Bi-weekly Update on the Current Situation in Myanmar (01-05-2025 to 15-05-2025)

Bi-weekly Update on the Current Situation in Myanmar

(01-05-2025 to 15-05-2025)

Over (51) months ago, on 1 February 2021, the military junta attempted an illegal coup, toppled the civilian government, and unlawfully detained State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint, and other senior members of the civilian government, parliamentarians and activists. Since then, the military junta has ignored the will of the people of Myanmar, placed the country in turmoil, and made people suffer tremendously as a result of its inhumane and disproportionate acts.

As of 15 April 2025, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), the military has ruthlessly killed 6,682 people and arrested another 29,152 people. 22,148 people remain in detention and 168 people have been sentenced to death, including 119 post-coup death row prisoners and 44 in absentia since 1 February 2021, when the military unleashed systematic and targeted attacks and violence against innocent civilians. Four democracy activists who were sentenced to death were executed by the military junta in July 2022.

Moreover, over 3.5 million people are being displaced. 20 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. Among them, over 10.4 million are women and girls. 112,485 houses were burned down throughout Myanmar since the illegal coup until the end of December 2024, according to the report of 27 February 2025 by Data for Myanmar.

Unfortunately, the suffering of the people has been compounded by the 7.7 magnitude earthquake which struck Myanmar on 28 March. Sagaing Region, Mandalay Region and Nay Pyi Taw were among the hardest hit. 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.

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

Crimes committed Across Myanmar by the Junta Troops and its affiliates

Crimes perpetrated by the junta troops and its affiliates, militias across Myanmar include extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detentions, torture, sexual violence, enforced disappearances, and the targeting of civilians, including children. These atrocities have led to widespread displacement, destruction of civilian properties, and a climate of fear and insecurity among the civilian population. The junta's widespread and systematic tactics of brutality are aimed at suppressing dissent and maintaining its grip on power, regardless of the human cost and violations of international law.

According to the data collected by AAPP, from 1 to 15 May 2025, (71) people in total; (39) women and (32) men, were killed by the junta in Rakhine State, including (16) children under the age of 18. The identities of these victims have been verified. Among the deceased, (63) people were killed by the junta’s airstrikes, marking the highest cause of death. 

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

Airstrikes - Deaths & Injuries Following Earthquake in Myanmar

According to data compiled by the Ministry of Human Rights, airstrikes conducted across Myanmar following the earthquake from 28 March to 9 May 2025 have resulted in 334 deaths and 552 injuries. The casualties categorized by age reveal that of the total deaths, 214 victims were of unknown age, 88 were adults above 18 years, and 32 were children under 18. Among those injured, 408 were of unknown age, 91 were adults above 18, and 53 were children under 18.

Sagaing Region registered 91 cases with 99 deaths and 140 injuries as a highest among states and regions.  Mandalay region, epic centre of earthquake had 88 cases resulting in 77 deaths and 160 injuries, and followed by Magway Region reported 43 cases with 28 deaths and 40 injuries. Karen State had 23 cases resulting in 10 deaths and 47 injuries, while Bago region recorded 26 cases with 16 deaths and 14 injuries.

In total, 372 airstrike cases were documented nationwide, causing 334 deaths and 552 injuries during this period, demonstrating the widespread impact of airstrikes across Myanmar's regions and states in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Death Toll Rises to 24 in the Junta School Attack as Two More Children Succumb to Injuries

The death toll at the Depayin Township school targeted by junta aircraft on 12 May 2025 has risen to 24 after two more children died from their injuries according to the Irrawaddy.  The National Unity Government (NUG) and witnesses claimed that the junta used widely banned cluster bombs to attack O Htein Twin village school in Sagaing Region.

Although Myanmar is not a signatory to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, the targeting of a school constituted a war crime and violated international humanitarian law, according to analysts. More than 100 pupils were studying at the NUG-run school. The child victims were aged between seven and 16 and two volunteer teachers in their early 20s were also killed. A total of 102 injuries have been reported. On 13 May, two more children aged eight to 11 died of their injuries.

According to the local, decapitated corpses and scattered body parts, making it impossible to recover their full bodies. Injured children receiving treatment on the ground under trees, without proper medical care.

Local told the Irrawaddy that the junta used cluster bombs because numerous small craters caused by bomblets cover the ground, concrete floors and walls of the school. Within a 100 m radius, many small craters were found. If it had been a regular bomb, there would be one large crater, he said.

Ministry of Human Rights stated on 13 May that there have been 2,679 junta airstrikes since January 2023, in which 240 schools were damaged. It said targeting children constituted a war crime and urged the international community, particularly the United Nations, to exert pressure on the junta to end attacks on civilians. The junta denied responsibility for the airstrike while pro-junta lobbyists claimed the attack targeted PDF terrorists who were manufacturing bombs in the school.

The junta conducted airstrikes on a church and school at Kanan on the Indian border in Tamu Township, Sagaing Region, in January last year, killing 17 people, including nine children, and injuring at least 19 others. The junta denied responsibility, saying no aircraft were deployed at the time, although residents' videos showed a junta warplane above the village during the incident.

Junta Airstrike Kills 13 Civilians in Rakhine Village

At least 13 civilians were killed and more than 20 others injured when a junta fighter jet bombed a village in Rathedaung Township, Rakhine State on 13 May, Arakan Army (AA) spokesman Khaing Thukha confirmed to the Irrawaddy. The fighter jet dropped two 500-lb bombs on Tun Yawai Village around 10 a.m., and women and children were among the victims.

Twelve houses were completely destroyed. Thirteen bodies have been found, and more than 20 were injured. Other victims are feared still trapped beneath debris, so the number of casualties can increase.  The spokesman said there has been no fighting in Rathedaung since the town fell into the hands of the AA in March 2024, and 13 May's air raid was an unprovoked attack on a residential area. Fighting stopped in Rathedaung a long time ago. The terrorist junta deliberately bombed innocent civilians in a place where there is no fighting. It's a grave war crime, and the junta must be held accountable for this, Khaing Thukha said.

The AA has seized 14 of Rakhine's 17 townships and was advancing on junta positions bordering Rakhine in Magwe, Bago, and Ayeyarwady regions until the devastating earthquake struck Myanmar on 28 March. Only three Rakhine towns including the state capital Sittwe, Kyaukphyu, and Manaung remain under the control of the junta.

Junta Launches Airstrikes on TNLA Territory After Failed Ceasefire Talks

After TNLA representatives refused to abandon five liberated towns during 28 and 29 April Peaces talk , the junta striked 250lb bombs on villages west of Mogoke despite the lack of clashes in the area according to The Irrawaddy. A junta fighter bombed Lon Kham village in TNLA-held Nawnghkio Township on 1 May and junta drone and artillery strikes targeted TNLA positions in the township, the armed group reported.

It said junta airstrikes targeted Mogoke civilians on 3 May and killing a resident and injuring another whilst damaging houses. On 2 May night, the junta dropped two 250lb bombs on Mogoke town, destroying six houses. TNLA called on northern Shan State and Mandalay Region residents to be alert to the risks of airstrikes.

The TNLA is a member of the Brotherhood Alliance with the Arakan Army (AA) from Rakhine State and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), which launched Operation 1027 across northern Shan State in October 2023.

Junta Airstrikes Kill 10 Civilians Over Two Days in Sagaing Township

A series of airstrikes by the military junta over two consecutive days has left at least 10 civilians dead and 14 others injured, including four young novices in Wetlet Township, Sagaing Region, according to Myanmar Now.  The attacks occurred on 10 and 11 May, with junta aircraft targeting three civilian locations in Wetlet.

At around 4:30 pm on 10 May, bombs were dropped on Ywadawgon village, killing 10 residents and injuring eight more. The following morning, at approximately 7:30 am on 11 May, the Shwepangon Village School was struck, injuring two people. Later that day, at 10:51 am, bombs hit the Medawgon Monastery compound, wounding four novices.

There was no fighting, no armed presence near these villages. These were unprovoked attacks. We still don't have full details of the victims, including their age or gender, as phone lines remain down, local said.

Photos released by the Wetlet Information Network and received by local media outlets show the gruesome aftermath of burned bodies, exposed skulls, and limbs torn apart by the blasts. The images highlight the devastating toll on civilian life in a region that has seen frequent junta airstrikes in recent months. These attacks come despite the junta's public announcement of a ceasefire extension until the end of May following the devastating earthquake in Sagaing.

According to the Nyan Lin Thit Analytica research group, at least 82 airstrikes were carried out nationwide between 2 and 8 May alone. These included attacks in earthquake-affected regions like Sagaing, Mandalay, and eastern Bago, which resulted in the deaths of 28 civilians and injuries to 77 others.

Junta Airstrike on Monastery Kills 15 Civilians in Kachin State

At least 15 civilians were killed and over 30 others injured when the military junta launched an airstrike on Kanna Yeiktha Monastery in Bhamo, Kachin State, at around 5 pm on 8 May, according to Mizzima media.

The airstrike directly targeted the monastery, which was sheltering only civilians. The junta was well aware of this. Since the revolutionary offensive to take Bhamo began, junta troops have remained stationed along Strand Road. This was a deliberate attack, said a Bhamo resident. Rescue operations are still underway, and details on the victims' identities and the full extent of the injuries are yet to be confirmed.

Fierce clashes have continued in recent weeks between junta forces and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), with the junta increasingly resorting to airstrikes due to blocked ground supply routes.

Colonel Naw Bu, spokesperson for the KIA, said that their forces are now concentrating efforts on seizing the junta's Military Operations Command 21 headquarters in Bhamo. The junta is fiercely resisting, he added.

With land routes cut off, the junta has been forced to rely on air transport for reinforcements, ammunition, and supplies to its remaining bases. Junta-controlled facilities still in operation include the Military Operations Command 21 headquarters, and the camps of Infantry Battalion 47, Engineering Battalion 914, Supply and Transport Battalion 933, Military Battalion 11, and several battalions under Light Infantry Division 88.

Despite ongoing clashes, the KIA and its allies have reportedly gained control over much of Bhamo, including the camps of Armoured Battalion 7006, a Tank Battalion, Artillery Battalion 366, and the Bhamo Airport.

Over 10,000 Civilians Displaced as Junta Intensifies Assaults in Bago Region

Residents in more than 60 villages in Minhla Township, Thayarwady District, Bago Region, have been forced to flee as the military junta intensifies artillery bombardments and ground assaults, Mizzima reported.  Junta troops have reportedly torched at least three villages, and resistance groups estimate that over 10,000 civilians have been displaced amid the escalating violence.

The villages affected include Kyaung Ywa, Kywel Ma Kine, Shan Kone, Yway Kone, San Gyi, Than Taung Kwin (also known as Kat Kyaw Ywa Thit), Htain Yu, Htain Yu Junction, Bo Yone, War Yar, Pyin Ka Doe Khin, San Bote, Kyun Kone, Sar Chaung (East), Khwet Ma, Nga Hla San, Nga Moe Yate, Zarit Myaung, Shwe Pauk Pin, and many others.

On 1 May, over 40 junta soldiers reportedly entered Nga Moe Yate Village and, by the afternoon of 2 May, had stationed themselves at the local monastery, according to the same battalion source.

Alongside ground raids, the junta has been conducting relentless day-and-night artillery attacks from several bases, including Infantry Battalion (1), Kyaukdaga Pagoda Hill, Tar Kale Monastery, and Sitkwin Junction, all within Minhla Township.

Most villagers have fled to nearby towns or safer areas. Those who lack the means to escape are hiding in the forests and urgently need food and shelter, said a member of the local resistance.

The intensified junta action is believed to be retaliation for a clash on 27 April near Nga Moe Yate Village, during which 10 junta soldiers were reportedly killed and twelve firearms seized by resistance forces. After burning down Zarit Myaung and Shwe Pauk Pin villages on 30 April, junta troops set fire to Nga Moe Yate the next day, 1 May.

With aerial assaults and heavy artillery shelling ongoing, resistance groups are urging residents to construct and use underground bomb shelters to protect themselves from the escalating conflict.

Human Rights Abuses  

Report Exposes Junta's Systematic Use of Sexual Violence Against Women and Girls

NGO Human Rights Myanmar says the military junta systematically uses sex-based violence to subjugate women and girls, intensifying since the 2021 coup, according to a report released on 5 May 2025. At least 380 women have been intentionally targeted and killed, some burned alive or executed in custody, whilst over 500 have faced sexual violence, including rape. This deliberate strategy, rooted in patriarchy and militarisation, aims to silence dissent and erase women from public life.

The NGO's report demands international accountability, survivor protection, and action against these potential crimes against humanity.

In addition to the hundreds of women killed by indiscriminate artillery and airstrikes against civilian areas, at least 380 women and girls have been specifically targeted and unlawfully killed by the junta. Of these, at least 216 were shot, including 50 who were summarily executed. The targeting of women for execution constitutes a grave violation of Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which enshrines the right to life.

At least 119 of the 380 women specifically killed were held in custody by the junta at the time of their deaths, including 28 who were shot. The deprivation of liberty without due process, combined with summary executions of detainees, amounts to enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

Among the most egregious acts of violence, at least 71 women and girls were killed by being set on fire. This method of execution is particularly significant in the context of sex-based violence. Burning is not merely a form of execution; it is an act that seeks to dehumanise and obliterate women's identity and is often used to conceal evidence of sexual violence.

At least one woman has been killed by the junta through beheading, a method of execution that carries profound symbolic significance. Historically, beheading has been associated with the suppression of female agency and the enforcement of patriarchal control.

Beyond the methods of killing, some of the 380 women and girls were subjected to sexual violence, including rape, before their deaths. Sexual violence is one of the most direct and severe forms of sex-based violence, as it specifically targets women and girls based on their sex, reducing them to instruments of subjugation and humiliation.

Whilst the full scale of sexual violence remains difficult to determine due to the lack of independent monitoring and the junta's deliberate obstruction of accountability mechanisms, credible information indicates that at least 500 women have been subjected to sexual violence and rape. At least 16 women and girls were raped whilst in custody before being killed.

The junta's use of detention as a space for sexual violence before execution is a pattern documented in other conflicts and constitutes torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment. The systematic nature of these violations, combined with their targeting of women and girls based on sex, could amount to crimes against humanity.

Actions of Resistance Forces against the Junta

Resistance Forces Briefly Capture Junta Battalion Headquarters in Bago Region

Combined resistance forces briefly captured a junta battalion headquarters in Shwekyin Township, Bago Region on 8 May 2025 and only to lose it again when massive reinforcements arrived. The National Unity Government (NUG) on 11 May stated that the People's Defence Forces (PDF), and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) jointly overran the headquarters of Light Infantry Battalion 598 at Nyaung Chay Htauk Village in Shwekyin.

The PDF's Yangon Regional Command said resistance forces seized some 80 weapons together with ammunition and three anti-drone jammers during the attack. It said 30 junta soldiers were found dead at the base and six were arrested with seven of their family members. The battalion commander and another 50 junta soldiers fled.

A PDF video shows resistance troops raiding the base and seizing several weapons. But after three days of fighting, junta reinforcements managed to retake the base with the support of airstrikes and artillery attacks on 11 May.

KNU Forces Capture Key Border Base After 10 Days of Fighting

Myanmar Now stated that a key junta base near the border with Thailand fell to resistance forces led by the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army (KNU/KNLA) on 9 May. The base, located near the border town of Htee Khee in Dawei Township, Tanintharyi Region, was seized on 9 May after 10 days of intense fighting. We captured the base at around 9am today, said Comrade Star, the operations officer of the Tanintharyi Region People's Defence Organisation (PDO). The operation was led by KNLA Brigade 4 in coordination with PDO forces and People's Defence Force battalions.

The offensive began after the capture of the nearby Htee Hta hilltop tactical base on 19 April. During that operation, anti-junta forces took 15 prisoners, including a tactical operations commander who was later shot dead, according to a KNLA officer.

According to Comrade Star, junta forces suffered heavy casualties, and some troops fled across the border to Thailand. About 50 junta soldiers entered Thai territory to escape the resistance attacks, according to Padoh Saw Eh Nah, secretary of the KNU's Myeik-Dawei District. The fall of both junta positions means that resistance forces are now in full control of the Thai-Myanmar border area. Local people have become more free. And for us resistance organisations, our interactions across the Thai border have become much more convenient, Comrade Star said.

KNU Captures Strategic Border Camp After Five Days of Fighting

Karen National Union (KNU) troops captured a strategically important junta camp near the country's border with Thailand on 14 May, a senior KNU officer has confirmed. The camp, positioned on a hill northeast of the village of Ta Le in Hlaingbwe Township, Karen State, fell after five days of fighting, the officer said. Ta Le is located about 25 miles east of the town of Hlaingbwe and just five miles from the Moei River separating Myanmar and Thailand.

They may conduct airstrikes, but they are not currently in a position to launch a ground counteroffensive, KNU officer said, noting that the road to Ta Le is long and vulnerable to ambush attacks.

KNU Brigade 7 did not begin launching attacks on junta forces until December of last year, when it joined Brigade 5 troops in the fight to recapture the former KNU headquarters of Manerplaw. Since then, it has seized five other junta positions in areas under its control, including the Ta Le camp, said the KNU officer. The other positions are the Point 1246 IB 31 base, the Khalelday base, the Maw Pha Thu base, and the Laypanarde base (also known as Ta Kaw Bee Kwee). Brigade 7 has been clearing junta bases in line with the group's policy that no presence should exist within KNU-administered areas, he added.

Activities of the Resistance Organisations and the National Unity Government

NUG Calls for Political Parties to Boycott Junta's Planned Election

The National Unity Government (NUG) and the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) issued a statement on 10 May 2025 recommending that registered political parties boycott the illegal and fraudulent election planned by the junta for later this year. The statement emphasised that the country is experiencing crisis in politics, economics, and society due to the junta's attempt to seize people's authority. Since the coup, people have faced hardships including airstrikes, artillery attacks, arbitrary arrests, killings, village destruction, and forced recruitment.

The 7.7 Richter earthquake created tragedy for 17.4 million people across four regions and one state. Every human being understands that this is not the time to organise an election, the statement said. The junta plans to organise the election in December 2025, whilst people are still suffering the impacts of the Sagaing earthquake, demonstrating their complete refusal of people's struggles.

The NUG and NUCC urged political parties to recognise public anger toward the junta who disrupted the 2020 election without reason. The result of the 2020 election and its elected representatives remains legitimate, and organising an election without public consent violates the democracy framework. The statement referenced the 2008 constitution as an example of how the junta organised a referendum to maintain authority without following proper procedures. That constitution has been abolished since the 2021 coup attempt.

We urge all political parties to carefully consider the serious implications of participating in the upcoming sham election. Such involvement risks legitimising an unlawful process and may result in the perception that participating parties are aligned with an unauthorised and violent force, the statement said.

Therefore, we strongly recommend registered political parties not to contest or engage with the illegitimate election. Your actions can prolong the junta dictatorship which have created various burdens for the people, the statement concluded.

Brotherhood Alliance Extends Ceasefire for Earthquake Relief Efforts

The Three Brotherhood Alliance comprising the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and the Arakan Army (AA), announced on 1 May that it will extend its unilateral ceasefire through 31 May to support ongoing earthquake recovery efforts and humanitarian aid delivery.

This marks the second consecutive extension of the alliance's ceasefire, originally declared in the wake of a powerful earthquake and its aftershocks that caused widespread destruction across affected regions. The alliance previously maintained a truce through the end of April.

According to the alliance's statement, the ceasefire extension aims to create space for clearing debris from damaged buildings and enabling uninterrupted humanitarian operations. Since the ceasefire began, the three member groups have reportedly refrained from offensive actions, engaging only in self-defence when necessary. The junta had also declared a ceasefire lasting through April, but has not issued any update or statement regarding an extension into May.

Despite the junta's declared truce, revolutionary forces claim that attacks including airstrikes, artillery shelling, and drone assaults continued unabated throughout the supposed ceasefire period.

NUG Condemns Junta School Attack That Killed 22 in Sagaing Region

The Ministry of Human Rights of NUG has strongly condemned a junta airstrike on a village school that killed 22 people and injured 102 others in Debayin Township, Sagaing Region. On 12 May 2025, at approximately 9:35 a.m., the junta launched an airstrike targeting a school in Oe Htein Twin Village, according to the ministry's statement. The attack killed 20 students and two volunteer teachers whilst injuring 102 civilians.

Following the airstrike, approximately 500 residents from Oe Htein Twin Village from about 300 households were displaced. The attack occurred despite the junta's announcement of an extension of the nationwide ceasefire until 31 May 2025. The ministry noted that attacks on civilians have escalated, increasingly targeting religious buildings, schools, and hospitals.

From 1 January 2023 to 12 May 2025, there have been 2,679 documented airstrikes, resulting in damages to 240 schools, according to the ministry. The ministry stated that targeted attacks against children during armed conflict constitute war crimes under international law. The junta continues to perpetrate widespread and systematic human rights violations, including these inhumane acts.

The Ministry of Human Rights will continue in its efforts to hold the junta accountable for these crimes in both international and national courts, the statement said. The ministry urged the international community, particularly the United Nations, to take decisive action and exert pressure on the junta to end its ongoing attacks against civilians.

Myanmar Ambassador Condemns Junta School Attack at UN Conference

Myanmar's Ambassador to the United Nations condemned the junta's attack on a school that killed 22 people during his intervention at the SDG 16 Conference in New York on 12 May 2025.

Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun told the conference that the unlawful coup in February 2021 and subsequent junta atrocities have demolished peace, stability and rule of law in the country. Justice has ceased to exist as the perpetrating junta continues to commit and intensify atrocities amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity, he said.

Even this morning (12 May), the junta conducted aerial attacks on a school in O Htein Twin Village, Debayin Township, Sagaing Region, killing two teachers and 20 children and injuring many. It is not an isolated case, he told the conference. Some states are supporting the junta. Supporting the junta materially or morally will help them to kill more people including children, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun said.

Stop bombings; Stop killing people; Stop supporting the junta, Ambassador said. The ambassador appealed to the international community to help end the dictatorship and build a federal democratic union in Myanmar.

Myanmar Ambassador Calls for Peace at UN Vesak Day Commemoration

Myanmar's Ambassador to the United Nations called for prayers for peace and stability during the commemoration of the International Day of Vesak in New York on 14 May 2025. Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun said celebrating Buddha Day has become challenging in Myanmar following the coup in February 2021.

Due to the coup and the subsequent junta's atrocities including aerial attacks, the situation in Myanmar is dire, the people's suffering and loss of numerous innocent lives are heartbreaking, and the people are living with fear, he said. Such suffering has been further compounded by the recent 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar, the ambassador added.

The ambassador noted that in every conflict, people especially women and girls and children bear the brunt of the conflicts. Therefore, I humbly request you all to pray for peace and stability across the globe, pray for peace and stability in my country Myanmar and pray for the future Myanmar built in line with will and interest of the people of Myanmar, he concluded.

Response of the International Community

UN Secretary-General Condemns Junta School Attack in Myanmar

The UN Secretary-General is deeply concerned by reports of an air strike on 12 May by the junta on a school in the Sagaing region, which has been impacted by the earthquake, according to his spokesperson. Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Stéphane Dujarric said at the daily press briefing on 12 May 2025 that the air strike has reportedly killed and injured children.

The reported incident occurred despite the junta announcing the extension of its ceasefire until 31 May to facilitate the relief efforts due to the earthquake, he said. Even in times of armed conflict, schools must be protected and schools must remain areas in which children have a safe place to learn and not be bombed, Dujarric said. Reports of attacks, including in Sagaing and other areas impacted by the 28 March earthquakes, add further to the already immense suffering of people in Myanmar, where over one third of the country requires humanitarian aid.

The Secretary-General condemns all forms of violence and reaffirms the primacy of protection of civilians, in accordance with international humanitarian law, the spokesperson said.

European Union Voices Shock at Deadly Junta School Airstrike in Sagaing

The European Union on 14 May voiced shock at a deadly air strike on a school in central Myanmar, warning the perpetrators must be held accountable for this atrocity, according to AFP.

A junta air strike on 12 May killed at least 22 students and two teachers in the village of Oe Htein Kwin in Sagaing region, according to a school staff member, a local administrator, and other witnesses.

We are horrified over reports of a massacre in a village school in Sagaing, European Union foreign affairs spokeswoman, Anitta Hipper, said on X. Our deepest condolences to the families of the victims, most of them children.

Canada Condemns Junta Airstrike on School in Myanmar

Canada condemned the junta airstrike on a school in Sagaing, Myanmar that killed children and teachers during a ceasefire, according to Global Affairs Canada on 14 May 2025.

Canada is alarmed by the airstrike on a school in Sagaing, Myanmar that killed children and teachers during a ceasefire. We offer our sincere condolences to the families of the victims of this senseless tragedy, the statement said. Canada urges the junta to immediately deescalate violence, protect civilians and respect international law.

Rights Group Calls for Jet Fuel Ban After Deadly School Attack

Fortify Rights issued a statement on 14 May 2025 that calling on Malaysia, as the current chair of ASEAN, to urgently ban the sale and transfer of jet fuel to the military junta following the deadly school bombing which happened on 12 May.

On 12 May, at approximately 9:35 a.m., whilst children were attending school, a junta jet dropped at least two bombs on a school in the village of O Htein Twin, Debayin Township, Sagaing Region, killing at least 22 children between the ages of seven and 16, as well as two adult teachers. At least 100 others were reportedly wounded in the attack.

While telling the world that it's engaged in a so-called ceasefire, the junta is bombing on schoolchildren in their classroom in a deliberate act of terror, said Sai Arkar, Human Rights Associate at Fortify Rights. ASEAN member states must abandon their current approach of looking away from the junta's atrocities and instead take action to end these war crimes. Fortify Rights spoke with three eyewitnesses to the aerial attack on the school and obtained and analysed graphic photographs revealing the airstrike's devastating aftermath.

As of 14 May, two additional students from Grade 2 and Grade 3 died from injuries sustained in the attack, bringing the death toll to 24, whilst others remain in critical condition with limited medical assistance. All eyewitnesses confirmed to Fortify Rights that there was no active conflict in the area surrounding the school at the time of the airstrike, or any presence of armed fighters or positions in the village.

Junta dismissed reports of the Debayin Township school bombing as fake news. However, consistent eyewitness testimonies and verified photographic evidence obtained directly contradict this denial, Fortify Rights said.

The Ministry of Education under the National Unity Government issued a statement the same day, calling on the international community to impose effective sanctions against the junta and support the creation of safe educational environments where children can learn without fear. The junta's bombing of a school in Tabayin Township appears to serve no legitimate objective and may amount to a war crime, said Fortify Rights. Similar strikes on schools and religious buildings occurred during the junta's self-declared ceasefire, showing an escalation in attacks on civilian targets during this period.

Despite sanctions by governments, including the United States, targeting the sale and transfer of aviation fuel to the junta, it continues to purchase aviation fuel and supplies on the international market and use them to launch deadly attacks on civilians.

OHCHR Condemns Continued Violence Despite Ceasefire Declaration

The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has released a press statement on 2 May condemning the dangers faced in Myanmar. Amidst so many crises around the world, the unbearable suffering of the people in Myanmar cannot be forgotten, the statement said.

The unremitting violence inflicted on civilians, despite a ceasefire nominally declared in the wake of the devastating earthquake on 28 March, underscores the need for the parties to commit to – and implement – a genuine and permanent nationwide halt to hostilities and return to civilian rule. It is imperative that the junta immediately stop all attacks on civilians and civilian objects, the statement said.

Since the earthquake and as of 29 April, the junta has reportedly launched at least 243 attacks, including 171 air strikes, with over 200 civilians reportedly killed. The vast majority of attacks happened after 2 April when the junta announced unilateral ceasefires. The junta subsequently renewed its largely unobserved ceasefire which then expired on 30 April.

The relentless attacks affect a population already heavily beleaguered and exhausted by years of conflict. This is compounded by the recent terrible earthquake that left 3,800 people dead and 6.3 million in urgent need of support, adding to the nearly 20 million already relying on assistance. International law is clear that humanitarian aid must be able to reach those in need without impediment.

People in Myanmar need food, water, and shelter. They need – and must have – peace and protection. This is the time to put people first, to prioritise their human rights and humanitarian needs, and to achieve a peaceful resolution to this crisis. Instead of further futile investment in force, the focus must be on the restoration of democracy and the rule of law in Myanmar, the statement concluded.

British Embassy Commemorates Myanmar Journalists on World Press Freedom Day

The British Embassy Yangon has commemorated the brave Myanmar journalists and media professionals working tirelessly to ensure public access to information despite significant challenges as people mark World Press Freedom Day 2025. As the embassy notes in a press release, media freedom in Myanmar is in a dire situation.

Myanmar is now the world's second-largest detainer of journalists, with the country ranked 171st out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders (RSF)'s 2024 World Press Freedom Index. Ongoing Internet restrictions have delayed the collection of assessment data, hindering timely earthquake response efforts, the statement said.  As the embassy notes, the media in Myanmar must be allowed to report freely. The UK condemns the junta's crackdown on access to information and calls on the junta to immediately release all detained journalists.

Campaign Group Warns Against Junta Profiteering From Earthquake Reconstruction

Burma Campaign UK issued a press release on 14 May calling on international investors, United Nations agencies and international humanitarian organisations operating in Myanmar to ensure that junta-owned companies do not benefit from earthquake reconstruction efforts. The campaign group warned it is vital that donations provided to assist earthquake victims in one part of Burma do not help finance junta bombs being dropped in another part of Burma.

The junta has leapfrogged to a focus on the reconstruction stage without coming close to addressing the urgent needs of those who have lost their homes and jobs following the devastating earthquake which struck on 28 March 2025, according to the statement. The junta has already leveraged the earthquake to try to gain international legitimacy, and also to secure significant international donations and pledges for reconstruction. Now, the junta will seek to cash in on the earthquake through the large number of companies it owns or has stakes or financial interests in, the statement said. This includes cement, steel and other industries, and well-known brands such as Rhino Cement, Sinn Min Cement and Flying Horse Cement, as well as Tristar steel. With cement prices more than double what they were pre-earthquake, the junta can expect to financially benefit from reconstruction efforts.

Burma Campaign UK calls on international investors, United Nations agencies and international humanitarian organisations to have policies in place to ensure that they do not purchase any goods or services from junta-owned or controlled companies. This should be a standard policy anyway, not only regarding the earthquake, the statement said. Aside from the moral imperative to ensure international companies and non-governmental organisations do not purchase goods and services from junta companies, if there were to be a scandal in which it was revealed that international aid was used to purchase goods from a junta-owned company, it would undermine public confidence in donating, according to the group.

Burma Campaign UK has produced a Boycott List of junta-owned company brands to help governments, organisations and individuals to avoid junta-owned companies, and information on junta economic interests is available on the Justice For Myanmar website and in the United Nations Fact Finding Mission report.

The group acknowledged there are many challenges and sensitivities for humanitarian organisations operating in the parts of Burma currently occupied by the junta, and also risks for local partners, which may make it unsafe to make public statements about avoiding junta companies. Such policies should be followed privately regardless, it said.

United States Sanctions Junta-Allied Militia Group for Cyber Scams and Human Trafficking

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned the Karen National Army (KNA), a militia group operating under junta command, as a transnational criminal organisation, along with the group's leader Saw Chit Thu, and his two sons, Saw Htoo Eh Moo and Saw Chit Chit, for their role in facilitating cyber scams that harm U.S. citizens, human trafficking, and cross-border smuggling.

The KNA-controlled region, located on the Thai-Myanmar border, is home to multiple cyber scam syndicates, and the KNA has benefitted from its connection to junta allies in its criminal operations.

Cyber scam operations, such as those run by the KNA, generate billions in revenue for criminal kingpins and their associates, whilst depriving victims of their hard-earned savings and sense of security, said Deputy Secretary Michael Faulkender. In their statement, Treasury department said they are committed to using all available tools to disrupt these networks and hold accountable those who seek to profit from these criminal schemes.

The action is taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13581, as amended by E.O. 13863, which targets transnational criminal organisations and their supporters, as well as E.O. 14014.

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Date: 15 May 2025

Permanent Mission of Myanmar to the United Nations, New York