021, when the military unleashed systematic and targeted attacks and violence against innocent civilians. Four democracy activists who were given to death sentence were executed by the military junta in July 2022.
Atrocities committed by the military
Raiding, Looting, Abducting, Killing and Torching in Sagaing Region
On 19 October 2022, Myanmar military forces launched both airstrikes and ground attacks on villages on the border between Yinmabin and Pale Townships in Sagaing Region. According to news reports, the junta forces attacked Pyar Oh and Yin Paung Taing Villages, and killed two villagers from Pyar Oh Village, a 33-year-old pregnant woman and her mother-in-law in her 60s. The raiding troops captured displaced villagers who had been taking refuge in the Pyar Oh monastery and brought them to Yin Paung Taing, which they occupied next. According to locals, the junta troops had blocked all roads in and out of Yin Paung Taing Village in which they set up a base. News reported that thousands of villagers from Yin Paung Taing, Pu Htoe Thar, Ywar Thit, Non Tan, Pyar Oh and Nyaung Tan Villages of Sagaing Region were displaced by the military’s recent assaults despite there being no battles with resistance forces in the immediate area.
According to news reports, the junta troops stationed in Hpayar Taung Village of Pauk Township began attacking villages in Pauk Township since 12 October 2022. On13 October 2022, the junta soldiers shelled and ransacked Thee Chauk Village, which is about 20km west of Hpayar Taung Village. Afterwards, they burned down the entire village of around 250 households. According to local groups, the recent junta raids in Pauk Township forcibly displaced around 8,000 civilians from 13 villages.
Killing innocent civilians
According to the local residents of Kula Ywar Gyi Village, Ngazun Township, Mandalay, the junta dumped the bodies of five people near the village during the night of 17 October 2022. Locals found the bodies in the southern part of the village the next morning. According to the locals, the victims were four men in their 30s and a young woman in her late teens or early 20s. The victims were blindfolded with their hands tied behind their backs, their feet tied and bullet wounds in their heads. While the locals were examining the bodies, the junta forces reportedly returned to the village and collected the bodies. News reported that the locals confirmed those victims were not the residents of the village. Whilst some villagers thought that the military’s plan was to make the public believe that the local defence team killed those people, others believed that the act was meant as a warning for the local villagers to not take part in the revolution.
On 16 October 2022, during the raid in Chaung-U Village, Taze Township, Sagaing, the junta troops killed one villager and tortured a monk and several other hostages. According to the news, the 26-year-old villager was captured by junta troops in plain clothes, brought to Chaung-U Village, and killed near the village entrance the next day. The military forces captured 11 villagers of Chaung-U Village, including a monk. While being held hostage, the villagers were beaten with their hands tied behind their backs and were seriously tortured in many other forms. According to the spokesperson of the local defence team, the 25-year-old monk, who was accused of sending supplies to the resistance forces, received the worst form of torture with the junta soldiers having cut his ears and his knee. The junta troops reportedly released the hostages when they left the village the next day.
Arbitrary arrests and deaths of civilians in custody
According to news reports, on 9 September 2022, Cin Biak Sang, from Doe Waing Chaung Village, Kale Township, Sagaing Region, was arrested while being checked by junta forces inspecting Bogyoke Road, Tar Han Ward, Kale Town. Since the arrest, his family members have not been able to contact him. On 14 October 2022, the junta forces informed his family to come collect his body. According to the family, there were a lot of injuries at the back of the body.
At the night of 19 October 2022, the junta soldiers detained Aung Kyaw Kyaw and other men living with him in Myo Ma Kwat Thit Ward, Natmauk Township, Magway Region. While Aung Kyaw Kyaw was detained for questioning, other men were arrested for allegedly planting landmines and planning mine attacks. On 20 October 2022, Aung Kyaw Kyaw was killed from beatings by junta soldiers. His dead body was cremated by his family on the same day and the junta did not allow other persons to escort his funeral.
Attacking, Abducting and Killing CDM teacher and individuals
According to the news, on 17 October 2022, the junta troops which have been raiding villages in Pauk Township since 12 October 2022, attacked and raided Kyar Pyit Kan Village. During the raid, they abducted three men, including a teacher taking part in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) and took them to neighbouring Taung Myint Village. According to the locals, the abducted 46-year-old teacher, Saw Moe Tun, taught mathematics at a school run by the National Unity Government (NUG) and was also on its township education committee. The junta forces tortured and killed him in front of the school in Taung Myint Village as they cut three fingers off of his right hand and beheaded him. They hung his head at the entrance to the school, and set fire to the school. A photo of the victim’s head hanging from a school door, with his headless body lying nearby on the ground, has circulated widely on social media. The other two men, who were unidentified at the time of reporting, were also killed. On 18 October 2022, the Basic Education General Strike Committee and Basic Education Workers Union-Strike Committee released statements strongly condemning the military’s brutal killing of Saw Moe Tun. Both groups also noted that on the same day of Saw Moe Tun’s murder, Ye Thiha, a middle school headmaster who was also taking part in the CDM, was fatally stabbed seven times at his home in Zalun Township of Ayeyarwady Region. The groups called on the public as well as the NUG, to protect teachers and others taking part in the CDM.
Actions taken against anti-military activists
On 17 October 2022, Phone Pyae Paing, a member of the Basic Education Students Union in Shwedaung Township, Bago Region,was sentenced to ten years imprisonment under Section 50(a) and 52(a) of the Counter-Terrorism Law by the Pyay District Court in Bago Region. After the decision, he was sent to Pyay Prison.
Thet Su Hlaing, a member of the Basic Education General Strike Committee (BEGSC), who led the Mandalay Education Strike, was sentenced to three years imprisonment under Section 505(A) of the Penal Code by Aungmyaythazan Township Court in Mandalay Region. She was also sentenced to five years imprisonment under Section 52(a) of the Counter-Terrorism Law on 17 August 2022. All sentences were reportedly handed down without trial. Thet Su Hlaing was a CDM teacher arrested on 30 October 2021 in Mandalay and is detained in Obo Prison.
Deaths of anti-military activists in prison
According to the news report, after being denied adequate medical care, Maung Ngal, who was sentenced to 5 years in prison under Counter-Terrorism Law Section 52, died in Loikaw Prison on 13 October 2022. He was arrested in 2021 at a checkpoint in Loikaw and accused of having connection with the PDF. His family was unable to recover his body at the time of reporting.
Explosions and shooting in Insein Prison and the prohibition of mails and parcels to prisoners
On 19 October 2022, due to the two explosions and shootings in Insein Prison, Yangon, at least eight people were killed and 15 injured. According to news, two parcel bombs went off near the main entrance of the prison: one detonated in a building where staff receive care packages for prisoners and another one went off outside. A number of civilians were present at the scene of explosions since they came to the prison to deliver food and other necessities for their relatives in prison. However, following the explosions, gunshots were fired from a prison watchtower causing the people at the location to scatter. Among the eight persons being killed, three were prison staff and five were civilians. According to the eyewitness, the casualties were not caused by the bomb blasts but by the subsequent indiscriminate shooting from the watchtower. Among the civilian casualties was the mother of incarcerated student activist Lin Htet Naing, commonly known as James, who was at the prison to deliver a care package for her son. All court hearings inside Insein Prison were subsequently cancelled for the day, according to the relative of a political prisoner who was at the location at the time of the attack.
In-person family visits with prisoners across the country have been suspended since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. The continued ban has been widely seen as a measure imposed by the military to cut off communications between Myanmar’s thousands of political prisoners and the outside world. Since the junta only allows prisoners access to weekly or fortnightly parcel deliveries from family members, those deliveries of food and other basic supplies remains critical to the survival of those incarcerated under the military junta.
However, following the explosions in Insein prison, on the following day, the junta has prohibited the delivery of packages and other mail to inmates in its prisons nationwide until further notice. The news was confirmed by the friends and relatives of individuals being detained in prisons across the country that they were no longer allowed to send supplies inside the prisons. Since the prohibition generated the situation where prisoners cannot contact people outside, even if they are being oppressed inside, family members were worried that something may have happened to their detained family members without them knowing.
Airstrikes and heavy artillery targeting civilian areas
On 17 October 2022, at around 12 PM, junta forces stationed on Pyayar Ma Mountain, Minbya Township, Rakhine State, fired heavy weaponry into Palong Byint Village. Consequently, two sisters; Hla San Yin, 23, San Nwel Soe, 10; and another villager-Oo, Mya Sein, were seriously injured. Although Hla San Yin, was transported to Pauktaw Hospital, she died at around 3 PM. The 10-year-old San Nwel Soe died at around 4 PM, while seeking treatment in Thit Pote Taung Clinic. According to local sources, the junta troops also fired artillery into Daunt Chaung Gyi Village, killing one villager and injured several others. Later the same day, a 30-year-old Rohingya woman reportedly died when junta forces fired on Kyauktaw’s Pike The Ward from a security checkpoint on the town’s Kissapanadi Bridge.
On 17 October 2022, the junta soldiers travelled from Chaung-U Village to Khayan Chan Village, where they used light and heavy weapons to attack the village. Due to the loud explosions, a 72-year-old woman from the villager died of a heart attack. It was reported that her dead body was left behind without any funeral, as her family had to flee the village to avoid the soldiers. According to local defence forces, the troops stationing in Khayan Chan Village sent a number of troops to take control of the nearby Pae Khin Gyi and Thapyay Yin Villages.
In the afternoon of 19 October 2022, a junta artillery shell, which was fired into Buanlung Khua Village in Hakha Township, Chin State, killed two kindergarten students of ages six and seven and injured another child. The children were hit whilst returning home from school in the village.
On 19 October 2022, the Junta troops stationed at Ye Soe Chaung Base in Rathedaung Township, Rakhine State fired at least four artillery shells onto the villages in Rathedaung Township, including Pyeinn Taw Village. According to the villagers, one shell landing in Pyeinn Taw Village and instantly killed 13-year-old Nyein Nyein San, as it hit her in the back while she was fleeing with her family. The other victim of the junta’s shelling was a five-year-old who reportedly suffered a minor head injury. Pain Taw residents were forced to flee their homes during a two-year conflict between Myanmar’s military and the Arakan Army (AA) that ended in late 2020. Although the two sides have since resumed fighting, no clashes were reported in the area on Wednesday. According to news, the other villages affected by the shelling were Kalarchaung and Ohn Taw Villages.
According to an officer in Karen National Union’s (KNU) Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), multiple Karen forces active in the state - accompanied by local resistance columns - attacked two junta targets: the township administration office and the district police station. During those attacks, the Karen forces reportedly killed several junta soldiers and police, reportedly seized control of the police station jail in Kawkareik and freed the detainees. Afterwards, the military retaliated against those attacks by launching airstrikes and airlifting in more troops. It was reported that when the junta’s reinforcements from the air force arrived, they fired at civilian targets and wards, injuring several people. According to local Karen news outlet the Karen Information Centre (KIC), a heavy artillery shell fired by the Myanmar army exploded in Kawkareik Town, killing one civilian and injuring two others. Another local media group claimed that at least two civilians were killed and more than one dozen injured. The military released a statement on 21 October 2022 regarding the attack on its forces in Kawkareik, but only named the National Unity Government and a committee of ousted National League for Democracy lawmakers as being involved, as well as a Karen group called the Klo Htoo Baw Organisation—not the KNU or KNLA.
Activities of the National Unity Government
On 17 October 2022, the National Unity Government issued Weekly Newsletter No. 25/2022, which contained articles relating to the NUG’s activities. Those articles included a warning by the NUG Acting President against the SAC’s planned fraudulent 2023 elections, as well as statements delivered by Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun in the First Committee, Third Committee and Sixth Committee of the Seventy-Seventh United Nations General Assembly in New York.
On 17 October 2022, H.E. Mr. Kyaw Moe Tun, Permanent Representative of Myanmar to the United Nations delivered a statement at the Third Committee of the 77th Session of UNGA under Agenda item 68: Promotion and Protection of Human Rights at the Interactive Dialogue with Special Rapporteur on Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons. In his statement, the Ambassador mentioned that among the over 1.3 million persons displaced in Myanmar, more than 986,500 people, including many women and children, have been internally displaced within last 20 months. He highlighted that they are intentionally targeted for displacement and are in very vulnerable conditions. They have been facing several challenges regarding food and nutrition, hygiene, shelter, etc. He stressed that if no decisive action is taken regarding the situation, they will be at high risk as victims of human trafficking, and he added that access for providing humanitarian assistance to the people in need is also a pressing challenge that everyone is facing. He asked the Special Rapporteur how she could suggest the international community to be more effective enabling IDPs to return their homes and help to find ways and means to provide necessary assistance to those IDPs.
On 18 October 2022, H.E. Mr. Kyaw Moe Tun delivered a statement at the Thematic Debate on Nuclear Weapons First Committee of the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly. In his statement, the Ambassador offered a reminder that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought, so there is no point in raising the nuclear ante. He highlighted that the only way to safeguard the world from the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is their total elimination. While sharing the disappointment for the failure of the Tenth Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to reach consensus on the final document, he affirmed Myanmar’s commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as the cornerstone of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime. He emphasized that although Myanmar agrees with the peaceful use of nuclear energy in line with the IAEA’s guidelines and third pillar of NPT, he stressed that it is important to keep a close eye on the inhumane junta which recently signed an agreement with a company from the Russian Federation to build a small-scale nuclear power plant in the next few years, despite worsening economic conditions and mass exodus of educated workforce.
On 18 October 2022, H.E. Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun also delivered a statement under Agenda item 68: Promotion and Protection of Human Rights Interactive Dialogue with Chair Rapporteur of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance at the Third Committee of the 77th Session of UNGA. He mentioned that since the attempted coup, enforced disappearance was one of the military’s inhumane activities in order to interrogate suspects for more information or to instill fear into the society and to prevent further resistance acts against the military. He underlined that there were many such cases over last 20 months in Myanmar, in which, the civilians were abducted and their whereabouts were unknown. He explained that some families were informed of the death of their abducted family members, whereas some couldn’t get any information of the detainees’ situation. He explained that while the respective families have been under pressure with fear for the military, without any intervention from the international community, this kind of situation allows the military more chances to mistreat or torture the detainees and citizens at large as they wish without any worries for the evidence or complaints. He asked that taking into account of the military’s deep-rooted culture of impunity, what are the possible methods the Working Group could use and the possible assistance the international community can render to the Working Group to effectively assist the disappeared persons and their families in affected countries like in Myanmar.
On 19 October 2022, the NUG issued a statement (21/2022) regarding explosions and shootings at Insein Prison, Yangon. In the statement, the NUG expressed its deepest sorrow that the mother and family members of some political prisoners and other civilians were killed during the bombing and explosion. It stated that the NUG is investigating urgently the details of the event, including the cause of death of all civilians who died in the incident. The NUG emphasized that any person or group committing an act that harms the civilian population will be censured and condemned by the NUG. The NUG also made clear that appropriate action will be taken against any such person or group, in accordance with the commitment to the rule of law.
On 19 October 2022, H.E. Mr. Kyaw Moe Tun delivered a statement at Thematic Discussion on Other Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) at the First Committee of the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. In his statement, the Ambassador reaffirmed Myanmar’s commitments to a world free of all weapons of mass destruction, and called upon all states to fully implement all relevant treaties. He reminded that the path to chemical and biological weapons is easier and cheaper than developing a nuclear bomb, that these weapons have become the best alternative to nuclear weapons for potential rogue states and non-state actors, and that member states must redouble the efforts to stop their proliferation. He reiterated Myanmar’s strong condemnation against any use of chemical weapons anywhere, at anytime, by anyone, under any circumstance, and stressed that the perpetrators must be held accountable. He said that the military, in the past, reportedly engaged in a chemical program that manufactured a sizeable amount of sulfur mustard, Schedule I chemical. He pointed out that the military has never been transparent with their past chemical weapon programme and also failed to be a good partner for nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation. He highlighted that it is also important for all to keep track of emerging new technologies that may give rise to new types of weapons of mass destruction that have characteristics comparable in destructive effects to those of the existing WMDs.
On 20 October 2022, H.E. Mr. Kyaw Moe Tun delivered a statement under Agenda Item 50: Questions relating to information at the Fourth Committee of the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly. In his statement, he stressed the importance of ensuring the safety and security of journalists for their professional work. He stated that media freedom is a necessary foundation in a civil, democratic society and that safeguarding the free and effective performance of journalists is one of the main strategies to counter misinformation and disinformation. Highlighting that media plays an important role in transmitting people's voices to the international community and making their voices heard by relevant authorities, he added that media will help bring perpetrators of serious crimes to justice. He explained that in Myanmar, freedom of expression, freedom of press and activities of journalists have been severely restricted by the fascist military since the illegal military coup in February 2021. While mentioning how Myanmar has hit the lowest press freedom index in 2022 for the first time since 2015 and has become the world's second-worst jailer of journalists, the Ambassador reminded all that the military junta regularly announces fabricated news through the military-controlled media. He also added that the junta continue to post some of these fabrications on their website and shared them with diplomatic missions in Myanmar as well as host countries abroad through Myanmar Embassies. He emphasized that only the elected civilian government can implement concrete actions in line with the principles of the UN Charter and of freedom of the press and freedom of information. He then appealed again to the international community to extend every possible support to the Myanmar people in their efforts to end the military dictatorship and restore democracy in Myanmar.
On 21 October 2022, H.E. Mr. Kyaw Moe Tun delivered a statement at the General Discussion under Agenda Item 68: Promotion and Protection of Human Rights at the Third Committee of 77th Session of UN General Assembly. In his statement, he recalled the priorities of the civilian government of Myanmar to promote and protect human rights and to ensure that people in Myanmar are able to enjoy their fundamental rights. Listing the progress made under the leadership of the civilian government, the Ambassador underlined the reversed situation in Myanmar since the illegal coup. As he explained the worsening situation and serious violations of human rights in Myanmar, he mentioned the launch of airstrikes, use of heave weaponry, raids and torching across the country. He also recalled the massacres, bombardments and abduction of family members as hostages committed by the junta forces. He appealed to the United Nations and in particular to the UN Security Council, to take swift and decisive actions to end the military dictatorship and ensure that democracy returns to all Myanmar people.
On 21 October 2022, an online conference titled “A critical moment for Myanmar” was held in Washington D.C., U.S. During the conference, a topic of how Myanmar people, particularly women and girls, have been suffering serious human rights violations, under the junta’s administration was mainly discussed. H.E. Naw Suzana Hla Hla Soe, Union Minister for Women, Children and Youth Affairs of National Unity Government, attended the conference and explained the on-ground situation and human rights violations in Myanmar. It was moderated by Ambassador Melanne Verveer, Executive Director of Woman, Peace and Security Affairs, Georgetown University, with participation by representatives from the diplomatic community and civil society organizations including Ambassador Chris Lu from the US Mission to the UN and Ambassador James Kariuko from the UK Mission to the UN.
Actions and Remarks by the International Community in response to the Military Coup d’état
On 17 October 2022, the UNHCR issued the Weekly Highlights of Myanmar South East - Emergency Overview Map. According to the highlights, in the South-East, the number of IDPs increased from 292,200 last week to 295,200 this week. Most IDPs were verified in Pekon Township, Shan State (South) with about 1,800 people experiencing secondary displacements after a series of clashes last week. The security situation also deteriorated in Kayah State with 500 new IDPs verified in Loikaw Town and nearby villages in Loikaw Township. Some 420 IDPs also returned to Loikaw from Shan State (South) following instructions from de facto authorities to return to places of origin. In Tanintharyi Region, 1,300 IDPs were displaced within in Dawei Township due to reported clashes between the Tatmadaw and local armed groups close to their villages. Clashes between the Tatmadaw and People’s Defence Force were also reported in Myeik and Yebyu Townships, causing displacement - the number of IDPs is still being verified. In Bago Region (East), fighting continued in Kyaukkyi Township, forcing people to flee to other townships. About 120 IDPs were verified in Phyu Township as a result of secondary displacement. In Kayin State, displacement occurred in Kyainseikgyi and Thandaunggyi Townships following an intensification of fighting – notwithstanding, 250 IDPs returned to their villages of origin in Kyainseikgyi Township.
On 18 October 2022, the Food and Agricultural Organization made a country brief on Myanmar under the GIEWS – Global Information and Early Warning System. The brief included different sectors: paddy output, price of rice, etc. Under the sub-heading “Persistent conflict continues to cause displacements”, it was explained as follows: According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as of September 2022, the number of additional displaced people following the military takeover in February 2021 is estimated at 982 000, bringing the total number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to about 1.3 million. Most IDPs reside in Rakhine, Chin, Kachin, Kayin and Shan states. Macroeconomic difficulties, due to lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and political instability, have caused widespread loss of income and livelihoods, sharply reducing households’ purchasing power. Decreased production stemming from localized paddy crop losses, combined with the high prices of energy, fuel and essential food items, may cause a significant decline in output leading to a deterioration of food security outcomes in 2022/23.
On 20 October 2022, the UNHCR issued an urgent appeal to countries in the region to immediately stop forced returns of Myanmar nationals seeking safety from serious harm. It was highlighted that sending those people back to the country is placing countless lives at risk. UNHCR said it remained gravely concerned about multiple reports from countries in the region of refoulement - the forcible return of refugees and asylum seekers - since February 2021. UNHCR repeated its call on states to continue offering protection to Myanmar nationals fleeing for safety, including ending the practice of indefinite detention of asylum seekers and refugees from Myanmar. It was noted that in Myanmar, acts of indiscriminate violence against civilians continue across the country, as well as fighting between the Myanmar military and ethnic armed groups in some border areas, driving people to flee within the country and across borders. UNHCR underlined that people fleeing Myanmar must be allowed access to territory to seek asylum and be protected against refoulement. Moreover, it emphasized that Myanmar nationals already abroad should not be forced to return when seeking international protection. The principle of non-refoulement is a cornerstone of international law and is binding on all states. Myanmar’s neighbours have a decades-long history of providing protection and assistance to refugees. UNHCR called on them to continue upholding their international legal obligations and lifesaving humanitarian tradition of safeguarding the lives of all those forced to flee. It was mentioned that UNHCR and partner organizations stand ready to step-up support to national and local authorities in the region to ensure that refugees receive the protection they need.
On 20 October 2022, International Committee of Red Cross issued an article that under the Myanmar Community Resilience Project (MCRP), the World Bank will support ICRC’s interventions in support of vulnerable, violence-affected communities in Myanmar. It also presented the objective of the MCRP which is to support the resilience of communities through multisectoral assistance including livelihood support and small-scale infrastructure projects. It further highlighted that as part of this collaboration, the ICRC has conducted an assessment of the potential environmental and social risks linked to the project and devised appropriate mitigation measures to manage these. It also underlined that this process has and will continue to involve consultations with a range of stakeholders. The guiding documents on these efforts included (1) Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), (2) Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) and (3) Framework.
On 21 October 2022, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) put Myanmar in the list of High-Risk Jurisdictions subject to a Call for Action, which is externally referred to as the “Black list”. It was explained that Myanmar committed to address its strategic deficiencies in February 2022 and Myanmar’s action plan expired in September 2021. It further mentioned that the FATF strongly urged Myanmar in June 2022 to swiftly complete its action plan by October 2022 or the FATF would call on its members and urge all jurisdictions to apply enhanced due diligence to business relations and transactions with Myanmar. It stated that given the continued lack of progress and the majority of its action items still not addressed after a year beyond the action plan deadline, the FATF decided that further action was necessary in line with its procedures and FATF calls on its members and other jurisdictions to apply enhanced due diligence measures proportionate to the risk arising from Myanmar. When applying enhanced due diligence measures, countries should ensure that flows of funds for humanitarian assistance, legitimate NPO activity and remittances are not disrupted. It urged Myanmar to work to fully address its AML/CFT deficiencies and Myanmar will remain on the list of countries subject to a call for action until its full action plan is completed. Myanmar was placed on the blacklist of FATF along with Iran and North Korea.
According to diplomatic sources, the ASEAN foreign ministers will hold emergency talks in Jakarta in the week of 24 October 2022 to discuss strife-torn Myanmar ahead of November’s ASEAN leaders’ summit in Phnom Penh. An Indonesian foreign ministry official confirmed a meeting is scheduled for 27 October 2022 at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta. The talks are expected to review progress on the plan. The official noted that any potential suspension of Myanmar’s ASEAN membership would not be an easy process. According to Chum Sounry, Cambodia’s foreign ministry spokesman, a team had been sent to Myanmar to discuss concrete action and the ASEAN special envoy’s third visit to Myanmar, which was originally slated for September. He said they are now waiting for a response from the Myanmar side.
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Date: 23 October 2022
Permanent Mission of Myanmar to the United Nations, New York
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