Bi-weekly Update on the Current Situation in Myanmar (01-01-2026 to 15-01-2026)

Bi-weekly Update on the Current Situation in Myanmar

(01-01-2026 to 15-01-2026)

Over (59) months ago, on 1 February 2021, the military junta attempted an illegal coup, toppled the elected 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.

Moreover, over 3.6 million people are being displaced. Almost 22 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. Among them, over 10.4 million are women and girls, and over 6.3 million are children. 116, 897 houses were burned down throughout Myanmar since the illegal coup until the end of 31 of May 2025, according to Data for Myanmar.

According to the UNDP, 49.7 % of the population in Myanmar was living under the national poverty line in 2023. Again, its report in June 2025 revealed that even in Myanmar’s commercial hub, Yangon, nearly half of the city’s population lives in poverty, and the economic collapse, displacement, and inadequate services are pushing more families into poverty every day.

Moreover, due to the complete dismantle of rule of law by the junta, transnational organized crimes including online scam, drug and human trafficking have been rising across the country and generating security implication to the region and beyond.

Unfortunately, the suffering of the people has been compounded by the 7.7 magnitude earthquake which struck Myanmar on 28 March 2025. Sagaing Region, Mandalay Region and Nay Pyi Taw were among the hardest hits. Due to the earthquake, almost 4,200 people killed, over 3,680 people injured. Over 3.2 million people were affected. Infrastructures as well as houses and religious facilities were severely destroyed.

According to the data collected by AAPP, from 1 January to 31 December 2025, (98) people in total died in formal detention facilities across the country; (8) men in interrogation, (3) men in police stations, and (25) women and (62) men in prisons. These are numbers that have been verified.

From 1 to 15 January 2026, (34) people in total; (17) women and (17) men, were killed by the junta across the country, including (7) children under the age of 18. The youngest recorded death was a five-month-old baby. The identities of these victims have been verified. Among these deaths, Sagaing Region recorded the highest number of fatalities, totalling (15). During the stated period, the AAPP has also received information regarding the death of (28) civilians, as a result of junta attacks, whose identities have yet to be confirmed.

Amidst such suffering, the military junta has continued carrying out of atrocities, aerial and artillery attacks across the country.

War Crimes, Crimes against Humanity and Mass Murders Committed by the Military Junta

Military Junta Killings and Injuries of Women Surge as Airstrikes Intensify in 2025

Nearly 800 women were killed and more than 800 injured in Myanmar last year as the military junta stepped up airstrikes and artillery attacks on civilian areas, according to a report released in January by the Burmese Women's Union. The women's rights group recorded that at least 792 women were killed and 815 wounded nationwide in 2025 as a result of air attacks, shelling, landmines and other forms of violence linked to the military junta.

Airstrikes accounted for the vast majority of deaths, with 621 women killed in aerial bombardments. The second highest recorded number of deaths was 102 from artillery attacks. Another 39 were victims of extrajudicial killings. Other women were killed by landmines, crossfire, lack of access to medical care and conflict-related sexual violence. Amongst the dead were 154 girls under the age of 18, as well as five pregnant women, the group reported. They warned that the true toll is likely higher due to limited access to conflict areas and reporting obstacles. The deadliest single incident occurred on 18 January 2025, when a junta airstrike near Yan Chaung village in Rakhine State killed 21 women, according to the report.

Geographically, Sagaing Region recorded the highest number of women killed, with 217 deaths, followed by Mandalay Region with 123 deaths and Rakhine State with 119 deaths. Shan State also saw a heavy toll, with 81 women killed. The Burmese Women's Union stated that the attacks amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, calling on ASEAN and the international community to hold the military junta leadership accountable. They also called for the imposition of targeted sanctions and a block on the supply of arms and aviation fuel to the junta.

Military Junta Destroys Fourth Hospital in Falam Township Through Airstrike

The military junta launched an airstrike on the night of 11 January, completely destroying Thibaul Station Hospital in Falam Township, Chin State, Mizzima reported.  The facility, located on the India-Myanmar border trade road, is the fourth hospital to be levelled by the junta in the township during the ongoing conflict, according to the Chin National Organisation/Chin National Defence Force. The airstrike targeted Thibaul Station Hospital, approximately 40 miles from Falam, at around 9:20 pm on 11 January.

Thibaul Station Hospital, built in 2014-15 at a cost of 500 million kyats (US$238,000), was reportedly completely destroyed in the bombing. Whilst no casualties were reported in the attack, several nearby residential houses were damaged, according to Salai Timmy Htut. During the battle for Falam, the military junta bombed and destroyed Falam General Hospital, Lumte Station Hospital, and Khaunglwun Station Hospital. Thibaul Station Hospital is the fourth to be destroyed, Salai Timmy Htut added.

Prior to the military coup, Thibaul village hosted a military camp and police checkpoint. The Chin National Defence Force captured and occupied the site on 15 November 2023, however, there have been no military deployments or activities at the location since the battle for Falam began.

The junta has been launching attacks in Falam Township with two columns. In the night of 13 January, a minor clash occurred near Khunli village, 10 miles from Falam, where the junta also conducted aerial bombings, the Chin National Defence Force spokesperson said.

The military junta has been targeting and bombing other hospitals across the country, including Wammathu Hospital and Matupi Hospital in Mindat, in Chin State, and Mrauk-U Hospital in Rakhine State.

Military Junta Burns 150 Houses in Mandalay Region Village Raids

Raids by the military junta on villages in Mandalay Region's Nyaung-U and Tada-U townships have left around 150 burned, according to the Myanmar Now.  More than 70 houses were torched during a raid last week in Sa Par Twin village, around 13 miles south of the Tada-U airport.

A statement issued by the People's Defence Forces, commanded by the defence ministry of the publicly mandated National Unity Government, stated that a man in his 50s was fatally shot and an elderly monk burned to death in the Sa Par Twin raids, which occurred after a skirmish between resistance and junta forces. Photographs posted on social media showed the charred remains of a car and houses after the arson attacks.

In a series of raids conducted over three days in mid-January 2026 in Nyaung-U Township, junta troops also set fires in villages about ten miles south of Bagan, an archaeological site and historic city on the east bank of the Ayeyarwady River, which is home to hundreds of temples and pagodas dating back more than seven centuries. A resistance fighter from Nyaung-U Township stated that junta troops carried out arson attacks in four of the seven villages they raided. The fighter added that more than 70 houses were damaged and there was a brief clash during the raids.

Junta troops burned down at least 40 houses in Kya Oh Village, 30 in Kya Oh Kyun village, and five in Mee Laung Hpyar village during the three-day raid in the first weeks of January. A man from Kya Oh stated that they have destroyed their houses and looted their belongings every time they entered their village. The military junta has repeatedly targeted villages south of the Bagan heritage site since the beginning of last year, with one raid in July destroying at least 100 houses.

Before the raids, resistance forces had carried out assaults on junta troops in Nyaung-U Township guarding polling stations for the first phase of an ongoing, junta-controlled election. A People's Defence Team under the command of the National Unity Government is active in Nyaung-U Township, along with other local and independent resistance groups.

The military junta maintains tight control over Nyaung-U Township's urban areas and frequently deploys troops to conduct raids in resistance-held territories, displacing thousands of civilians.

Military Junta Airstrike Kills One Civilian and Injures Four in Myaing Township

The military junta conducted an airstrike north of Myaing town, on the night of 6 January 2026, local media reported.  The strike occurred at 9:40 pm, targeting the eastern part of the village where a bomb exploded near a school, destroying two homes and causing widespread panic amongst residents.

A local resident said that the junta Air Force dropped a bomb from a jet fighter which exploded near a school in the eastern part of the village, noting that civilian areas continue to bear the brunt of the junta's aerial campaign. The 6 January attack was part of a larger surge in aerial operations across Myaing Township. On the same afternoon, three military gyrocopters bombed a medical clinic in North Wetaung village, located near northwestern oil fields. This followed an earlier incident on 4 January at 11:16 pm, when a fighter jet from the Tada-U Air Force Base dropped two bombs on Ywathit Kone Village, damaging several homes though no casualties were reported.

These escalations follow a pattern of indiscriminate bombing in Magway, where the military junta has increasingly targeted schools and clinics to undermine the infrastructure of resistance-controlled and contested territories.

Human Rights Abuses   

Military Junta Arbitrarily Detains Over 2,000 Civilians in Yangon During 2025

The Rangoon Scout Network reported that the military junta arbitrarily detained 2,035 civilians in Yangon between January and December 2025. Of those arrested, 282 people were later released, while 294 were transferred to prisons and military training schools. The whereabouts and current status of the remaining 1,459 detainees remain unknown.

The data indicates that arrests peaked in the early months of 2025. By township, the highest numbers of arrests were recorded in Thaketa, North Dagon, Thingangyun, North Okkalapa, Sanchaung, and Insein compared to other areas of Yangon.

According to the Rangoon Scout Network, 840 individuals were arrested during indiscriminate sweeps, 597 whilst walking on the streets, 172 sitting on the roadside, 62 in shops, and nine inside vehicles. The remaining arrests occurred during random inspections, household guest-list checks, and similar operations.

The Rangoon Scout Network also reported that 393 people were arrested under the pretext of being sent to military training schools. Amongst these, 177 were actually transferred to training centres, 29 were released after paying money, whilst the fate of the remaining 182 individuals remains unknown.

A Rangoon Scout Network official stated that they strongly advise people not to travel alone, especially at night or in deserted areas, and to avoid sitting by the roadside at night. The official added that residents should stay alert in their neighbourhoods and be prepared to temporarily relocate if they hear news related to forced conscription.

The Rangoon Scout Network noted that arrests related to robbery, drug offences, gambling, fraud, and cases of missing persons were not included in the figures for arbitrary arrests cited in the report. The organisation stated that at its core, it is about living without fear, adding that no one has the right to violate a person's fundamental freedoms. The organisation emphasised that people must be able to live safely and securely without fear, noting that if that is possible, human rights exist; if not, they do not.

Residents also reported that the junta has recently intensified guest-list inspections in townships such as Tamwe and Thaketa, specifically targeting Rakhine internally displaced persons and individuals holding Rakhine State identity cards marked with 11/. Homes deemed suspicious are reportedly searched thoroughly, and arbitrary arrests and extortion are carried out.

Additionally, Yangon residents indicated that in some townships involved in the final phase of elections, individuals living under guest-list registration have faced ongoing threats and pressure to vote. Overall, Yangon has seen an escalation in daily arrests, frequent guest-list inspections, voter registration activities, and coercion to participate in voting, all carried out by the military junta and its affiliated groups.

Military Junta Arrests 335 People Under Repressive So-called Election Law to Silence Dissent

In an announcement on 6 January 2026, Lieutenant General Tun Tun Naung, the military junta's Minister of Home Affairs, revealed that 335 individuals have been arrested nationwide under the repressive so-called Election Protection Law. According to reports in junta-controlled media on 7 January, the detainees include 60 women and several minors, all of whom face charges in 240 separate cases for allegedly obstructing the ongoing sham multi-phase general election. This figure marks a sharp escalation in the junta's crackdown, with over 100 new arrests occurring in just 20 days since 15 December, as the junta intensifies its efforts to suppress any opposition to the fraudulent polls.

Lt. Gen. Tun Tun Naung, who also serves as the so-called Chair of the Central Committee for Election Period Security, stated that investigations will continue into those involved in incitement and propaganda deemed a threat to election security. The enforcement of the so-called law – formally titled the Law on the Protection of Multiparty Democratic General Elections from Obstruction, Disruption, and Destruction – has been particularly severe in the cultural sector.

Several prominent film directors and artists, including Mike Tee, Aung Yay Chan, and Zabu Htun Thet Lwin, were detained and sentenced for social media activities, such as liking or sharing posts critical of the junta's election propaganda films. The so-called Election Protection Law, illegally enacted in late July 2025, carries draconian penalties ranging from three years in prison to the death penalty for acts that result in fatalities.

Human rights organisations, including Fortify Rights, have condemned the legislation as a tool of state repression used to silence dissent and legitimise a sham electoral process. Observers argue that by criminalising peaceful criticism and even minor social media interactions, the military junta is effectively disenfranchising the population and ensuring an environment of fear during the second phase of voting scheduled for 11 January.

Military Junta Prison Staff Torture 35 Political Prisoners at Magway Prison

The Political Prisoners Network Myanmar reported on 5 January 2026 that 35 political prisoners at Magway Prison were severely beaten by junta prison staff and placed in solitary confinement after refusing to perform dishwashing duties.

The incident began on 8 December 2025, when junta prison officials ordered inmates at Male Dormitory 4 to wash dishes in groups of ten. The political prisoners argued they should not be forced to perform such tasks because they are held on political charges rather than criminal ones.

In response to their refusal, junta prison officials and senior prisoners including Tin Aung Tun, Sit Thar Gyi, Nga Pway, and Myat Ko, along with staff member Ko Thet Paing Soe carried out a coordinated assault.

The Political Prisoners Network Myanmar detailed torture methods that included forcing prisoners to sit with heads bowed, beating those who looked up, making them lie on the ground, and striking them with batons, wires, and cables.

Ko Thaik Tun Oo, a member of the Political Prisoners Network Myanmar leading committee, stated that in response to their appeal, junta prison officials denied them the right to talk like normal citizens by making them sit with their heads down and hold their hands together whilst speaking. He added that they had to keep their heads lowered and clasp their hands in front of them even when they were standing.

In a separate but related incident of resistance, 11 other political prisoners were beaten and placed in solitary confinement for refusing to buy betel nuts sold by junta prison staff. This boycott was intended to cut into the corrupt earnings of officials who sell items at exorbitant prices at the prison's internal market bars. As of 5 January, all 35 prisoners remain in isolation, and relatives are reportedly distressed as some sustained serious head injuries during the beatings and have not received verified medical check-ups.

Ko Thaik Tun Oo stated that since the military takeover, junta prison staff have been violating prison rules to target and mistreat political prisoners at will. He added that these acts are beyond their authority, and therefore demanded an immediate end to these systemic oppressions.

The Political Prisoners Network Myanmar vehemently condemned these actions as a severe violation of human rights and international standards for the treatment of prisoners. The organisation stated it is continuing to monitor human rights violations inside Magway Prison and remains committed to holding those who ordered, participated in, and supported such oppressive actions accountable for their crimes to restore justice.

War Criminal Former General Participates in Military Junta's Sham Election

Myanmar Now reported that in the days leading up to 28 December's military junta-controlled sham elections, photos of former lieutenant general Aung Aung, dressed in traditional Myanmar attire, were visible everywhere in the Shan State capital Taunggyi.

The photos appeared in campaign flyers highlighting his status as holder of military titles including Zeya Kyaw Htin and Sithu. The flyers also carried the slogan of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party: Rule of law must be ensured.

To locals, the Union Solidarity and Development Party candidate for Taunggyi's seat in the Pyithu Hluttaw, or lower house of the Union parliament, is best known as their state's junta-appointed chief minister. Outside of Myanmar, however, he is better known as the commander of the junta's notorious Light Infantry Division 33 during its deadly campaign of violence against Rohingya in 2017.

In that capacity, he is responsible for numerous atrocities, including extrajudicial killings, rape, and the systematic destruction of Rohingya homes, for which he faces sanctions from the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Belgium, France, and Monaco.

Promoted to lieutenant general after his turn as Light Infantry Division 33 commander, he has since held a number of key positions within the junta, including as head of the Southwestern Regional Military Command and commander of Special Operations Force 2. On 31 January 2024, he was appointed chief minister of Shan State, positioning him to assume a role in politics once the junta decided to transition back to quasi-civilian rule.

His participation in the sham election represents yet another attempt by individuals responsible for grave international crimes to legitimise themselves through the junta's fraudulent electoral process. A Taunggyi resident who asked not to be identified for security reasons told Myanmar Now that people were forced to vote.

Military Junta Tortures and Charges Yangon Food Courier Under Terrorism Laws

Following his arrest in the first week of January, a civilian resident of Yangon's Hlaing Township has been charged with breaking laws on terrorism and sedition, a source close to the man's family told Myanmar Now this week. Kyi Myo Zaw, also known as U Kyi, 54, worked as a food courier, riding monthly meal-box deliveries to his clients' homes. After accusations began spreading on social media that he was transferring funds to armed anti-junta groups, several Ward 13 administrators and other personnel in plainclothes detained him at his home on 5 January.

Junta officials reportedly questioned Kyi Myo Zaw about unusually high-value transactions he had allegedly made via the popular digital wallet and payment app KBZPay, also commonly called KPay. Three days after his arrest, they moved him from the interrogation centre to the Hlaing Township police station. They have since charged him with offences under Section 50j of the Counterterrorism Law on financing of terrorism and Section 505a of the Myanmar Penal Code concerning sedition.

The family friend stated that they heard that the police called the family to say he was back on the evening of 8 January, referring to his return to the station after questioning. The friend added that he was charged with two offences, and accused of funding the resistance through KPay, noting that as far as they know, he is still at the police station.

Kyi Myo Zaw's arrest came after posts appeared on a pro-junta propaganda Telegram channel accusing him of disparaging junta chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, sharing a photo of ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and making social media comments critical of the junta. The posts called on junta officials to arrest him.

According to Kyi Myo Zaw's family friend, junta officials subjected him to inhumane treatment including torture during the three-day interrogation but avoided leaving conspicuous wounds on his face by inflicting injuries to his lower body. The friend stated that they did not hit his face, but struck his buttocks with a stick, injuring his spine. The friend added that they also heard he has burn blisters on his thighs and cannot sit properly.

The family friend added that his family was facing financial hardship and had so far been unable to hire a lawyer for his defence. The friend stated that they said they could not afford a lawyer and were due to be evicted from their home at the end of the month, but begged to stay longer.

Kyi Myo Zaw is also suffering from heart and kidney disease and requires medication, according to the family friend.

Since seizing control of government ministries in February 2021, the military junta has amended the Counterterrorism Law and used it to target its political opposition, along with Section 505a of the Penal Code.

The changes to the Counterterrorism Law allowed for prison sentences of up to seven years for promoting, campaigning, disseminating propaganda, or recruiting for terrorist organisations, a label the military junta applies to resistance groups. According to data collected by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners as of 13 January, the junta has arrested 30,267 people for political reasons, of whom 22,712 are still detained and 11,460 have been sentenced.

The resistance of the people of Myanmar   

Nearly 50 Military Junta Soldiers and Police Desert as Arakan Army Intensifies Sittwe Offensive

Nearly 50 military junta soldiers and police officers have deserted their posts in the Rakhine State capital of Sittwe over the past two weeks, as the Arakan Army intensifies its offensive to capture the strategically vital port city, Mizzima reported.

Local military sources and monitoring groups report that at least 48 personnel, including members of elite commando units and city security forces, abandoned their positions between early January and 14 January 2026.

A local source stated that from what they know, 48 people fled and have not been found yet. The source added that most are from security units and likely fled because they can see the reality of the battle as the Arakan Army continues its offensive. The source noted that Muslims are now being brought in to provide security in Sittwe, though it is said they are not given training or weapons.

CDM Captain Zin Yaw also told that the junta had pulled personnel from light infantry battalions within the Sittwe garrison for city security, and seven members of a newly formed commando unit deserted on 12 January.

Arakan Princess Media, a Rakhine-based news outlet, also reported on 18 January that over 50 junta troops had abandoned their weapons and ammunition to flee in groups. The deserters are reportedly from the Ohn Taw Gyi military camp and the Light Infantry Battalion 270 based in Sittwe.

Similarly, in Kyaukphyu, where fighting is intense, and Manaung Township, which has not yet seen active clashes, junta forces are reportedly abandoning their weapons to flee or surrendering to the Arakan Army in succession, according to Arakan Princess Media.

According to some locals, police and junta forces that previously patrolled Sittwe and conducted frequent guest list inspections whilst arresting and threatening civilians daily have recently scaled back these activities.

A resident stated that before, they would check everywhere, including internally displaced persons camps and monasteries, and threaten people, adding that it is a bit quieter now.

Chin Brotherhood Alliance Recaptures Strategic Kennedy Hill Base, Takes 32 Military Junta Prisoners

The Chin Brotherhood Alliance successfully recaptured the strategically vital military base on Kennedy Hill in Tedim Township on 4 January 2026, following a decisive 10-day offensive. The operation resulted in the capture of 20 prisoners of war, including Major Kyaw Thu Htike of Light Infantry Battalion 87. Ten junta soldiers were killed in the fighting. An additional 12 junta personnel were apprehended in Khonli Village, Falam Township, bringing the total number of recently captured personnel to 32, local medias reported.

During the battle to retake the strategically vital Kennedy Hill, ten junta soldiers were killed, and Major Kyaw Thu Htike from Light Infantry Battalion 87 was captured alive. In the ongoing struggle for control of the 8,800-foot summit, Chin Brotherhood forces have now seized the hill for the third time following previous captures in November 2023 and 18 November 2025.

Salai Tin Mi Htut, spokesperson for the Chin National Defence Force, which is also a member of the Chin Brotherhood, based in Falam stated that they will take action according to their prisoner of war law. The spokesperson added that for those who surrendered voluntarily, there are two potential paths: release or being sent back to their families after a monitoring period. The spokesperson noted that these actions will be implemented once the military situation stabilises.

Citing prisoner testimonies, Salai Tin Mi Htut noted that two-thirds of the column consisted of forcibly recruited militia members who lacked the will to fight. Many expressed a desire to desert if given the chance, due to the harsh winter weather, food shortages, and internal oppression within the junta.

It is reported that one comrade from CDF-CDM Siyin, a member of the Chinland Council, and two comrades from the Brotherhood's own forces were killed during these battles.

Whilst at least another 14 junta personnel have recently surrendered, Chin forces continue to track down others fleeing into the mountains. In retaliation, the military junta carried out a drone strike on a neighbourhood in Tedim on 8 January, destroying two residential houses. A PDF-Zoland official stated that the military situation is currently calm, and the Tedim-Thaingngin-Kalay Road has been reopened for public use.

According to military sources, clashes broke out near Khonli Village in Falam Township on the morning of 9 January. The junta conducted four airstrikes and deployed a transport plane to airdrop 12 supply packages to its troops on the ground.

Activities of the National Unity Government

National Unity Government Issues Guidelines for Myanmar Nationals in Thailand

The National Unity Government has issued a notification for Myanmar nationals residing in the Kingdom of Thailand, acknowledging the ongoing displacement caused by the military junta's brutal repression.

In the notification, the National Unity Government stated that in light of the ongoing atrocities and brutal repression perpetrated by the terrorist junta, together with the limited economic opportunities within Myanmar, many Myanmar nationals have been compelled to flee their homeland and seek temporary refuge in neighbouring Thailand.

The National Unity Government earnestly urged Myanmar nationals residing in the Kingdom of Thailand to observe several guidelines during their stay. The government called on Myanmar nationals to refrain from any involvement in the political or administrative affairs of Thailand and to refrain from engaging in any unlawful activities. The notification emphasised that Myanmar nationals should respect and comply with the laws and regulations of Thailand, as well as its cultural traditions, local customs, and practices. The government also urged Myanmar nationals to live in harmony with the host community, in accordance with their values and ways of life.

The National Unity Government expressed its profound gratitude to His Majesty the King of Thailand, the Royal Thai Government, and the Thai people for extending protection and refuge to Myanmar nationals who, for various reasons, have been forced to flee their homeland. The National Unity Government respectfully appealed for the continued support and compassionate assistance, with due consideration from a humanitarian perspective.

National Unity Government Affirms Sole Legitimacy in ICJ Genocide Case

The National Unity Government has issued a statement ahead of the next phase of proceedings in the International Court of Justice case of The Gambia v. Myanmar, with hearings scheduled to begin on 13 January.

In the statement, the National Unity Government said it has accepted and welcomed the court's jurisdiction and withdrawn all preliminary objections previously submitted. The government acknowledged that failures in Myanmar's past enabled grave atrocities against minority communities, including the Rohingya, Rakhine, and others, stating it is committed to ensuring such crimes are never repeated and to pursuing structural change that allows all people in Myanmar to live together in peace, dignity, and mutual respect.

The National Unity Government emphasized that it is the sole legitimate representative of Myanmar before the International Court of Justice since the unlawful military coup of February 2021. On 30 March 2021, the acting Vice President appointed Myanmar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, as the additional alternate agent in this case.

The statement noted that the military junta is not recognised by the United Nations General Assembly and does not enjoy the support of the people of Myanmar. The National Unity Government said the junta's attempt to hold a sham election amid its widespread international crimes only further exposes its lack of legitimacy, adding that allowing the junta to represent Myanmar at the International Court of Justice would be an affront to the dignity of the Rohingya people and to all the people of Myanmar.

The National Unity Government affirmed that any submissions made by the illegitimate junta do not represent the views of the lawful Government of Myanmar nor the will of its people.  

Response of the International Community

UN Special Rapporteur Urges International Community to Reject Military Junta's Sham Election

UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, urged the international community to unequivocally reject the military junta's sham election, redouble efforts to isolate the junta and pressure junta leaders to call off the election after the first round of voting laid bare the coercion, violence and exclusion underpinning the polls.

Andrews stated that the results of the first round of voting in what the military junta of Myanmar claims is a legitimate election and they are conclusive. The Special Rapporteur added that by all measures, this is not a free, fair nor legitimate election, noting it is a theatrical performance that has exerted enormous pressure on the people of Myanmar to participate in what has been designed to dupe the international community.

Voter turnout in the first round of the election held on 28 December was reportedly very low, despite junta coercion and the pervasive fear of retaliation. The National League for Democracy, which won landslide victories in general elections held in 2015 and 2020, did not appear on the ballot after it was dissolved by the junta. Its leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been detained by the junta since the coup, and her whereabouts and condition remain unknown. The junta has already ruled out holding polls in 65 townships and thousands of wards and village tracts, reflecting the junta's lack of control over large parts of the country.

Junta officials have reportedly pressured displaced people, students, civil servants, prisoners and ordinary citizens to participate in the polls by threatening to withhold access to humanitarian aid, education, immigration documents and other government services. Andrews stated that junta forces have used the threat of conscription to compel young people to vote, noting this is not political participation; it is coercion.

The Special Rapporteur added that you cannot have a free, fair or credible election when thousands of political prisoners are behind bars, credible opposition parties have been dissolved, journalists are muzzled, and fundamental freedoms are crushed. He stated that the junta has spent nearly five years dismantling the basic foundations of democratic participation and now wants the world to accept an empty parody of an election.

According to medias, the junta has filed charges against more than 200 people under a draconian election law that criminalises criticising or protesting the junta's sham polls. Those convicted under the law have reportedly received sentences of up to 49 years' imprisonment. Andrews said he was alarmed by mounting evidence that junta forces have used threats and coercion to drive people to the polls.

The Special Rapporteur stated it should surprise no one that the military-backed party has claimed a landslide victory in the first round of the election. He added that the junta engineered the polls to ensure victory for its proxy, entrench military domination in Myanmar, and manufacture a façade of legitimacy whilst violence and repression continue unabated.

The expert commended Governments that have already signalled their rejection of the election, and raised concerns about the small group of countries that sent observers to monitor the first round of voting, thereby legitimising the farcical election. Andrews stated that Governments that support democracy and human rights should take a strong, principled, public position for the people of Myanmar who deserve to have a genuine election that reflects their preferences and hopes for the future, adding that this farcical exercise is anything but.

Andrews stated that the international community should make clear that Myanmar's future belongs to its people, not to those who imprison, silence and terrorise them.

Timor-Leste President Meets Chin Human Rights Organization on Myanmar Crisis and Accountability

The President of the Republic of Timor-Leste, José Ramos-Horta, received a delegation from the Chin Human Rights Organization on 14 January at the Nicolau Lobato Presidential Palace for an extensive meeting dedicated to analysing the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Myanmar and promoting justice and accountability at the regional level.

During the meeting, the delegation briefed the Head of State on the systematic abuses and reign of terror perpetrated by the military junta against the civilian population, according to a press release.

Both parties also reflected on their shared history of struggle for self-determination, underscoring the deep bonds of solidarity between Timor-Leste and Myanmar in the defence of democracy, freedom, and human dignity.

The meeting further addressed the legal proceedings recently initiated in Dili against several members of the Myanmar armed forces accused of alleged crimes against humanity. President Ramos-Horta and the organisation's representatives reaffirmed the fundamental importance of an independent judicial system, agreeing that judicial processes must follow their normal course, free from any political interference.

In this context, the delegation highlighted the role of international bodies, such as the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, in providing verified evidence to support the Timorese judicial system, ensuring a rigorous, transparent, and fair process.

The meeting concluded with the delegation praising Timor-Leste as the moral voice of ASEAN, highlighting the country's successful transition to democracy as a source of hope and inspiration for the region. For his part, the President of the Republic expressed his gratitude for the trust shown and reiterated Timor-Leste's firm commitment to regional stability, the rule of law, and the protection of universal human rights.

Special Advisory Council Calls for Immediate Rejection of Military Junta's Sham Elections

The Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M) released a statement on 10 January, calling on governments and the international community to immediately reject and halt the military junta's fake elections, warning that the process is a humiliating failure designed to falsely legitimise continued military rule whilst atrocities against civilians continue unabated.

The first phase, held on 28 December, was a humiliation for the junta. Widespread boycotts were a defiant display of the Myanmar people's courage and determination, and their sustained rejection of attempted military rule. Deserted city streets and empty polling stations once again laid bare the junta's total lack of legitimacy.

Special Advisory Council for Myanmar Member Yanghee Lee stated that the Myanmar people have already delivered their verdict, adding that they unequivocally reject the junta and its fake elections. Lee noted that the first phase served only to expose the junta as a complete laughingstock, questioning why they continue them at all.

Lee added that governments, including ASEAN members, must put an end to this farce now by outright rejecting this fraud and engaging with Myanmar's legitimate pro-democracy actors.

The Special Advisory Council for Myanmar stated that the junta's sham elections are a desperate bid for legitimacy, even if only from a handful of undemocratic and brutal junta. The council emphasised it is therefore essential that the international community comes together to demand an immediate end to this absurd exercise and to outright reject the junta in any form it takes.

The Special Advisory Council for Myanmar warned that failure to do so would send a green light to every power hungry general in the region with autocratic leanings, and inflict lasting damage on eroding democratic norms globally.

The council stated it would also make the international community complicit in the junta's atrocities. In the past month, nearly 90 civilians have been killed in junta air attacks in Sagaing Region alone, according to reports. The junta also continues to punish perceived opponents with torture, sexual violence, arbitrary detention, forced displacement and by withholding humanitarian aid.

The Special Advisory Council for Myanmar emphasised that urgent international action is needed now to end the atrocities. To hobble the junta's war machine, ASEAN members, Myanmar's neighbours, and the broader international community including through the United Nations must impose comprehensive weapons and aviation fuel embargoes on the junta, as well as financial sanctions to cut the junta's access to cash.

The council stated that to end the junta's impunity, the leading generals should be brought before the International Criminal Court and national courts exercising universal jurisdiction to answer for their atrocities.

The Special Advisory Council for Myanmar called on States to stand with the Myanmar people and their genuine democratic will and aspirations. This must also see strengthened support to Myanmar's legitimate pro-democracy actors, including ethnic organisations, civil society and the National Unity Government in their committed efforts to build an inclusive federal democratic Myanmar.

Burmese Community in Canada Urges Government to Reject Military Junta's Sham Elections

Burmese community members across Canada have delivered a nationwide signature campaign and an open letter to the Prime Minister of Canada, urging the federal government to publicly denounce the military junta's planned sham elections and to reject any attempt to legitimise military rule, according to a statement issued on 14 January.

More than 1,000 signatures have been collected across Canada, reflecting widespread concern within the Burmese diaspora over elections being conducted amid ongoing violence, political repression, mass displacement, and the detention of democratic leaders.

Community representatives are calling on Canada to maintain a principled stance in support of democracy, human rights, and freedom, and to clearly reject any electoral process carried out under military control.

Facebook Removes Over 1,000 Pages Linked to Military Junta-Controlled Mytel

Justice For Myanmar stated on 9 January that Facebook has removed more than 1,000 pages, groups and accounts linked to Mytel, a military junta-controlled telecom company, following reports that the network was continuing to operate online in violation of Meta's 2021 ban on military-owned businesses.

Whilst Mytel was previously removed from Facebook at the time, the company had created new pages that circumvented the ban, and Mytel agent and reseller accounts continued to operate.

Justice For Myanmar reported the pages to Facebook this week, along with the MRTV Friday Night Live Show page, which was also taken down.

Telecom International Myanmar, which trades as Mytel, is owned by the military conglomerate Myanmar Economic Corporation, the Vietnamese defence ministry-owned corporation Viettel Global, and a holding company for Myanmar cronies. Mytel provides revenue and technology to the military junta and supports surveillance and censorship.

Mytel's profit projections suggest that the military junta's shareholding could yield it US$270 million in Mytel's fifth to ninth years of operation and a further US$450 million in the five years after that, a major windfall for the junta and top generals.

Justice For Myanmar stated that by financing the junta and facilitating its digital surveillance, Mytel is aiding and abetting the military junta's continuing war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Justice For Myanmar demanded other tech companies ban Mytel, including Alphabet and Apple, which host its apps in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

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Date: 15 January 2026

Permanent Mission of Myanmar, New York