Bi-weekly Update on the Current Situation in Myanmar(01-10-2025 to 15-10-2025)

Bi-weekly Update on the Current Situation in Myanmar

(01-10-2025 to 15-10-2025)

Over (56) 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 elected civilian government, parliamentarians and activists. Since then, the military junta has ignored the will of the people of Myanmar, placed the country in turmoil, and made people suffer tremendously as a result of its inhumane and disproportionate acts.

Moreover, over 3.6 million people are being displaced. Almost 22 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. Among them, over 10.4 million are women and girls, and over 6.3 million are children. 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.

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

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

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

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

According to the data collected by AAPP, from 1 January to 15 October 2025, (288) people in total; (119) women and (169) men were killed by the military junta’s airstrikes across the country. These are the numbers that have been verified. Among them, Sagaing Region records the highest number of deaths, totalling (91) people, followed by (37) in Rakhine. Moreover, from 1 January to 16 October 2025, the Junta killed (87) people in total from the education sector across the country; (43) men and (44) women, including (67) children under the age of 18. Among the (87) deceased, (74) people were killed by the junta’s airstrikes, recording the highest number of deaths, followed by (7) people who were killed by the junta’s artillery strikes.

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

Junta Airstrike Kills Schoolgirl in Namhsan Township, Northern Shan State

A fourth-grade student was killed and another student sustained serious injuries when the military junta carried out an airstrike on Ong Ma Sum Village in Namhsan Township, northern Shan State, according to Mizzima’s report. The attack occurred on 14 October, when a Y-12 aircraft dropped four bombs on the village, which lies in an area controlled by the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA).

A local woman from Um Swam village told Mizzima that the Y-12 aircraft dropped four bombs, resulting in the death of one fourth-grade student and severe injuries to another. The victim, identified as fourth-grade student Mi Thin Nwe, died after being struck by shrapnel in the abdomen. A seventh-grade girl was critically injured in the attack. Additionally, five houses were destroyed during the bombing.

Junta forces have continued launching airstrikes on towns and villages under TNLA control in northern Shan State in recent weeks. The targeting of civilian areas, including locations where children are present, constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law, which requires all parties to armed conflict to distinguish between military objectives and civilian populations at all times.   

Junta Paraglider Bombing Kills at Least 32 at Candlelight Vigil in Sagaing Region, Including Children

Several children were among at least 32 people killed and over 50 injured in the night of 6 October when junta paragliders bombed a peaceful candlelight vigil in Chaung-U Township, Sagaing Region. The Irrawaddy reported that the march was held to mark the Full Moon Day of Thadingyut, the ongoing festival of light, which is an important religious occasion on the Buddhist calendar.

The paragliders dropped two bombs on the candlelight vigil that had just commenced in Bon To village, located approximately 10 kilometers from Chaung-U Town, at around 7 pm. A local resident told The Irrawaddy that 32 people were killed, and fifty people were injured. The source added that the bombs scattered the victims' bodies, making identification of the dead extremely difficult. Minutes later, the paragliders returned and dropped another two bombs in the same location.

As the attack occurred during a holiday, many young people had come to join the march. Four young members of the Monywa-Amyint Lan non-violent committee were also killed in the bombing, according to the residents.  A video clip showing people screaming, crying, and searching for their friends and loved ones after the strike spread on social media. Resistance groups from Chaung-U and Monywa have regularly organized peaceful candlelight vigils along the border of the two townships every Thadingyut since the 2021 coup.

The deliberate targeting of civilians participating in a peaceful religious observance constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law and amount to a war crime under international criminal law.

Junta Airstrikes on Chin State Schools Kill Six Students, Injure Over 40 Within Five Days

The military junta carried out two airstrikes on schools in Chin State within five days, killing six students and injuring more than 40 others.  Mizzima reported that the first air raid took place at around 7 pm on 8 October, targeting schools in Wamathoo and Htin Chaung villages in Mindat Township. The second strike hit a school in Van Har village, Hakha Township, at 10:25 am on 13 October.

Zar Kyone Lian, Secretary General of the Chin Defence Force (CDF) – Hakha, condemned the attacks, describing them as part of a growing pattern of strikes against civilian targets. He stated that the CDF strongly denounces the military junta's deliberate bombing of schools, which has killed children and sown fear among the new generation who represent the future of the nation. During the 13 October strike, three bombs were dropped. One detonated near a pond to the west of the school, killing two children and injuring more than 20 others, several critically. Two school buildings were destroyed in the blast, Zar Kyone Lian reported.

He noted that the airstrike occurred despite the absence of any clashes near Van Har, a village situated roughly 25 miles from Hakha, the state capital. This indicates the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure rather than any military objective. Zar Kyone Lian added that the CDF–Hakha will continue to resist until the military dictatorship is completely removed.

The deliberate targeting of schools and the killing of children constitute grave violations of international humanitarian law, which affords special protection to educational facilities and children during armed conflict. Such attacks may constitute war crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Junta and Allied Forces Take Approximately 100 Civilians Hostage Near Banmauk, Sagaing Region

The military junta and the allied Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA) took around 100 civilians hostage on the first week of October amid clashes near the resistance-held town of Banmauk in Sagaing Region.

Myanmar Now reported that the captives were detained on 7 October when their village, Set Taw, came under attack by a combined force of junta and SNA troops. Resistance forces controlling the village, located approximately three miles west of Banmauk, were forced to retreat the same day.

A resident of the area told Myanmar Now that after SNA and junta forces took control of the security outposts in Set Taw, all civilians who had stayed behind to care for their homes were captured. The source added that the detainees were blindfolded during their detention, though some managed to flee.

The detainees were reportedly transported west of Banmauk in tarpaulin-covered vehicles. Their current whereabouts remain unknown. The source confirmed that over 100 villagers were detained, based on reports from those who managed to escape.

Most of Set Taw's residents had fled since late September due to fighting near Banmauk, with only a few who were concerned about the safety of their property staying behind.

Some detainees have reportedly been forced to dig bunkers and perform hard labour on Sein Phyu Hill, located a few miles northwest of Banmauk. However, this information could not be independently verified.

Currently, junta and SNA troops control Set Taw, where reports indicate that they are looting homes, stealing property, and burning some houses. Set Taw, a village of nearly 1,000 households, is predominantly inhabited by members of the Kadu ethnic group. Kadu youths were among those fighting on the side of the anti-junta forces.

Human Rights Abuses   

Detained Sagaing Chief Minister Transferred to Mandalay's Obo Prison Amid Health Concerns

Dr Myint Naing, the detained Chief Minister of Sagaing Region and a senior member of the National League for Democracy (NLD) Central Executive Committee, was transferred to Mandalay's Obo Prison on the afternoon of 3 October. Mizzima reported that the transfer was revealed on 7 October, following inquiries made while Dr Myint Naing was undergoing treatment at Mandalay General Hospital for a gastrointestinal illness. He had been hospitalised since 25 September.

Dr Myint Naing was moved to Mandalay's Obo Prison on the afternoon of 3 October. The source added that he is now in the prison hospital, but could not confirm details for certain. Concerns over the 71-year-old's health continue to grow. He has lived with a pacemaker for over 11 years, and those close to him say his heart condition remains fragile, leaving him easily fatigued.

Another source expressed worry, noting that Dr Myint Naing had previously suffered a heart attack and suggesting his condition may have worsened. Family members fear for his life, citing the serious risks posed by his long-standing heart condition and the stress of detention.

Dr Myint Naing was previously transferred from Monywa Prison to Myingyan Prison on 2 August 2022. He is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence arbitrarily handed down by the military junta. The charges include 10 counts, among them seven for corruption. According to figures released by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) on 7 October, since the military coup on 1 February 2021, a total of 29,788 individuals have been arrested. Of these, 22,488 remain in detention, and 11,158 have been sentenced to prison.

Dr Myint Naing is among several high-profile NLD leaders facing long prison terms following the military junta's illegal seizure of power.

Political Prisoner Dies in Dawei Prison Due to Inadequate Medical Treatment

Ko Aung Ko Oo, a political prisoner held in Dawei Prison, Tanintharyi Region, died on 3 October from health complications, according to a statement by the Political Prisoners Network–Myanmar (PPNM).

Mizzima reported that the 48-year-old activist, who played a leading role in peaceful anti-coup protests in early 2021, was serving an eight-year sentence under Section 505-A of the Penal Code at the time of his death. He was arrested by the junta’s police at his home in Shinmoketee Village on 14 May 2021, charged shortly afterward, and later transferred to Dawei Prison. PPNM stated that Ko Aung Ko Oo had been suffering from chronic health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease, and had been receiving regular medical treatment while in detention.

The network reported that he had been receiving frequent medical care since his imprisonment in Dawei Prison due to a pre-existing condition, but died as a result of inadequate medical treatment. PPNM expressed condolences to his family and said Ko Aung Ko Oo's death highlighted the dire conditions and lack of medical access faced by political prisoners across the country. The group renewed its call for the immediate release of all unjustly detained individuals and an end to the military dictatorship.

HURFOM Documents Worsening Gendered Impacts of Junta Violence in Southeastern Myanmar

On 3 October, the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) released the latest issue of its quarterly Voice Up series, documenting the worsening gendered impacts of the military junta's violence in southeastern part of Myanmar.

HURFOM has published their third issue of its quarterly Voice Up series, documenting the worsening gendered impacts of the attempted coup in southeastern Myanmar. Covering the period of July to September 2025, the report highlights alarming levels of violence targeting women and children across Mon State, Karen State, and the Tanintharyi Region.

According to HURFOM's field data, 18 women were killed, 53 were injured, and 28 were arbitrarily arrested during the reporting period. At least 15 children were killed and another 27 were wounded. Many of these attacks took place in areas where there was no active fighting, underscoring the junta's deliberate and indiscriminate targeting of civilians.

One of the most tragic incidents occurred on 8 September in Yar Phu Village, Yebyu Township, Tanintharyi Region, when junta troops fired artillery shells directly into civilian homes. A three-year-old girl, Ma Ngwe Hmone Oo, was killed instantly when a shell struck her family's house.

The child's mother, devastated by the loss, shared with HURFOM that it was devastating to realise how wrong their decision was to stay when everyone else had left the village. She expressed that she had lost her daughter and felt like she was going crazy without her. The child's father, Ko Thura Aung, was later arrested by junta soldiers that evening. He remains in detention.

Such tragedies are not isolated. Throughout the quarter, HURFOM documented multiple cases where women and children were trapped in their homes and villages as junta forces launched artillery, airstrikes, and mortar shelling. Many families, especially those displaced and unable to flee safely, continue to suffer the brunt of this violence.

Despite ongoing adversity, women remain courageous and continue to give eyewitness accounts of abuses. Yet their resilience is met with silence and neglect from much of the international community. The report stresses that the gendered impacts of the junta's violence must not be overlooked.

Women in Yangon Coerced into Paying Monthly Fees to Avoid Military Conscription

Women in several Yangon townships are being coerced into paying monthly fees to local administrators and junta-appointed officials to avoid being conscripted into military service, according to residents. Mizzima reported that locals from North Okkalapa, Mayangone, and Hlaing townships told reporters that ward administrators have been holding community meetings to inform households of new monthly charges.

The fees, which range from 50,000 to 500,000 kyats depending on income levels, are reportedly collected from families with men aged 18 to 45 and women aged 18 to 35. A woman from Mayangone Township told that they have to pay 50,000 kyats each month, and if they do not pay, they are told they could be taken into military service. She added that even if they pay, the administrators will not take responsibility if they are still chosen for conscription.

Residents allege that ward officials often arrive at homes with weapons in hand to collect the payments, heightening fear among families already burdened by rising inflation and commodity prices. The same woman stated that they are simply being robbed by armed individuals demanding money, and they are paying without any guarantee that they will be safe from conscription.

Many women eligible for conscription say they are seeking ways to avoid military service, including trying to prove they are enrolled in educational programmes or making arrangements to leave the country, though such efforts are becoming increasingly difficult. A woman from North Okkalapa told that she is over the age limit now, but her niece is 20 and she is trying to protect her. She added that leaving the country is no longer easy, and no matter what connections one has, nothing is truly safe as the junta controls everything.

Under the junta's so-called People's Military Service Law, men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 27 are subject to mandatory conscription. Specialists, such as doctors and engineers, can be drafted up to age 45 for men and 35 for women. The initial service period is up to two years, extendable to five years during a state of emergency. The junta has also tightened restrictions on international travel for individuals of conscription age, further limiting options for those seeking to avoid enlistment.

Five Political Prisoners Rearrested at Thayarwaddy Prison Gate After Completing Sentences

Five political prisoners were rearrested at the gate of Thayarwaddy Prison in Bago Region immediately after completing their sentences, and the junta is preparing to charge them under terrorism-related laws, according to the Myanmar Political Prisoners Network (PPNM).

Thayarwaddy Prison released 30 inmates, comprising 16 political prisoners and 14 other prisoners, following the completion of their prison terms. However, six of the political prisoners were detained again at the gate by officials from the junta-controlled Ministry of Home Affairs and were taken to Thayarwaddy Police Station in a police vehicle. While one of the six was later released, the remaining five were returned to Thayarwaddy Prison. PPNM reported that preparations are now underway to prosecute them under terrorism-related charges.

The five had previously been imprisoned under Section 505 of the Sedition Act and Section 17(1) of the Unlawful Association Act, the group added. PPNM confirmed the identities of four of the five individuals rearrested, one of whom is a woman.

Ko Thaik Htun Oo, a member of PPNM's Steering Committee, stated that this shows the severity of the junta's repression in Myanmar and demonstrates that political prisoners are being intentionally targeted. He added that the release of political leaders and detainees depends on the progress of the revolution, and therefore it is their duty to continue doing everything they can.

PPNM condemned the re-arrests, describing them as politically motivated and based on fabricated terrorism charges. The group argued that such actions violate the fundamental rights of individuals who have already served their sentences and urged international human rights organisations to monitor the treatment of political detainees in Myanmar.

Since 2023, the junta has systematically rearrested former political prisoners, according to PPNM. At least 10 individuals who were previously released, including National League for Democracy (NLD) youth leader Ma Moe San Suu Kyi, have been detained again and face additional charges in 2025.

Actions of Resistance Forces against the Junta

KIA Captures Two Junta Camps in Eastern Waingmaw Township, Kachin State

The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) took control of two small camps held by junta troops and junta-trained militias in eastern Waingmaw Township, Kachin State, on 10 October, Myanmar Now reported.  

The camps captured by the KIA are near the village of Lu Man, commonly called La Myan by local people, roughly five miles east of Waingmaw. KIA fighters seized the two security outposts on the west side of Lu Man by 8 am on 10 October, less than two hours after fighting had begun, according to a Waingmaw Township resident. The bases were manned by a combination of junta soldiers and members of the so-called people's militias armed and trained by the junta.

The township resident confirmed on Wednesday that the KIA seized two small security outposts. He added that things were calm at that point, but there had been intense artillery fire earlier in the morning. The number of men stationed at the two base camps has not been confirmed.

Local people said that artillery at the junta's Northern Regional Military Command (RMC) at Myitkyina fired on the battlefield during the clash, providing support to the troops at the bases. Myitkyina, the Kachin State capital, is located some 30 miles west of Lu Man, across the Ayeyarwady River.

Fighting near Lu Man village has been intensifying since 8 October, according to the KIA's spokesperson Colonel Naw Bu. He stated on 10 October evening that the fighting had continued since 6 am, though it had eased somewhat. He added that the situation remains unstable, with junta troops assaulting frontline and security outposts while the KIA fights to retake them.

The KIA and allied forces launched an offensive against the junta in March 2024, subsequently capturing 15 towns throughout Kachin State and adjacent parts of northern Shan State.

Arakan Army Captures Junta Base Camp in Bago Region, Continues Battles across Multiple Regions

Arakan Army (AA) said forces under its command captured a junta base camp in Bago Region on 15 October and continue to battle the junta in several regions of the country. Myanmar Now reported that AA-led forces took over the Point Hill 666 base in Padaung Township, Bago Region, around noon after three hours of fighting. The AA said in a statement on 15 October said that they seized weapons, ammunition, and equipment.

After taking over the junta's Western Regional Military Command (RMC) headquarters in Ann Township, Rakhine State, late last year, the AA began targeting junta bases outside of Rakhine State in the neighbouring Ayeyarwady, Bago, and Magway regions.

The AA has been assaulting junta bases along the Taungup-Padaung road, north of the hill base, since earlier this year, after capturing the Moe Hti Taung base on the Bago-Rakhine border. The road leads to the junta's Directorate of Defence Industries (DI) No. 6 factory, one of seven armaments factories in Bago Region, near the village of Nyaung Chay Htauk and some three miles west of the town of Oke Shit Pin in Padaung Township. The junta operates 25 arms factories in Myanmar, 15 of which are in Magway Region and seven of which are in Bago Region, with two in Naypyitaw and one in Yangon.

The junta, aware of the threat to its armaments factories, has been fighting fiercely to repel advances by the AA and its allies beyond the borders of Rakhine State. The AA and allied fighters also continued their assaults on the junta's Nat Yay Kan hill base in Ngape Township, Magway Region, the group's spokespersons said.

The junta deployed large numbers of soldiers to retake and defend the Nat Yay Kan camp due to its strategically important location some 10 miles from the Rakhine-Magway border.

The recapture of Nat Yay Kan camp by resistance forces would expose the junta's DI No. 14 armaments factory, located some eight miles north of the base camp in the village of Shauk Taung, and open the Ann-Padan road for the AA to advance deeper into the region.

The AA and its allies have also captured junta bases just over 10 miles from the Nat Yay Kan camp outside the village of Pazi, and in the nearby Myawzin and Gokegyi villages, in the past week. Pazi village, located northeast of the Nat Yay Kan hill base, was captured by resistance forces on 9 October.

The AA also engaged junta troops in a brief battle near Set Set Yo village in Ayeyarwady Region's Yegyi Township on 15 October around 4 pm. Fighting between the junta and AA has also reportedly intensified around Sittwe, the Rakhine State capital, after the junta shelled and launched drone strikes targeting AA positions in the area.

Activities of the National Unity Government

NUG and NGOs Call on ASEAN to Address Myanmar Crisis and Reject Junta's Planned Elections

The National Unity Government (NUG) together with NGOs has called on Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) stakeholders to address the current crisis in Myanmar and the approaching junta elections.

Throughout Malaysia's 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship, a series of Stakeholder Engagement Meetings on Myanmar (SEMs) were convened by the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar, bringing together key stakeholders including representatives from the NUG, the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC), Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), Ethnic Resistance Organizations (EROs), and various other representative bodies.

Stakeholders reiterated grave concern over the deteriorating situation in Myanmar since the military coup of February 2021 and reaffirmed their shared commitment to restoring democracy and upholding human rights. They expressed alarm over the limited implementation of ASEAN's Five-Point Consensus amid the junta's continued violence against civilians.

Key outcomes included the unanimous rejection of the junta's planned elections, which stakeholders condemned as a façade designed to entrench military rule under the guise of democratic reform. Stakeholders stand united in rejecting the junta's attempts to manipulate ASEAN to legitimize its own authority while remaining in blatant non-compliance with the Five-Point Consensus.

The statement called for action including rejecting any elections organized by the junta; taking immediate measures to protect civilians from violence; ending the silence on the junta's ongoing atrocities; demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners including President Win Myint and State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi; and holding the junta accountable through diplomatic measures and suspension from ASEAN meetings.

The meeting concluded with a clear message that there is no path forward that legitimizes military rule and any political framework must be rooted in the will and aspirations of the Myanmar people for peace, justice, democracy, and a federal union. The signatories include the ABSDF, Chin National Front, CRPH, Karen National Union, Karenni National Progressive Party, NUCC, NUG, New Mon State Party (Anti-military Dictatorship), Pa-O National Liberation Organization, and Rohingya Consultative Council – Interim, among others.

Myanmar Permanent Representative Delivers Series of Statements at Committee Meetings During 80th Session of UNGA

Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, Permanent Representative of Myanmar to the United Nations, delivered a series of statements at various committee meetings during the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly from 6 to 15 October 2025.

At the General Debate of the Third Committee on 6 October, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun stated that 7,318 people have been killed and 29,780 people have been arbitrarily arrested since the coup. He reported that the junta perpetrated 104 massacre cases resulting in 1,069 deaths in 2025 up to 31 August, with 196 children among those killed. He echoed calls from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights urging the UN Security Council to refer the situation of Myanmar to the International Criminal Court without further delay.

At the General Debate of the Second Committee on 6 October, the Permanent Representative highlighted that nearly half of Myanmar's population is now living below the national poverty line with a disappearing middle class. He stated that 3.6 million people are internally displaced and almost 22 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. He emphasised that economic recovery is not attainable without the restoration of democracy and people-centred governance.

At the Second Committee discussion on Groups of Countries in Special Situations on 8 October, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun noted that although Myanmar met all three criteria to graduate from LDC status in the 2018 triennial review, the graduation process has been disrupted by the illegal military coup. He reported that one in four youth is unemployed and three in four youth aged 18 to 24 are out of school or training.

At the Third Committee discussion on Social Development on 9 October, the Ambassador condemned the junta's paramotor attack on 6 October on a candlelight vigil in Chaung-U Township, Sagaing Region, which killed approximately 20 civilians including women and children. He underscored that paramotors, typically used for leisure or covert military operations, were deliberately used to deploy explosives on the civilian population.

At the Sixth Committee debate on Rule of Law on 9 October, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun emphasized that the rule of law and free and fair elections are inseparable. He stated that the junta controls less than 30 percent of the country's territory, the judiciary has been dismantled, and political leaders remain imprisoned. He declared that the junta's planned election is void ab initio and constitutes the legitimization of a crime.

At the Second Committee discussion on Financing for Development on 9 October, the Permanent Representative reported that financial sector reforms have stagnated and microfinance institutions were impacted by the domestic banking crisis, affecting 5 million customers. He noted that UNODC reported Myanmar was the world's leading producer of illicitly sourced opium in 2024.

At the Third Committee discussion on Advancement of Women on 10 October, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun reported that 2,410 women have been killed by the junta from February 2021 to August 2025. He stated that the junta continuously intensifies the systemic use of conflict-related sexual violence as a tactic of war.

At the Third Committee discussion on Rights of Children on 13 October, the Ambassador reported that over 1,200 children were killed by the junta from February 2021 to August 2025, accounting for 11.8 percent of total fatalities. He cited UNICEF alerting that 6.3 million children out of the total 22 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance.

At the Second Committee discussion on Sustainable Development on 13 October, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun stated that poverty will keep deepening, hunger will keep rising, education rates will keep plummeting, and gender inequality will keep growing as long as the junta continues its atrocities. He warned that increased violence from the sham election will threaten regional peace and stability.

At the Third Committee discussion on Crime, Information and Technologies on 13 October, the Ambassador highlighted that the collapse of rule of law has enabled transnational organized crimes including online scams. He cited UNODC reports that up to 100,000 young people have been trafficked to scam compounds generating nearly US $40 billion annually.

At the Fourth Committee Joint General Debate on Decolonization on 13 October, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun emphasized that the right to self-determination is enshrined in the UN Charter and international law. He stated that the NUG and key allied resistance forces issued a Joint Declaration on 7 February 2025 rejecting the junta's sham election.

At the Sixth Committee debate on Crimes against Humanity on 13 October, the Permanent Representative welcomed the General Assembly's decision to convene a Preparatory Committee for the UN Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Humanity. He reported that the junta has conducted 3,744 indiscriminate aerial attacks resulting in 4,135 deaths and 452 documented massacres claiming 4,763 civilian lives.

At the Third Committee Interactive Dialogue on Torture on 14 October, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun reported that prisoners across Myanmar have been subjected to torture during interrogation, resulting in deaths and fatal injuries, yet denied adequate medical care. He expressed concern about the health of arbitrarily detained State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

At the Third Committee Interactive Discussion with the High Commissioner for Human Rights on 15 October, the Ambassador thanked High Commissioner Türk for his persistent focus on Myanmar. He urged all member states to stop providing political, military and financial support to the junta and called on the UN Security Council to refer the issue of Myanmar to the ICC.

In all his statements, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun appealed to the international community to reject the junta's planned sham election and support the people of Myanmar in their determination to end the military dictatorship and build a federal democratic union.

Response of the International Community

European Union Will not Send Observers to Junta's Planned Elections, Calls on ASEAN to Push for Change

The European Union will not send observers to Myanmar's upcoming election, its top human rights official said on Friday, dismissing the vote as neither free nor fair and urging Southeast Asian nations to push for change. AFP reported that EU commissioner Kajsa Ollongren, speaking in an interview in the Malaysian capital, called upon all neighbouring countries, including the ASEAN countries, to firmly push for a change of course.

Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has touted the 28 December elections as a path to reconciliation in the civil war he sparked by seizing power in the 2021 coup. However, international monitors, including a UN expert and Amnesty International, have dismissed the vote as a ploy to legitimize continuing military rule.

Ollongren stated that as long as Myanmar is unstable and a source of instability for the whole region, it should be the number one concern for the ASEAN countries. Ollongren's call comes ahead of a major ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur next week, where the issue of sending election observers to represent the 10-nation bloc is expected to be discussed. ASEAN has been battling to implement a five-point plan, which calls, among other issues, for an immediate ceasefire in Myanmar.

Malaysia is this year's rotating chair of ASEAN, long derided by critics as a toothless talking shop, and calls at previous summits and meetings for an end to fighting have yielded little effect. The junta's planned vote will be blocked in huge enclaves of the country captured by an array of pro-democracy guerrillas and long-active ethnic minority armies which have found common cause fighting the junta.

The EU commissioner stated that the planned vote was not free and fair by the way it is being organized. She added that this means the EU cannot recognise these as real elections, as fair. Ollongren concluded that based on these criteria, the EU will not send observers to something that they do not recognize as an election.

UK Announces Sanctions on Illegal Scam Centre Network Operating Across Southeast Asia

The UK announced on 14 October the sanctioning of an illegal scam centre network operating across Southeast Asia. The move, aimed at exposing and disrupting scam centre operations and protecting individuals in the UK and the region, was conducted jointly with the US. The UK has sanctioned a multi-billion-pound global network involved in operating scam centres which torture their trafficked workers.

Scam centres based in Southeast Asia are defrauding victims across the world on an industrial scale. In East and Southeast Asia alone, estimated losses from cyber-enabled fraud in 2023 reached up to US $37 billion, with much larger global losses attributed to scams originating from the region.

The UK, in coordination with the US, announced sanctions to combat the growing transnational threat posed by this network and uphold human rights. These actions will also expose and disrupt the network's operations, helping to protect nationals from the UK and Southeast Asia from the damaging impact of fraud.

UK Foreign Office Minister Stephen Doughty stated that scam centres cheat British people out of their hard-earned money, while trapping vulnerable victims in the headquarters of their web of deception, and therefore the UK is taking decisive action.

He added that scam centres do not respect borders, and this is a transnational threat that requires coordinated, collective action to stem the tide of illicit finance that threatens human rights, economic growth, and national security in equal measure. The Minister stated that the UK has taken decisive action to protect British citizens and the integrity of its financial system. He added that the UK recognizes the harms caused by illicit finance to this region and is committed to working in partnership with countries in Southeast Asia, supporting their local efforts to clamp down on scam centres and the networks that operate them.

Former Officials and UN Experts Urge ASEAN to Reject Junta's Sham Election at Upcoming Summit

On 14 October, former officials and UN experts urged ASEAN to reject Myanmar's sham election at its upcoming summit, calling for a reset in strategy, punitive measures against the junta, and support for accountability for junta crimes.

The statement was issued by Dato' Sri Saifuddin Abdullah, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia; Khun Kasit Piromya, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand; Leila M. de Lima, former Secretary of the Department of Justice of the Philippines; and three former UN experts on Myanmar who are founding members of the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M).

The statement declared that the junta's planned election slated for 28 December 2025 fails to meet the minimum benchmarks for credibility set out by Malaysian Foreign Minister Hasan following his 9 October visit to Myanmar. ASEAN must outright reject it, and anything short of this would be a callous betrayal of the Myanmar people.

The statement highlighted that an emboldened junta is ramping up targeted killings of civilians. Last week, a junta paramotor bombed a candlelight gathering in Chaung-U Township, Sagaing Region, killing at least 26 people and wounding 40 others. A month earlier, a junta airstrike on a boarding school in Rakhine State reportedly killed at least 22 people, mostly students.

The former officials called on ASEAN to make clear it opposes the sham election and will reject the outcome; expand its ban on junta leaders to include all junta representatives at every level of ASEAN engagement; launch a new strategy with a clear democratic endgame at its 47th Summit; expand coordination with key stakeholders including the NUG, NUCC, CRPH and EROs; and support accountability for international crimes committed in Myanmar. The statement concluded that for ASEAN to have any hope of reversing the damage its years of failure have inflicted on both Myanmar and itself, it must act now.

Human Rights Watch Condemns Junta's Use of Paramotors in Deadly Attacks on Civilians

Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a statement on 9 October condemning the military junta's growing use of paramotors in bombing attacks on civilians. The human rights group called on the international community to step up sanctions on the junta that targets its revenue and ability to import aviation fuel.

The statement by HRW Asia Division Researcher Shayne Bauchner noted that on 6 October evening, junta paramotors, or motorised paragliders, dropped munitions on a candlelit Buddhist festival in Sagaing Region, killing at least 21 people, including three children as young as 2. Hundreds of villagers had gathered in a primary school compound to celebrate the Thadingyut holiday and demonstrate against military abuses in the embattled region.

Bauchner stated that junta airstrikes have surged this year, including unlawful attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, religious sites, and displacement camps, killing and wounding thousands. Some of these strikes appear to be deliberate attacks on civilians intended as a form of collective punishment in areas that support opposition armed groups.

The statement emphasized that the laws of war prohibit attacks that do not or cannot discriminate between civilians and combatants. The junta's increasing use of armed paramotors, from which pilots drop 120mm mortar rounds without any capacity for precision targeting according to the United Nations, has created grave new threats to civilians. More than 135 paramotor attacks have been reported since December 2024.

October Six's attack in Sagaing's Chaung-U Township marks the deadliest paramotor strike to date. An opposition alert that paramotors had left the nearby Northwestern Regional Military Command came less than 10 minutes before the strike, leaving little time for people to seek cover.

A witness told AFP the day after the attack that as of that morning, they were still collecting body parts from the ground. More than 40 people were reportedly injured, including at least 20 children, many severely.

The statement noted that the junta's blockade on humanitarian aid has impeded access to desperately needed medicine and blood transfusions for the wounded. Aid blockages sustain the junta's longstanding four cuts strategy, designed to isolate and terrorise civilians, while contravening the December 2022 UN Security Council resolution and Association of Southeast Asian Nations' (ASEAN) 2021 five-point consensus.

HRW urged that at the ASEAN summit starting 26 October, member states should seek ways to pressure the junta to allow civilians unfettered access to aid in contested areas. To cut off the junta from the revenue funding its atrocities, the statement called on governments to expand and fully enforce sanctions as well as coordinate a ban on the sale of aviation fuel.

The statement concluded that nearly five years since the February 2021 coup, the junta has yet to face genuine consequences for its ongoing war crimes and crimes against humanity. Until it does, unlawful attacks against civilians can be expected to continue.

Human Rights Myanmar Describes Junta's Planned Election as Strategic Component of War Against the People

In a statement released on 8 October, Human Rights Myanmar (HRM) described the military junta's upcoming election as a strategic component of its war against the people, not a democratic exercise. The rights group warned that the vote, expected late this year, will be marked by systematic repression and manipulation designed to entrench military rule.

HRW said that the junta has already laid the groundwork for large-scale rights abuses through new laws and crackdowns on dissent. HRM cited the so-called 2025 Law Protecting Against the Obstruction, Hindrance, and Destruction of Multiparty Democratic General Elections as a tool being used to arrest critics, activists, and journalists under vague charges of disrupting the electoral process.

The group said fundamental rights required for genuine elections, including freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly, have been systematically violated. The junta's so-called 2023 Political Parties Registration Law has already dissolved major opposition parties such as the National League for Democracy (NLD) and disqualified candidates through politically motivated convictions.

HRM warned that during the election, millions of citizens, especially those in conflict zones and in displaced communities, will likely be excluded from voting. In ethnic minority regions, the junta is expected to cancel polls under the pretext of security concerns, further suppressing ethnic representation. The Rohingya population will remain disenfranchised under discriminatory citizenship laws.

The statement also cautioned that foreign governments may use the staged vote to re-engage diplomatically with the junta, granting it a veneer of legitimacy. HRM urged the international community to reject the election's outcome, deny any form of support or observation, and instead document the junta's violations.

Chin Human Rights Organization Raises Junta Election Concerns in Ireland's Parliament

The Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) has helped raise the issue of the military junta's election plan in Ireland's parliament, a poll which many critics consider a sham. Mizzima reported that building on CHRO's advocacy in Dublin, Deputy Paul Murphy raised a Parliamentary Question on 7 October calling on Ireland to refuse recognition of any junta-organized elections in Myanmar.

Deputy Murphy asked whether Ireland will state unequivocally that it will not recognize any election conducted by the junta while it is engaged in aerial attacks and forced displacement of civilian populations, and if Ireland will press this stance at the European Union and UN General Assembly. In his response, Minister for Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Harris stated that Ireland has consistently condemned the junta and called for a return to a democratic path. He expressed that he is appalled by the escalation in violence, the displacement of large numbers of people, and the dire humanitarian and human rights situation in Myanmar.

Minister Harris confirmed that Ireland and EU partners have serious concerns about the holding of elections in the current context, noting that territorial control continues to shift, millions remain displaced, opposition parties have been dissolved, and civil society operates under intense surveillance and censorship. He stated that the junta's introduction of harsh penalties including life sentences and capital punishment for activities portrayed as disturbance to the elections makes clear that this is not a conducive environment for a free and fair election.

The Minister concluded that his Ministry will continue to engage with EU partners and at the UN to urge a return to democracy, stability, and respect for human rights.

Japanese Parliamentary Association Urges Government to Reject Junta Elections and Release Aung San Suu Kyi

The Japanese Parliamentary Association for Supporting Myanmar's Democratization, a group of parliamentarians calling for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar, submitted a 15-point appeal to Japan's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Takumi Miyaji on 1^st October 2025.

DVB reported that Saw Ba Hla Thein, the National Unity Government (NUG) representative in Japan, stated that the letter details the junta's war crimes since the 2021 coup, including airstrikes on civilians, and urges Japan to reject the junta's sham elections and calls for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi.

The association was established following the military coup on 1 February 2021 and is composed of 61 members from Japan's National Diet, a bicameral legislature composed of the lower House of Representatives and the upper House of Councillors.

Vice Minister Miyaji said Japan remained deeply concerned about the dire situation in Myanmar, pledging to continue humanitarian assistance for civilians and coordinate with international partners to swiftly restore a democratic political system. The 15-point appeal urged Tokyo to reject the junta elections scheduled to begin on 28 December, and to demand the release of jailed State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been held incommunicado by the junta in Naypyitaw since the military coup on 1 February 2021.

The NUG expressed its deep gratitude to the Japanese Parliamentary Association for the opportunity to present its findings on the crisis in Myanmar since the 2021 coup. On 1 September, Japan's Foreign Ministry issued a statement declaring it would not accept the results of any junta elections, and called for an immediate end to violence and for the release of all political prisoners in Myanmar.

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Date: 15 October 2025

Permanent Mission of Myanmar, New York