Bi-weekly Update on the Current Situation in Myanmar (01-06-2025 to 15-06-2025)

Bi-weekly Update on the Current Situation in Myanmar

(01-06-2025 to 15-06-2025)

Over (52) 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.

As of 15 June 2025, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), the military has ruthlessly killed 6,807 people and arrested another 29,283 people. 22,131 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. Over 20 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. 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 atrocities, 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 January to 31 May 2025, (428) people in total; (235) women and (193) men, were killed by the junta’s airstrikes across the country, including (105) children under the age of 18. The identities of these victims have been verified. Among them, Sagaing Region records the highest number of deaths with (130) people, followed by (68) in Rakhine.

Moreover during the period of 1 January to 31 May 2025, (88) people in total; (43) women and (45) men, were killed by the junta’s artillery shells across the country, including (15) children under the age of 18. The identities of these victims have been verified. Among them, Magway Region records the highest number of deaths with (16) people, followed by (15) in Sagaing Region.

Myanmar Junta Kills 203 Civilians in May Airstrikes, Human Rights Ministry Reports

The military junta killed 203 civilians, including 47 children, in airstrikes across Myanmar during May 2025, according to data released by the Ministry of Human Rights of the National Unity Government.

The ministry's comprehensive report documented 128 human rights violations in Sagaing Region alone, making it the worst-affected area, followed by Mandalay Region with 112 violations and Magway Region with 85 violations.

Mandalay Region experienced the highest number of airstrikes with 71 attacks during the month, whilst Sagaing recorded 54 airstrikes. The systematic bombing campaign destroyed 341 houses and 17 schools across the country, with Sagaing bearing the brunt of destruction with 76 houses and 5 schools demolished.

The junta's attacks on civilian infrastructure included the destruction of 12 Buddhist religious buildings across seven regions and states, with Magway Region recording the highest number at 3 buildings destroyed. Six medical centres were also targeted and damaged by airstrikes, with Magway Region suffering the most attacks on healthcare facilities.

According to the ministry's analysis, extrajudicial killings topped the list of human rights violations with 122 recorded cases, significantly exceeding property destruction which ranked second with 119 cases. Other major violations included forced labour (50 cases), forced displacement (38 cases), and arbitrary arrests (33 cases).

The data revealed that 61 women were killed compared to 54 men, with 41 victims remaining unidentified. Children under 18 accounted for 46 fatalities, whilst 67 adults over 18 were killed, and 43 victims could not be age-verified. The ministry documented 15 separate massacre incidents during May, resulting in 156 total fatalities across multiple regions. These attacks occurred predominantly in areas with no active combat, constituting clear violations of international humanitarian law.

The systematic targeting of schools, hospitals, and religious buildings demonstrates the military junta's deliberate strategy to terrorize civilian populations and destroy essential infrastructure supporting local communities.

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

Military Junta Bombs Village Killing Three Civilians Despite Declared Ceasefire

The military junta's air force bombed a village in Saw Township, Magway Region on 5 June, according to local media outlets, killing three civilians a few days after extending a declared ceasefire. The claimed purpose of the ceasefire was to allow relief and reconstruction efforts to proceed uninterrupted after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on 28 March, causing more than 3,700 deaths.

Two bombs fell on Nyaungkan Village some 10 miles north of Saw around 2pm on 5 June, landing and exploding inside a housing compound on the outskirts of the village. A villager said the junta’s bombs landed directly on that compound. The villager stated the aircraft circled once and then flew away in formation.

The bombs killed two mechanics in their 40s and another local man in his 30s were killed, Nyaungkan residents said. Six others were injured at the scene.

Locals also said the airstrike destroyed a house on the compound and caused fires that burned up automotive parts and equipment as well as one of the vehicles being repaired. Most residents of Nyaungkan, which consists of nearly 200 households, are farmers. Locals said there had been no nearby battles or operations by ground troops in the area for years.

The junta's attacks on civilian areas also included an airstrike in early May on a school in Depayin Township, Sagaing Region, which killed two teachers and over 22 schoolchildren and injured more than 100 people.

Military Junta Airstrikes Target Schools Killing Seven Civilians

Military junta airstrikes targeting schools in Sagaing Region and Rakhine State killed at least seven people and injured more than 20 others over the weekend of 7 June 2025, Myanmar Now reported. On 7 June, two bombs dropped on a school in Min Taing Pin Village, Pale Township, Sagaing Region, left two people dead and four others injured. The source said a man in his 70s, a retired teacher, died of a head injury and an elderly woman in her 60s who lived nearby also died of shock. The source added that the bombs landed directly on the school and it was only about 300 metres from where they were standing.

Min Taing Pin is located about eight miles west of the town of Pale on the road to Gangaw in neighbouring Magway Region. It is also less than five miles northeast of Kant Daunt, a village where resistance forces have been attacking a junta outpost since 2 June.

Shortly after midnight on 6 June , junta jet fighters carried out simultaneous airstrikes on two other nearby villages, Kyet Yin and Padauk Kone, killing an elderly woman and injuring eight others. The administrator said a bomb exploded inside a school compound and another landed just outside, near the school in Kyet Yin, identifying the deceased as a woman in her 70s. Two bombs landed on a cattle farm near Padauk Kone, but no civilian casualties were reported. The attacks come as the junta steps up its efforts to reinforce its positions in the area, including the outpost at Kant Daunt, which is one of just four junta bases still operating in Pale Township.

Meanwhile, airstrikes carried out in Thandwe Township, Rakhine State on 5 June killed four displaced people and injured 10 others sheltering at two local schools, sources there reported. The attacks, which took place at around 10 pm, targeted the high school in the village of Kyaukgyi and the primary school in Pu Zun Hpay, another village in the area, the sources said.

Four people were killed and eight others were severely injured in Kyaukgyi, whilst at least two people were injured in Pu Zun Hpay Village. Thandwe Township is under the control of the Arakan Army, and is frequently targeted by junta airstrikes. The resident said they are constantly worried about when bombs might fall and they cannot eat properly or sleep well. The resident stated that even though they live in a liberated territory and everything else is free, they are still very afraid of the aircraft threat. 

Military Junta Troops Raid and Burn Jade Mining Sites Near Hpakant

Military junta troops advancing on the major jade-mining centre of Hpakant in Kachin State have begun raiding mine sites and setting them on fire, according to Myanmar Now. A column of junta soldiers and local militia members entered the area east of Hpakant late last month, clashing with the Kachin Independence Army and allied groups controlling access to the town.

A combined force of approximately 1,000 junta troops and militia members has been advancing towards Hpakant from the east and the south since April, facing fierce resistance along both routes. The troops approaching along the road from Kamaing, some 40 miles to the east of Hpakant, have made the greatest progress, but have yet to reach the town, making it only as far as the Long Hkin village tract.

According to KIA spokesperson Col. Naw Bu, the junta forces have been targeting sites near Hmaw Si Sar, a village in the Long Hkin village tract, and have been operating actively near Hmaw Si Sar and nearby company compounds, setting fire to properties, residential buildings, and dormitories.

Some mining companies have ceased operations since the raids began, and most workers have fled to escape the attacks, according to a resident of the area. On 6 June, a mine site operated by the Triple One Company near Hmaw Si Sar was targeted by a drone attack that killed three workers and injured at least 10 others, said another local resident.

The resident said that gunpowder was stored in an underground pit accessible only to supervisors and a red light was seen just before the explosion. There have also been reports of attacks on sites near the villages of Sar Khar and Thar Yar Kone, north of Long Hkin, with dormitories and machinery set on fire.

Military Junta Airstrikes Kill 10 Civilians in Chin State Over Six Months

At least 10 civilians were killed and more than 20 others injured during 18 airstrikes conducted by the military junta in Mindat Township, southern Chin State, over the past six months, according to a statement released on 12 June by the Mindat Township Interim People's Administration Team.

Between 20 February and 9 June, airstrikes targeted several areas in Mindat, including Bawha Thit, A Shae Pyin, San Pya village, Sub-Township No. 1, Sub-Township No. 2, Sub-Township No. 4, and locations near the border with Magway Region. Junta aircraft dropped a total of 41 bombs, resulting in the deaths of 10 civilians and injuries to at least 20 others. Additionally, 71 privately owned homes, 26 government department buildings, and 11 religious structures were damaged.

The most devastating attack occurred on 9 April, when an airstrike on a village in Sub-Township No. 4 killed six residents and destroyed 12 homes along with a Christian church. Although ground fighting has ceased in Mindat since 21 December 2024, when Chin Brotherhood forces and allied groups overran junta camps in the town, the military junta has continued to carry out airstrikes in the area.

Nationwide, airstrikes have intensified. Between 28 March and 6 June 2025, the junta conducted 552 airstrikes across Myanmar, killing 471 civilians and injuring 931 others, according to the Ministry of Human Rights of the National Unity Government.

Human Rights Abuses  

Yangon Faces Unprecedented Poverty Surge Following Military Coup

Once a thriving economic powerhouse, the city of Yangon is now facing an unprecedented surge of poverty amid the conflict and collapse that has wracked the country since the military coup of 2021, according to a new United Nations report. The UN Development Programme stated on 3 June that more than 40 percent of Yangon's 6.2 million inhabitants have fallen below the poverty line.

The report noted that in 2017, ten percent of Yangon's urban population was classified as poor, but by 2023, this figure had increased to 43 percent. With an increase in recent years, nearly 2.7 million people in Yangon are now living in poverty.

The military junta overthrew an elected civilian government in 2021, destroying Myanmar's nascent, ten-year-old democracy and plunging the country into economic turmoil with devastating consequences for its 54 million people. Yangon served as Myanmar's national capital until the previous military dictatorship under Sen-Gen Than Shwe moved the union-level administration to Naypyitaw in 2005, and Yangon has remained the country's economic hub.

Part of the recent proportional increase of residents living in poverty is attributable to an influx of internally displaced persons fleeing the civil war in other parts of the country since the coup. These internal migrants, including IDPs as well as people seeking better livelihoods, now comprise as much as a third of the population in Yangon, where the poorest residents generally live on the city's outskirts.

The UN said not only are more people in Yangon falling below the poverty line, but that the depth of poverty has increased, meaning that the poor on average are living further below the poverty line than before. The UNDP defined the national poverty line for Myanmar as an income 1,590 kyat per day in an earlier report.

The report stated that in the daily struggle to meet basic needs, families in Yangon are unable to afford the additional costs of healthcare, and young adults in poor households are often opting out of school to contribute earnings to their families. The report concluded with a prediction of destabilisation in Yangon as spiralling poverty and insecurity continues to strain the city's already fragile economic and social fabric. The UN agency said the crisis unfolding in Yangon's urban and peri-urban areas is not merely a reflection of an economic downturn but is a structural unravelling of social and economic stability.

UNDP further stated that the economic collapse, displacement, and inadequate services are pushing more families into poverty every day.

Elected MP Dies in Military Junta Custody after Five Months of Detention

Aung Soe Min, a parliamentary representative from southern Shan State, has died in custody five months after military junta detained him, according to the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH). The CRPH announced the ousted lawmaker's death on 4 June.

A member of the Pyithu Hluttaw, Myanmar's lower house of parliament, Aung Soe Win represented the Ywangan constituency in Danu Self-Administered Zone, southern Shan State before the military coup. He was arrested on 18 December 2024, whilst hiding at a house near Pyin Oo Lwin, Mandalay Region and taken to a military interrogation centre. He died five months later, one of his friends said.

With the help of an escapee from the Pyin Oo Lwin Myoma police station, Aung Soe Min was able to relay messages and requests to the outside, making it possible for his friend to send needed items to him in custody, the friend said. He and Aung Soe Min's family learned of his death later, after hearing that the junta had transferred him to Mandalay's Obo Prison.

Aung Soe Min, a member of the National League for Democracy party, was elected to the Ywangan seat in Pyithu Hluttaw of both 2015 and 2020. His friend said he was in good health and they assumed that he died under torture, though they do not know exactly. The friend stated he was loyal to the revolution and fulfilled his duties, always doing something for the people.

Three lawmakers from regional parliaments have died in prison after being tortured by the junta or deprived of adequate medical treatment, the CRPH said in its 4 June statement on Aung Soe Min's death. Kyaw Myo Min, a member of the Mon State parliament, was also killed by junta, according to the committee.

The CRPH statement also noted that 13 MPs who fled their homes in fear of junta persecution had died due to inadequate medical care and 41 were still in junta custody, whilst others remain in hiding with their homes sealed off by the military junta. The CRPH expressed concern for the safety and wellbeing of democratically elected representatives still being held by the junta, including President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Military Junta Transfers 200 Political Prisoners Including Protest Leader

Around 200 political prisoners, including prominent Monywa protest leader Wai Moe Naing, have been transferred from Monywa Prison to undisclosed locations, according to the Political Prisoners Network-Myanmar and the Monywa People's Strike Steering Committee. The transfer occurred at around 5am on 12 June, when two iron-clad vehicles, three vans, and six 12-wheel trucks from the Northwestern Military Command arrived at Monywa Prison, according to a report posted on PPNM's social media.

Ko Khant Wai Phyo, a member of the Monywa People's Strike Struggle Steering Committee, said it is true that Ko Wai Moe Naing has been transferred to Mandalay's Obo Prison. However, the destinations of the other transferred inmates remain unknown. Ko Thaik Htun Oo, head of PPNM, said the move was likely a preemptive step by the military junta to prevent a potential prison break amid escalating conflict in the region. He explained that Monywa Prison is secure enough for now and most of the inmates are locals, and it could still hold them. However, military activity is intensifying across Sagaing Region, and revolutionary forces are gaining control in several areas, including Monywa. He stated that if a prison break happens, political prisoners could be freed and rejoin the resistance, and he believes the military junta transferred them as a precaution.

He also expressed concern over the possibility of mistreatment during transport, citing past instances of torture and abuse by prison authorities during inmate transfers. PPNM is reportedly monitoring the situation closely.

Wai Moe Naing, one of the most prominent leaders of the anti-coup protests in Monywa, was arrested by the military junta on 15 April 2021, after being rammed by a vehicle whilst protesting on a motorcycle. He was initially sentenced to 54 years in prison under Section 505(a), Section 122 for high treason, and other charges. On 10 May 2024, the Monywa Prison Court added another 20 years to his sentence, citing his alleged involvement in the deaths of two police officers in Monywa's industrial zone in March 2021. His total sentence now stands at 74 years.

As of 13 June, a total of 29,272 people have been arrested since the 2021 coup, with 22,120 still in detention and 10,827 already sentenced, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

International Report Exposes Military Junta's Systematic Crackdown on Journalists

A new report from the International Centre for Not-for-Profit Law exposes the military junta's extensive and systematic crackdown on journalists since its February 2021 coup, documenting arbitrary detentions, torture, and draconian prison sentences. According to ICNL's four-year study, at least 221 journalists were detained between February 2021 and February 2025, with 51 still imprisoned as of February 2025. Of those detained, 88 were convicted, receiving a total of 497 years in prison, including extreme sentences of up to 27 years.

The military junta primarily used charges under nine laws. The most commonly used charges are for false news and incitement. Convictions are brought through sham trials lacking due process. The report found that nearly 70 percent of journalists were detained specifically for their work, with arbitrary arrests and torture widespread. Three journalists have been tortured to death.

Women journalists, though a minority of detainees, faced higher conviction rates and experienced gender-based discrimination, the report noted. ICNL also found that 99 media outlets were affected by detentions, including both pro-opposition and pro-military publications. Outlets suffered reduced capacity, morale, and rising risks, even as many continued to operate underground or in exile.

Despite the repression, Myanmar's media continues to resist. The report states that journalists remain bravely committed to building a robust information ecosystem for a public desperately seeking the truth.

ICNL calls on the international community, especially the United Nations and donor governments, to increase protection for journalists, nullify military-era legal changes, and support long-term reforms to restore press freedom. The report concludes with a stark warning that without accountability and reform, the military junta will continue to weaponize the law against journalism in its effort to control information and suppress dissent.

Military Junta Constructs Surveillance State Using Digital Repression

Myanmar's military junta has constructed a near-total surveillance state using repressive digital laws, biometric monitoring, and AI-powered tools to erode privacy rights and target marginalised groups, according to a new report by Human Rights Myanmar. The submission, made to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights under Resolution 54/21, outlines how the junta has systematically dismantled privacy protections since the 2021 coup, enacting sweeping surveillance measures that disproportionately harm ethnic minorities, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and political dissidents.

At the heart of this digital crackdown is the so-called 2025 Cyber Security Law, which compels digital platforms to store personal user data including names, IP addresses, and browsing logs for three years and hand it over to the junta upon demand. Appeals are processed by military-controlled bodies, eliminating any semblance of judicial oversight.

HRM highlights how Myanmar's junta further tightened its grip through the deployment of Deep Packet Inspection technology to block VPNs and encrypted communications. This technology has been primarily sourced from Chinese vendors. This system has severely restricted access to information, with VPN bans in minority-dominated areas like Chin, Kachin, and Rakhine States cutting off critical communication with humanitarian groups.

In a development described as chilling, the junta introduced a Person Scrutinization and Monitoring System in 2024, combining facial recognition, AI, and digital IDs to identify and detain individuals. This has led to over 1,600 arrests in just 10 weeks in 2025.

The system reportedly discriminates against ethnic minorities by relying on biased datasets and contributes to wrongful detentions. SIM card registration mandates and metadata harvesting have further excluded Rohingya from digital access whilst facilitating surveillance.

Commercial spyware is also reportedly used to extract intimate data, sometimes weaponised to shame and intimidate women and activists. Human Rights Myanmar calls for international sanctions on military-linked entities, suspension of technology sales to the junta, and urgent UN monitoring of digital repression in Myanmar.

Actions of Resistance Forces against the Junta

Revolutionary Forces Shoot Down Military Junta Fighter Jet in Sagaing Region

A jet fighter belonging to the military junta was shot down and destroyed in Pale Township, Sagaing Region, on 10 June, killing the pilot, according to local media outlets.  Local resistance forces confirmed that the jet fighter was taken down by revolutionary forces during an ongoing assault on the Kankyi Daunt police station. He added that the pilot was killed in the crash.

The jet fighter, reportedly deployed from Naypyitaw Airport to provide air support for the embattled Kankyi Daunt station, was hit and went down at around 12:15pm on 10 June. Multiple sources in the area, including one from Mizzima, said the aircraft was seen crashing and later caught fire inside the premises of a monastery in a village in Pale Township.

Ko Zaw Htet said they found a pilot's helmet that had exploded and come out of the crash site. He stated it is certain that none of the pilots survived, adding that they are withholding the name of the crash site village for security reasons.

According to him, it was the third jet fighter sent from Tada-U to support the military junta troops in the ongoing battle. A PLA fighter told Mizzima that the station has not been captured yet, but they have surrounded and blockaded it since 2 June. The fighter stated they expect to seize it soon and the junta has carried out repeated airstrikes, including that morning. Due to the burning wreckage and risk of further aerial attacks, revolutionary forces have temporarily withdrawn from the crash site, according to the Pale Township People's Administration Team. The PLA and allied forces have been assaulting the Kankyi Daunt police station since early June, facing fierce resistance from military junta troops backed by frequent air support raids.

Resistance Forces Capture Four Military Junta Outposts Along Thai-Myanmar Border

Anti-junta forces captured four military junta outposts in three days during the last week of May along the Thai-Myanmar border in Karen State's Myawaddy Township, according to Myanmar Now. A coalition of Karen National Liberation Army forces and People's Defence Force troops under the command of the National Unity Government's Ministry of Defence seized the outposts between 28 and 30 May.

Padoh Saw Taw Nee, spokesperson for the KNLA's political wing, the Karen National Union, stated that each outpost collapsed within a day or two, reflecting how dire the junta's situation is. The outposts include one at the village of Baledo, located south of the border town of Myawaddy, which was captured on 23 May, and the others were the junta's Kanaelay, Shwe Aye Myaing, Maw Khee, and Bayint Naung camps.

All of the outposts had been under junta control for decades following their capture after the fall of the KNU headquarters at Manerplaw in January 1995. In addition to retaking the outposts, the resistance forces also intercepted a junta reinforcement column near the village of Son See Myaing on the Myawaddy-Waw Lay road on 28 May and seized a large cache of weapons and ammunition.

Military analyst Htun Htun stated that this action disrupted the junta's logistics and communication routes, making it easier for the resistance forces to seize the outposts. The Kanaelay camp, defended by over 100 junta soldiers, came under attack on the night of 28 May. More than 60 weapons, including 120mm artillery pieces, were captured when it fell, according to Aung Aung, deputy chief of the Force for Federal Democracy.

The allied forces are reportedly continuing their attacks on other junta positions along the border, including the Waw Lay hilltop base, the Ti Thea Lel outpost, and camps at Thay Baw Boe, Ukrithta, and Htee Ka Pal. Prior to the capture of the Baledo camp, resistance forces had captured eight junta camps situated along the Moei River since late last year, according to a KNU statement released on 21 May.

A Revolutionary Group Captures 23 Military Soldiers in Magway Region

A revolutionary group said it took at least 23 military junta soldiers as prisoners in Magway Region's Ngape Township in the second of June week amid intense clashes in the area, Myanmar Now reported.  A representative of the Chin Defence Force-Asho told that on 13 June that the group captured the troops as they were fleeing from the junta's last remaining hilltop base along the border between Magway Region and Rakhine State.

The CDF-Asho representative said all were newly conscripted soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion 113 and 420 bases. The representative added that although fighting does not occur every day, clashes have remained intense in the area.

Military junta battalions under the command of Light Infantry Division 99 have been defending the base since it first came under attack from the AA and ACDF in early March. There are also at least seven junta defensive positions located in villages or forested areas near the base, according to the resistance forces.

The CDF-Asho representative said junta troops are currently stationed at a monastery near Goke Gyi, referring to a village roughly two miles southeast of the Nat Yay Kan air defence base. There is also another hilltop position between Goke Gyi and the neighbouring village of Bone Baw, the representative added.

The military junta has also deployed reinforcements using an old route connecting other junta bases to the Nat Yay Kan base in order to prevent the clashes from spilling to other parts of Ngape Township, where a number of munitions factories are located.

After losing control of its Western Regional Military Command headquarters in Ann Township, Rakhine State, junta troops from LID 99 waged a counteroffensive operation near Ka Myin Kan, a village about 33 miles southeast of Ann. However, the AA has since defeated junta battalion units in the area, capturing several soldiers, including a tactical commander from LID 99. Apart from the Asho-CDF, several other resistance groups, including the ACDF, the People's Revolution Army–Magway, and the Student Armed Force, are active in the area.

Activities of the Resistance Organizations and the National Unity Government

National Unity Government Constructs Underground Hospitals to Protect Healthcare

The National Unity Government has begun constructing two bomb-proof underground hospitals in its controlled areas, with plans to build up to eight, according to U Nay Phone Latt, spokesperson for the NUG Prime Minister's Office. Speaking during a briefing titled Reporting to the People and the International Community on 10 June, U Nay Phone Latt said the exact locations of the hospitals cannot be disclosed for security reasons, but the effort reflects the NUG's commitment to providing safe healthcare amid relentless attacks by the military junta.

U Nay Phone Latt said the military junta has targeted not only schools but also hospitals and clinics and they must protect their people by building secure healthcare facilities. The briefing also noted that on 25 May, the NUG's Ministry of Education temporarily closed all schools under its administration due to increasing threats. U Nay Phone Latt stressed the urgent need for modern air-raid warning systems and bomb-proof shelters to safeguard children's right to education.

He called on neighbouring countries, the international community, and child rights organizations to support efforts ensuring children in Myanmar can study safely without fear of aerial bombardments. The NUG's concerns are underscored by recent brutal airstrikes, including a 12 May bombing of a school in Oe Htein Twin Village, Depayin Township, which killed two teachers and 22 students, injuring more than 100 others. On 23 May, an airstrike in Min Su village, Minkin Township, killed 14 people, including seven children and two preschoolers.

Between 30 May and 5 June, the junta carried out at least 10 airstrikes across four regions, including Mandalay and Sagaing, resulting in nine civilian injuries and five deaths, according to a report released on 8 June by the Nyan Lin Thit Analytica research group.

National Unity Government Welcomes ILO Article 33 Measures Against Military Junta

The National Unity Government on 7 June 2025 issued a statement expressing profound  appreciation for the adoption of effective measures against the military junta under Article 33 of the ILO Constitution at the 113th International Labour Conference. The NUG stated it is waging a multifaceted revolutionary struggle across political, military, diplomatic, financial, administrative, and public engagement fronts to uproot the military dictatorship and establish a Federal Democratic Union.

A landmark decision was adopted on 5 June 2025 during the plenary sitting of the 113th International Labour Conference in Geneva, imposing strong measures against the military junta under Article 33 of the ILO Constitution. The resolution was adopted by overwhelming consensus among ILO Member States due to the junta's blatant breaches of core ILO Conventions, notably Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association and Convention No. 29 on Forced Labour.

The NUG's tripartite body, comprising government, employers, and workers' representatives, successfully lobbied for rejection of the junta's accreditation and prevented their participation in the 109th International Labour Conference. The body's evidence-based advocacy led the ILO to establish a Commission of Inquiry in March 2022, the organisation's highest-level investigative mechanism.

The Commission released a landmark report in August 2023 containing urgent recommendations for the junta to cease violations. However, the military junta escalated its abuses, including unlawful conscription, daily aerial bombardments against civilians, arbitrary arrests, and extrajudicial killings.

The Article 33 resolution calls on ILO Member States to review their engagement with the junta and refrain from providing aviation fuel, military equipment, and financial transactions that could contribute to the junta's repression. The NUG acknowledged partners including the Myanmar Labour Alliance, Myanmar Employers' Organization, International Trade Union Confederation, and other global organizations who supported the adoption of the resolution.

Myanmar's National Unity Government Orders School Closures Following Deadly Junta Airstrike

Myanmar's interim National Unity Government has instructed all NUG-recognised schools, universities and vocational training institutes in their controlled territories to close temporarily following a deadly airstrike on a village school.

The instruction on 25 May from the NUG followed a horrific airstrike by the junta against a school in Oe Htein Twin Village, Dipeyin Township in the Sagaing region, on 12 May, which killed at least 24 civilians, including students and teachers. More than 100 people were injured.

The NUG said institutions would be closed whilst airstrike safety measures were being carried out. Online teaching will continue despite the temporary closure of schools on the ground.

An official of NUG's Ministry of Education stated that they are working to reduce the risk of artillery and airstrikes through constructing bomb shelters, early warning systems, and establishing connections between groups to better report air threats. Early this year, on 30 January, Aung San Comprehensive University in Myanmar's central region was bombed, killing a 20-year-old student.

At a press briefing on 27 May, NUG spokesperson U Kyaw Zaw said nearly 2,700 airstrikes were launched by the junta between January 2023 and 12 May 2025, killing over 3,000 civilians, including children. More than 240 schools have been destroyed in attacks outside active conflict zones, clearly violating international humanitarian law.

Since the 2021 coup, 91 schools in the Sagaing region alone have been hit by airstrikes. As of April 2025, there are more than 6,000 basic education schools with more than 800,000 students in NUG-controlled areas. The systematic targeting of educational institutions by the military junta constitutes a clear violation of international humanitarian law.

Myanmar Ambassador Calls for End to Military Dictatorship at UN

Myanmar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, told on the Executive Board Annual Session of UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS on 4 June that the recent devastating earthquake has worsened the suffering of Myanmar people since the 2021 illegal coup attempt. The ambassador stated that over 3.5 million people have been displaced and nearly 20 million need humanitarian assistance.

He highlighted that the military junta has restricted humanitarian access and weaponised aid following the earthquake, with 74 percent of hardest-hit townships not receiving shelter assistance. The ambassador noted that in two months since the earthquake, the junta conducted over 780 aerial and artillery attacks across the country, killing over 540 civilians and destroying healthcare facilities and schools.

Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun emphasized the urgent need to invest in resilience-building against both natural disasters and man-made atrocities, stating that ongoing brutalities must be stopped through bold action. He called on the UN, its agencies and the international community to support Myanmar's people in their determination to uproot the military dictatorship and build a federal democratic union. The ambassador concluded that the only sustainable development path for Myanmar is one with peace and stability.

Myanmar Ambassador Urges UN to Stop Weapons Flow to Military Junta

Myanmar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, addressed the 2025 Annual Session of the UNICEF Executive Board on 10 June, stating that Myanmar's political, security, economic, humanitarian and human rights conditions have become extremely dire over the four years since the illegal coup due to the military junta's atrocities.

The ambassador stressed that instead of stopping military operations, the junta has continued to intensify them. He stated that to save the lives and futures of children, everyone must work together to end the junta's brutalities and aerial attacks.

Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun highlighted that within two months following the March earthquake, the junta conducted over 780 aerial and artillery attacks across the country, including earthquake-affected regions, killing over 540 civilians including women and children and destroying healthcare facilities and schools. He cited the 12 May attack on a village school in Debayin, Sagaing Region, which killed at least 20 children along with their two teachers.

Myanmar Ambassador Calls for Urgent Action to Save Lives

Myanmar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, told the General Assembly during the briefing by the UNSG Special Envoy on Myanmar on 10 June that Myanmar’s political, security, economic, humanitarian and human rights conditions are dire and deteriorated further, and for over 4 years, the unfolding tragedy in Myanmar only escalates where the country’s development is severely jeopardized, and civilians are suffering the most.

He also stressed that on a daily basis, people in Myanmar live in fear due to the military junta’s egregious atrocities ranging from killing, arbitrary arrests, forced conscription, sexual violence, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions to aerial attacks.

Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun emphasized that an urgent and decisive action is highly needed to effectively address the crisis in Myanmar, thereby save life and future of the people of Myanmar. He called for effective humanitarian assistance, an end to junta aerial attacks against civilians, and urged member states to stop supplying weapons, jet fuel and financial assistance to the military junta. The ambassador stated that rejecting the junta's sham election is vital and that any inclusive dialogue on Myanmar's future must be in accordance with the will and interests of the people.

Myanmar Ambassador Highlights Security Council's Inaction on Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, told the General Assembly on 11 June that the Security Council's lack of unity is reflected in the use of vetoes and selective application of Article 31 of the UN Charter on Myanmar. The ambassador stated that the Council has been dismissing calls to respond to Myanmar's situation by playing numbers games, emphasising that immediate, effective action to save lives matters more than the number of private meetings.

Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun called for coordinated response from UN bodies and stated that any solution not centering the will and interests of Myanmar people will be short-term respite at best and long-term failure at worst. He emphasized that any inclusive dialogue must occur in line with the people's will and interests, highlighting that inclusivity, transitional justice and civilian oversight of military are critical elements for a Myanmar-owned process.

Myanmar Ambassador Reports Worsening Conditions for Disabled Persons

Myanmar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, told the 18th Session of the Conference of State Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on 12 June that the situation for persons with disabilities in Myanmar has deteriorated from bad to worse since the illegal military coup. The ambassador stated this is a direct consequence of the military junta's continued atrocities against civilians.

Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun noted that disabled persons are disproportionately impacted by human rights abuses and humanitarian crises, and are often victims of multiple violences committed by the military junta. He emphasized that ending the junta's atrocities is key to saving the lives of Myanmar people.

The ambassador urged UN member states and the international community to help stop the flow of weapons, jet fuel, and financial assistance to the military junta.

Myanmar Ambassador Highlights Prison Rights Violations Under Military Junta

Myanmar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, addressed the General Assembly debate on global prison challenges on 13 June, stating that the military junta blatantly defies Mandela Rule 1, which emphasises human dignity and requires all prisoners to be treated with respect due to their inherent dignity as human beings.

The ambassador noted that Mandela Rule 58 affirms that prisoners must be allowed contact with their families and the world beyond prison walls, but this right does not exist in Myanmar. He highlighted that even President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi have been cut off from outside contact for years, stripped of legal counsel and denied contact with loved ones.

Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun mentioned that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will turn 80 years old next week, and Myanmar people everywhere are organizing various activities to celebrate her 80th birthday and praying for her immediate release and good health. The ambassador stated that detention under the military junta is not about law enforcement but about domination. He called for unrestricted access by the UN and ICRC to all detention facilities, immediate release of all political prisoners, targeted sanctions against the junta, and investment in survivor recovery.

Response of the International Community

ILO Takes Action Against Military Junta for Labour Rights Violations

The International Labour Organization stated on 5 June 2025 in Geneva that it will take action against Myanmar's military junta for severe labour and human rights violations during the International Labour Conference. The National Unity Government said the junta had breached ILO conventions on freedom of association and prohibitions on forced labour.

An overwhelming majority of international delegates supported the resolution despite opposition from Russia, Belarus, Laos and China, according to the NUG. Since June 2021, the ILO has urged the military junta to cease violence against trade union members, free detained unionists and end forced labour and conscription.

Under Article 33 of the ILO Constitution, the resolution targets the military junta rather than Myanmar's people, as the junta operates without legitimacy or accountability.

The resolution calls upon governments, employers and trade unions to ensure their relationships do not enable the junta's violations, including supply of goods, investment flows or cooperation that could perpetuate repression or forced labour.

Luc Triangle, general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation, called the decision a victory for justice and workers' rights that must be followed by economic and diplomatic pressure on the junta.

EU Condemns Military Junta's Labour Rights Violations at International Labour Conference

The European Union delivered a statement on 5 June 2025 in Geneva condemning the military junta's persistent violations of fundamental labour rights during the 111th session of the International Labour Conference. Speaking on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, the EU representative highlighted the gravity of systematic labour rights abuses committed by the military junta since the illegal coup in February 2021. The statement was also supported by candidate countries including Türkiye, North Macedonia, Albania, Ukraine, Republic of Moldova and Georgia, as well as EFTA countries Iceland and Norway.

The International Labour Conference faces a critical decision regarding the application of Article 33 of the ILO Constitution, representing the strongest measure available within the Organisation's supervisory system. The EU emphasised that this measure responds to continued and deliberate violations by the military junta of fundamental ILO Conventions No. 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise and No. 29 on Forced Labour.

The EU announced its support for the adoption of the draft resolution by the Conference, considering it balanced and providing measures that are effective and targeted at those responsible for the violations. The resolution aims to press for full respect of labour rights whilst acknowledging the importance of sustainable livelihoods under decent working conditions. The statement noted that the draft resolution provides space to avoid measures which could adversely affect the people of Myanmar, especially the most vulnerable populations.

The EU urged the military junta to engage without further delay in good faith implementation of the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry. The statement represents the international community's continued commitment to holding the military junta accountable for its systematic violations of international labour standards and human rights law since the illegal seizure of power in February 2021.

UN Special Envoy Warns Myanmar on Path to Self-Destruction

In a stark address to the UN General Assembly, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Myanmar Julie Bishop warned that Myanmar is on a path to self-destruction as conflict intensifies across the country and humanitarian conditions deteriorate rapidly. Speaking at an informal session, Bishop painted a grim picture of escalating violence despite repeated calls for ceasefires.

Bishop stated there has been no end to the violence, citing ongoing attacks on civilians, schools, hospitals, and places of worship. The crisis has worsened in the wake of a massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar in May, compounding civilian suffering and overwhelming a collapsing health system.

With over 20 million people in need of assistance, the Special Envoy criticised the lack of compliance with ceasefires.  Despite announcements of temporary truces, hostilities persist, embedding a crisis within a crisis. She also highlighted the deteriorating situation for the Rohingya, noting rising poverty, forced recruitment, and tragic flight attempts by sea. Only 20 percent of the 2025 Rohingya Joint Response Plan in Bangladesh is funded, leading to food and education cuts in refugee camps.

Bishop emphasized that the junta's proposed elections lack legitimacy without an inclusive process and the release of over 22,000 political prisoners. She reiterated the UN Security Council's call for the immediate release of former leaders Aung San Suu Kyi and Win Myint.

Despite the grim outlook, Bishop noted some openness to political dialogue and praised ASEAN-UN collaboration, including joint advocacy with ASEAN Special Envoy Othman Hashim. She urged renewed international solidarity, especially ahead of the September High-Level Conference on the Rohingya.

Ending her briefing, Bishop called on the UN and member states to act decisively, warning that this is a test of their relevance in one of the region's most complex crises.  

EU Steps Up Support for Myanmar in Response to Mounting Post-Quake Needs

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a €5 million contribution from the European Union to address food security of communities devastated by the deadly earthquake in Myanmar, WFP stated on 4 June 2025. Through funding from the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), WFP will provide food or cash for food to those most impacted by the earthquake, as well as specialised nutrition support for children and mothers.

The contribution follows a recent joint EU and WFP field visit to earthquake-hit Mandalay, where officials observed the ongoing struggle of affected communities. Nearly 2.8 million food insecure people were affected by the earthquake in the hardest hit townships.

Mr Luc Verna, who oversees EU humanitarian programmes in Myanmar, said that even before the devastating earthquake struck Myanmar, humanitarian aid was a lifeline for its people amid ongoing conflict. In the face of this tragedy, the EU remains steadfast in its commitment.

WFP reached 400,000 people with emergency food, cash for food, and nutrition support in the worst affected regions including Mandalay, Sagaing, southern Shan and Nay Pyi Taw during its initial response. Starting from early June, WFP will provide two months of targeted support for 150,000 people.

Due to severe funding gaps, WFP was forced to cut lifesaving assistance to more than one million people in Myanmar since April. Before the earthquake, 20 million people already needed humanitarian assistance. This contribution brings EU support for WFP Myanmar to €8.9 million in 2025, making it the largest contributor to WFP's efforts to address hunger in the crisis-hit country.

Southeast Asia's Illicit Methamphetamine Trade Reaches Record High, UN Reports

The illicit methamphetamine trade in Southeast Asia has surged to record levels, with seizures hitting 236 tonnes in 2024—a 24% increase from the previous year—according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), AP reported on 28 May 2025.

Myanmar's Shan State, part of the infamous Golden Triangle region, remains a key hub for industrial-scale methamphetamine production, driven largely by the instability from Myanmar's ongoing civil war since the 2021 military junta's illegal coup. This conflict has both disrupted law enforcement and created favourable conditions for traffickers, whose networks now extend methamphetamine across Southeast Asia and increasingly into South Asia, especially Northeast India.

Trafficking routes have diversified, moving drugs through Laos to Cambodia and via maritime routes to Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, with Sabah in Malaysia serving as a major transit point. Traffickers are increasingly sophisticated, using digital tools and infiltrating legitimate businesses, with organized crime groups collaborating with underground banking services to facilitate the trade.

UNODC reported that this growing drug trade poses a major security and public health challenge for Southeast Asia. The ongoing instability created by the military junta's violations of international law and systematic attacks on civilians has created an environment where criminal networks can operate with greater impunity, further undermining regional security and pub.

UN Experts Called Upon to Address Myanmar School Massacre One Month On

SAC-M has called for urgent action from UN experts following the one-month anniversary of a deadly military junta airstrike on a school in Depayin Township, Sagaing Region, according to a statement released on 12 June 2025. The 12 May attack killed at least 22 children, some as young as seven, and two teachers when junta aircraft bombed students taking their morning examinations. Another 105 civilians sustained injuries in the assault.

This incident follows a similar attack in September 2022, known as the Let Yet Kone massacre, where junta forces killed at least 12 people, including seven children, during an air and ground assault on another school in Depayin Township.

According to SAC-M, these attacks demonstrate the junta's systematic pattern of targeting children through school bombings, educator persecution, forced recruitment, and humanitarian aid denial. The junta has publicly defended such killings, describing the April 2023 deaths of dozens of children in Pa Zi Gyi village airstrikes as collateral damage.

The UN Secretary-General’s latest report on children and armed conflict in Myanmar reveals that a more than 400 per cent increase in grave violations against children compared to the previous year. UN Special Envoy on Myanmar Julie Bishop confirmed on 10 June that “have been targeted in what should be safe spaces—schools, hospitals and place of worship”, and described Myanmar as on “a path to self-destruction.” Children are bearing the brunt of this destruction. Calling on the UN and the international community to act, the Special Envoy described the Myanmar crisis as “a test of our relevance.”

SAC-M has contacted the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and Virginia Gamba, the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, requesting public condemnation and enhanced child protection measures for Myanmar.

International humanitarian law experts note that deliberate attacks on educational facilities and children constitute serious violations of international legal frameworks governing armed conflict.

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Date: 15 June 2025

Permanent Mission of Myanmar to the United Nations, New York