Bi-weekly Update on the Current Situation in Myanmar (01-12-2025 to 15-12-2025)

Bi-weekly Update on the Current Situation in Myanmar

(01-12-2025 to 15-12-2025)

Over (58) months ago, on 1 February 2021, the military junta attempted an illegal coup, toppled the elected civilian government, and unlawfully detained State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint, and other senior members of the civilian government, parliamentarians and activists. Since then, the military junta has ignored the will of the people of Myanmar, placed the country in turmoil, and made people suffer tremendously as a result of its inhumane and disproportionate acts.

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

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

Moreover, due to the complete dismantle of rule of law by the junta, transnational organized crimes including online scam, drug and human trafficking 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.

According to the data collected by AAPP, from 1 January to 15 December 2025, (124) people in total; (50) women and (74) men, were killed by the junta in Bago Region alone, including (16) children under the age of 18. The identities of these victims have been verified. Among them, (67) people were killed by the junta’s airstrikes, recording the highest number of deaths, followed by (29) people who were killed by the junta’s artillery strikes. During the stated period in that region, the AAPP has also received information regarding the death of (51) civilians, as a result of junta attacks, whose identities have yet to be confirmed.

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

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

Military Junta Airstrike on Mrauk-U Hospital Kills at Least 30, UN Calls for Investigation

Reuters reported on 11 December that at least 30 people were killed, including patients, after an airstrike by the military junta hit a hospital in Rakhine State. More than 70 people were injured.

The hospital in Mrauk-U Township was struck late on 10 December by bombs dropped by a military junta aircraft, according to Khaing Thukha, a spokesperson for the Arakan Army. He stated that Mrauk-U General Hospital was completely destroyed and that the high number of casualties occurred because the hospital took a direct hit.

The 300-bed hospital was overflowing with patients at the time of the strike, according to aid worker Wai Hun Aung, as most healthcare services across swathes of Rakhine State have been suspended amid ongoing fighting. On 11 December morning, the facility lay in complete ruins, with a collapsed roof, shattered columns and beams, and the bodies of victims laid out on the ground. The remaining patients have been moved to a safe location.

A 23-year-old resident of Mrauk-U stated that when he arrived at the scene, the hospital was on fire and he saw many bodies lying around and many injured people.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk stated that he was appalled and condemned in the strongest possible terms the strikes on the Rakhine hospital, adding that such attacks may amount to a war crime and calling for an investigation.

A spokesperson for the US State Department called the reports disturbing and stated that the military junta should cease violence against civilians and allow unhindered access to humanitarian assistance.

From January to late November, the military junta conducted 2,165 airstrikes, compared to 1,716 such incidents in all of 2024, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project.

Mrauk-U Township has been under the control of the Arakan Army since last year. Khaing Thukha noted that there has been no recent fighting in the area. Since the breakdown of a ceasefire in 2023, the Arakan Army has pushed the military junta out of 14 of Rakhine State's 17 townships, gaining control of an area larger than Belgium, according to the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.

Military Junta Airstrike on Tea Shop in Sagaing Region Kills 18 Civilians

DVB reported that an airstrike carried out by the military junta on a tea shop in Sagaing Region on 5 December killed at least 18 civilians and wounded 20 others.

The attack occurred shortly after 8 p.m. in Mayakan Village in Tabayin Township, approximately 120 kilometres northwest of Mandalay. The village is better known by its old name of Depayin. A local villager reported that a five-year-old child and two schoolteachers were among those killed in the tea shop, where dozens of people had gathered to watch the Myanmar versus Philippines football match on television.

The villager, who rushed to the site to help victims, stated that two bombs dropped by a fighter jet exploded shortly after air raid sirens sounded, killing many people who had no time to seek shelter. More than 20 houses near the tea shop were damaged in the attack.

The villager noted that there had been no recent fighting in the area, though Sagaing Region remains a stronghold of resistance against military rule. The military junta has stepped up airstrikes against the armed pro-democracy People's Defence Force and ethnic armed groups to reclaim territory ahead of the scheduled 28 December elections. The resistance forces have no defence against air attacks. Following the funeral for the victims held on 7 December, some residents fled the village whilst those who remained were digging bomb shelters.

Military Junta Airstrikes Kill Eight Civilians in Kyaukphyu Township

On 11 December that eight civilians were killed and at least 10 others were injured by airstrikes carried out by the military junta on Ngalonesu Village in Kyaukphyu Township, Rakhine State, local medias report.

A Kyaukphyu resident told that two of the eight killed were people who had fled their homes due to fighting between the Arakan Army (AA) and military junta forces and were living at an Internally Displaced Persons camp. The AA reported that two bombs were dropped on Ngalonesu Village. Kyaukphyu, located 317 miles south of the Rakhine State capital Sittwe, is contested between the AA and military junta forces.

The airstrikes on Kyaukphyu came one day after at least 33 civilians were killed and 76 others were injured by airstrikes on Mrauk-U General Hospital. Mrauk-U Township was seized by the AA in February 2024.

The AA claimed that the military junta is deliberately targeting civilians at public gathering places, hospitals, clinics, schools, and markets. The AA reported that 192 civilians have been killed, 502 others have been injured, and 596 homes have been destroyed by 92 military junta airstrikes on Sittwe, Pauktaw, Rathedaung, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Minbya, Mrauk-U, Ann, Taungup, Ramree, Kyaukphyu, and Gwa townships in Rakhine State, as well as Paletwa Township in southern Chin State, over the last year.

The AA called on the international community to stop the military junta from committing crimes against humanity in Rakhine State. The AA launched its post-coup offensive against military junta forces on 13 November 2023. Sittwe and the island of Manaung also remain under military junta control.

Human Rights Abuses   

Fortify Rights Warns Military Junta Using Election Protection Law to Silence Critics

On 10 December, Fortify Rights issued a statement warning that the military junta is using its new so-called Election Protection Law to silence critics and tighten repression ahead of the planned 28 December and 11 January sham elections.

Fortify Rights noted that the military junta's elections are already unfree and unfair and therefore lack legitimacy, with many of Myanmar's legitimately elected officials, including State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and members of the National League for Democracy, as well as leaders of ethnic political parties, continuing to be held in illegal detention.

The military junta has used its new so-called election decree, formally titled The Law on the Protection of Multiparty Democratic General Elections from Obstruction, Disruption, and Destruction, to target anyone who opposes its orchestrated elections. The law criminalises criticism and any speech, organising, or protest that could be construed as disrupting the electoral process, with violations carrying penalties of up to 20 years in prison or the death penalty.

John Quinley, Director at Fortify Rights, stated that the military junta is using its new bogus law as a weapon to silence anyone advocating for freedom and democracy, and that these so-called elections are nothing more than an authoritarian performance that will deepen Myanmar's problems.

Between July and early November 2025, at least 95 charges were filed under the new Election Protection Law, according to the military junta-run Ministry of Information. Fortify Rights documented cases including charges filed against the Assistance Association for Myanmar-based Independent Journalists on 10 November 2025, and the sentencing of three individuals on 19 November 2025 to 49 and 42 years in prison for putting up anti-election posters in Yangon.

On 29 October 2025, the military junta announced the arrest of three artists, including film director Mike Tee, actor Kyaw Win Htut, and comedian Ohn Daing, accusing them of undermining the upcoming election through social media posts. They were each reportedly sentenced to seven years in prison on 2 December.

The UN Human Rights Office stated on 28 November 2025 that the military junta arrested nearly 100 people under the Election Protection Law for allegedly disturbing security, including for actions as minor as liking social media posts critical of the election.

Quinley stated that criminalising critics for exposing wrongdoing is a hallmark of authoritarian rule, not a feature of any legitimate electoral process, and called on governments to increase their support for Myanmar's democratic resistance rather than engaging the military junta or lending it legitimacy.

The resistance of the people of Myanmar

Pro-Democracy Activists Stage Anti-Election Protest in Mandalay

DVB reported that pro-democracy leader, librarian, and physician Tayzar San, along with well-known democracy activists Nan Lin and Khant Wai Phyo, staged an anti-election protest at Zay Cho Market in Mandalay's Chanmyathazi Township on 3 December. A video of the protest circulated widely on social media.

Tayzar San stated that armed struggle alone cannot win the revolution and that mass struggles and mass movements carried out with awareness, mindfulness, courage, and wisdom are essential.

Tayzar San, 36, is a key figure in Myanmar's non-violent resistance to the military coup on 1 February 2021. He became known after leading Myanmar's first anti-coup protest in Mandalay on 4 February 2021. The military junta issued an arrest warrant for Dr. Tayzar San in April 2021 under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code for his anti-coup awareness-raising activities. He has reportedly been living in resistance-controlled territories ever since but has staged three flash mob protests in Mandalay.

Dr. Tayzar San noted that the protest was carried out with the participation and protection of the people whilst military junta leader Min Aung Hlaing was travelling from Pyin Oo Lwin to Mandalay. A 10 million kyat reward for information leading to his arrest has been placed on him by the military junta. A Mandalay resident told DVB that military junta forces are searching for him with orders to kill if caught. The military junta reportedly heightened security across the city following the protest.

The video shows Tayzar San, Nan Lin, Khant Wai Phyo, and other activists handing out leaflets urging Myanmar citizens to boycott the military junta's elections scheduled to begin on 28 December. The leaflets called on all Myanmar people to join a nationwide silent strike on 10 December to reject the elections, abolish the military conscription law, and release all 22,000 political prisoners.

Tayzar San stated that the election is not an exit for the country's crisis but a trap, adding that dismantling military dictatorship and building a federal democratic nation is a common goal and historical duty for all Myanmar people. In 2022, Tayzar San won South Korea's Park Jong-cheol Human Rights Award for contributions to democracy and human rights.

Nationwide Silent Strike Marks International Human Rights Day Despite Military Junta Pressure

On 10 December, people across Myanmar, including major cities such as Yangon and Mandalay, participated in a nationwide Silent Strike observed from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to mark International Human Rights Day. Revolutionary groups had urged citizens to participate in the silent protest. Locals reported that during the strike period, main roads in Yangon, typically congested with traffic, saw only sparse foot and vehicle traffic.

A Sanchaung resident noted that there were hardly any people on the streets during work hours, that morning Mohinga stalls had already sold out, and there were noticeably fewer cars on the road. A Lanmadaw resident observed that whilst a small group of around 10 individuals, identified by locals as members of the USDP, erected a billboard in the morning, the streets were noticeably quieter than usual by around 11:30 a.m.

Despite pressure from the military junta to prevent the strike, participation was widespread. Soldiers, police, and municipal officials were seen pressuring shop owners in several Yangon markets to reopen immediately.

An official from the Rangoon Scout Network stated that whilst markets were open, there were almost no customers, and traffic on the roads was lighter. The official noted that people were participating as they wished and that the military junta was inspecting shops and taking photos.

People in Mandalay, Monywa, Pakokku, Myawaddy, and other towns also took part, according to revolutionary forces and local news outlets. A Mandalay resident noted that whilst the streets were not completely deserted due to it being a regular school and office day, there were still fewer people than usual.

The General Strike Coordination Body had warned that the military junta was pressuring businesses, restaurants, and factories not to join the silent strike, threatening action against those who did. The General Strike Coordination Body stressed that public safety was paramount and urged citizens to use the quiet streets and empty cities to demonstrate that, even if shops are forced to open, the populace rejects the normalcy the military junta seeks to portray.

All in One Peace Movement Held in Prague Calls for Release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Political Prisoners

On 13 December, an event was held in Prague, Czech Republic, as part of a global movement calling for the release of State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint, and other political prisoners who are being unlawfully detained in Myanmar.

The movement was led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's son, Kim Aris, also known as Ko Htein Lin, and was organised internationally as the All in One Peace Movement. Myanmar nationals living in the Czech Republic, together with friends of Myanmar who support the Myanmar cause, took part in the event. The programme began with a one-minute silence in honour of those who have sacrificed their lives for democracy, freedom, human dignity, and human rights.

U Lin Thant, the representative of the National Unity Government to the Czech Republic, spoke about the daily hardships faced by the people of Myanmar. He urged international governments to take action against the military junta and expressed gratitude to all participants for showing unity and solidarity through the movement.

Participants called on international governments to intensify efforts, including diplomatic pressure and other measures, against the military junta, and to work toward the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint, and all political prisoners. Participants also called on the international community to reject any sham elections planned whilst national leaders and political prisoners remain unjustly detained.

Global Demonstrations Call for Release of State Counsellor, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Political Prisoners

Demonstrations were held in Sydney as part of global actions calling for the release of political prisoners in Myanmar, including State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The protesters also opposed elections planned by the military junta. More than 100 supporters rallied at Martin Place on 13 December. The movement was led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's son, Kim Aris, as part of recent Gen Z demonstrations around the globe. Similar protests were held in Melbourne and Perth, with further demonstrations planned in Japan, Korea, the UK, and the US.

Burmese Australian lawyer Koko Aung, who helped organise the Sydney rally, stated that the main aim was to demand the unconditional release of more than 22,000 political prisoners, including State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint. He noted that the whereabouts of the State counsellor remained unknown.

Koko Aung described the military junta's planned elections, the first stage of which is due to be held on 28 December, as a staged process and a ploy. He noted that people who were fairly elected four years ago remain imprisoned. Kim Aris has stated that his mother requires urgent medical attention. State Counsellor, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was sentenced to 27 years in prison after the 2021 coup on charges which her supporters view as politically motivated.

Activities of the National Unity Government

National Unity Government Restructures Cabinet, Dissolves Five Ministries

On 8 December, the Committee Representing the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw announced that the National Unity Government has restructured its cabinet, dissolving five of its original 17 ministries.

The ministries removed from the structure include the Ministry of International Cooperation, the Ministry of Communication, Information and Technology, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Women, Youth and Children Affairs, and the Ministry of Labour. The Ministry of Labour has been merged into the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.

Dr. Zaw Wai Soe, who previously served as Union Minister for both the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health, has been appointed as Minister of the Office of the Union Prime Minister. In his former ministries, the previous Deputy Ministers, Dr. Shwe Pon and Ja Htoi Pan, have taken over as Union Minister of Health and Union Minister of Education, respectively.

Notably absent from the newly announced cabinet lineup are the ministers of the five dissolved ministries, including Dr. Sasa, Naw Susanna Hla Hla Soe, Daw Khin Ma Ma Myo, Naing Tun Pe, and U Htin Lin Aung, as well as Deputy Minister Daw Ei Thinzar Maung. Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs U Moe Zaw Oo and former Deputy Minister of Federal Union Affairs U Chit Tun are also not included.

The restructured cabinet now consists of President U Win Myint, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Acting President Duwa Lashi La, and Union Prime Minister Mahn Winn Khaing Thann. Key appointments include U Lwin Ko Latt as Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration, U Yee Mon as Minister of Defence, Dr. Lian Hmung Sakhong as Minister of Federal Union Affairs, Daw Zin Mar Aung as Foreign Minister, and Dr. Win Myat Aye as Minister of Social Welfare, Labour and Humanitarian Assistance.

Two Deputy Ministers were appointed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Dr. Sai Khaing Myo Tun, former Deputy Minister of Education, and David Gum Awng, former Deputy Minister of International Cooperation. Formed with 17 ministries in April 2021, the National Unity Government has now been streamlined to 12 ministries.

NUG Ministry of Health Condemns Military Junta Airstrike on Mrauk-U Hospital

The Ministry of Health of the National Unity Government released an announcement strongly condemning the military junta's airstrike on Mrauk-U District General Hospital in Rakhine State.

The Ministry stated that on 10 December 2025, at around 9:00 p.m. Myanmar time, on International Human Rights Day, the military junta conducted an airstrike on the public hospital in Mrauk-U Town, the ancient cultural capital of Rakhine State. Two 500-pound bombs were dropped from a jet fighter directly at the facility, causing extensive damage. The attack severely destroyed the hospital's main building, outpatient department, surgical department, major operation theatre, orthopaedic department, staff houses within the hospital compound, and some residential buildings situated near the hospital.

According to the Ministry's initial information, a total of 35 innocent civilians seeking healthcare at the facility were killed on the spot and 76 civilians were severely injured by the aerial attack. Children, pregnant mothers in childbirth, and patients receiving medical treatment were among those killed. The 76 injured civilians included healthcare workers, pregnant women, children, and the elderly.

The Ministry noted that within four years of holding power under ruthless military dictatorship, the military junta forces have specifically targeted hospitals and the healthcare sector in their attacks. The Ministry stated that these actions are clear violations of international laws, including the Geneva Conventions, United Nations Security Council Resolutions, and other international laws related to human rights and humanitarian protection.

The Ministry of Health expressed deep condolences to the families of the fallen civilians and strongly condemned the extremely inhumane acts of violence perpetrated by the military junta. The Ministry stood in solidarity with the people and healthcare providers who are risking their lives to provide public healthcare.

NUG Ministry of Foreign Affairs Calls on International Community to Act Against Military Junta War Crimes

On 13 December 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the National Unity Government released a statement strongly condemning the aerial bombing of a civilian hospital in Mrauk-U and calling on the international community to take decisive action against the military junta.

The Ministry stated that attacks on medical facilities are strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law and constitute war crimes. The statement emphasised that hospitals, medical personnel, and the wounded are protected at all times under the Geneva Conventions and their additional protocols. The Ministry noted that deliberate or indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, are unlawful under both customary international law and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, and such crimes are prosecutable regardless of the classification of the armed conflict.

The Ministry underscored that this attack is not an isolated incident but forms part of a systematic and widespread campaign of terror carried out by the military junta against the civilian population, including sustained airstrikes, extrajudicial killings, mass displacement, and the deliberate destruction of essential civilian infrastructure. The statement noted that taken together, these acts amount to crimes against humanity.

The National Unity Government expressed heartfelt gratitude to all individuals, humanitarian organisations, and governments that continue to demonstrate solidarity and uphold humanitarian principles in support of the people of Myanmar, who are enduring relentless violence inflicted by a military that has turned its weapons against its own population.

The Ministry underscored that the military junta's capacity to conduct aerial bombings and other grave violations does not exist in isolation but is directly sustained by ongoing foreign military and financial support, which continues to provide weapons, aircraft, technical assistance, and training to the military junta despite overwhelming evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The Ministry stated that the military junta continues to benefit from international protection, diplomatic cover, and obstruction of meaningful accountability by powerful actors who, whilst claiming neutrality, enable the military junta's access to arms, resources, and political legitimacy, and who block decisive international action. The statement noted that this pattern of shielding and inaction emboldens the perpetrators and prolongs civilian suffering.

The National Unity Government called on the international community to act decisively and without delay, urging all states to immediately halt arms transfers, military cooperation, financial assistance, and political engagement with the military junta. The Ministry warned that any form of diplomatic shielding or normalisation risks aiding and abetting grave violations of international law.

The statement concluded that the people of Myanmar deserve protection, accountability, and justice, and that those responsible for these crimes and those who knowingly enable them must be held accountable through all available international and legal mechanisms.

CRPH Condemns Military Junta Airstrike on Mrauk-U Hospital

On 12 December 2025, the Committee Representing the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) released a statement strongly condemning the military junta's aerial attack on the public hospital in Mrauk-U Township, Rakhine State, which occurred on the night of 10 December 2025.

The CRPH statement described the attack as inhumane, cruel, and brutal, noting that reports indicated the strike resulted in the deaths of over 35 civilians, including children, women, and healthcare workers, with many more injured. The Committee expressed grief for those who lost their lives and wished a speedy recovery for all those injured in the attack.

The CRPH highlighted the timing of the massacre, noting that it was committed as the world celebrated International Human Rights Day. The statement characterised the attack as reflecting an utter disregard for human life, a denial of healthcare to civilians, disrespect for international laws, and a heinous attempt to destroy the democratic aspirations of the people of Myanmar. The Committee gravely noted that such actions are fuelled by the military junta's impunity for the crimes it has committed, as well as misguided support from some nations.

The statement pointed out that despite continuous condemnation from the international community regarding the military coup and the crimes committed by the military junta, it has not ceased its inhumane acts. The CRPH noted that the military junta is now attempting to exercise its licence to kill through a sham election.

Response of the International Community

United Nations Condemns Military Junta Airstrike on Mrauk-U Hospital

The Office of the Spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General stated that the UN is deeply alarmed by reports of the military junta airstrike on the general hospital in Mrauk-U Township, Rakhine State, on 10 December. The spokesperson reported that the strike killed more than 30 civilians and injured more than 70 others, including patients, caregivers and medical staff, adding that there are fears the casualty figures will rise further.

The spokesperson highlighted that this bombing, which affected a medical facility, underscores the grave and deteriorating situation facing civilians in Myanmar, emphasising that medical facilities and civilians, including medical personnel, must be respected and protected. The spokesperson stated that the United Nations condemns this attack, which is part of a broader pattern of strikes causing harm to civilians and civilian objects that continue to devastate communities across the country.

The World Health Organization noted that this is the sixty-seventh verified attack on health facilities in Myanmar this year. The UN spokesperson called on all parties to observe their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law.

UN also reported that humanitarian needs in Myanmar are soaring. The 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan calls for 890 million US dollars, warning that 16.2 million people, including 5 million children, will require assistance and protection next year. Conflict and disasters have displaced an estimated 3.6 million people, with many forced to flee repeatedly.

United Nations Demands Investigation into Military Junta Airstrike on Mrauk-U Hospital

On 11 December, the United Nations demanded an investigation after a military junta airstrike on Mrauk-U Hospital in Rakhine State killed at least 33 people, stating that the attack could constitute a war crime.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk stated that he was appalled and condemned in the strongest possible terms the strikes which left dozens of civilians dead and wounded. Türk noted that such attacks may amount to a war crime and called for investigations and for those responsible to be held to account.

A spokesman for Türk's office stated that given the prevailing impunity in Myanmar, there were other means to hold perpetrators to account, including international courts and universal jurisdiction.

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that at least 33 people were killed and 20 injured, including health workers, patients, and family members, and that hospital infrastructure was severely damaged. He noted that this was the 67th attack on health verified by WHO Myanmar this year.

Türk also raised concerns about Myanmar's upcoming military-imposed election, stating it is accompanied by new waves of acute insecurity and violence, continued arrests and detentions of opponents, voter coercion, and systemic discrimination. He expressed fear that this process will only further deepen insecurity and polarisation throughout the country.

UN General Assembly Adopts Credentials Committee Report, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun Remains as Myanmar's Permanent Representative

On 12 December 2025, the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly convened its 61st Plenary Meeting at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and adopted the Credentials Committee Report for the session by consensus.

Regarding the representation of Myanmar, the Credentials Committee report noted that having received two competing sets of credentials for Myanmar, the Committee proposed to defer its decision on the credentials of the representatives of Myanmar. The Committee adopted this proposal without a vote.

Consequently, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, Permanent Representative of Myanmar to the United Nations, and the Myanmar delegation continue to participate in, attend, and deliberate at the Plenary and Main Committees meetings of the 80th UN General Assembly, meetings of the UN main bodies, and other related high-level meetings, consistent with the practice of preceding years.

The Permanent Mission of Myanmar stated that Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun remains steadfast in his commitment to raising the voices of the people of Myanmar through UN platforms regarding the on-ground situation. He will continue to advocate for the people's efforts to end the military dictatorship and its unlawful coup, and to ensure international justice and accountability for the military junta, which continues to perpetrate relentless atrocities against the people of Myanmar.

During the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun delivered a total of 76 statements at General Assembly Plenary Meetings and its Main Committees meetings, the UN Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, and other high-level meetings. During the main part of the 80th Session, from 9 September to 31 December 2025, a total of 48 statements have been delivered thus far.

UNODC Reports Opium Poppy Cultivation in Myanmar Reaches Ten-Year Peak

On 3 December, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime released its Myanmar Opium Survey 2025, reporting that opium poppy cultivation has reached a ten-year peak.

The report, titled Myanmar Opium Survey 2025: Cultivation, Production and Implications, analyses data collected during the fourth growing season since the military takeover. The survey shows a 17 per cent increase in poppy cultivation compared to the previous year, from 45,200 to 53,100 hectares, reflecting the uncertainty the country faces after years of conflict and socio-economic instability. The report reaffirms Myanmar's role as the world's known main source of illicit opium, following the continued decline of cultivation in Afghanistan.

Delphine Schantz, UNODC Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, stated that Myanmar stands at a critical moment and that this major expansion in cultivation shows the extent to which the opium economy has re-established itself over the past years and points to potential further growth in the future.

Increases in cultivation were recorded in all growing regions, with the strongest increases in East Shan at 32 per cent and Chin State at 26 per cent, and the lowest increase measured in Kachin at 3 per cent. South Shan remained the area with the heaviest cultivation, accounting for 44 per cent of the country's opium fields. The report's analysis includes poppy cultivation in Sagaing Region for the first time, showing 552 hectares under cultivation.

The findings confirm an increasing trend in opium cultivation since 2020. A key factor behind this trend is the price of opium, which has doubled amidst deteriorating social and economic conditions. Compared to 2019, farmgate prices increased from approximately 160 US dollars per kilogramme to 365 US dollars per kilogramme in 2025.

The report also points to emerging signs of heroin flowing from Myanmar to markets previously supplied by opium originating in Afghanistan. Schantz added that driven by intensifying conflict, the need to survive, and the lure of rising prices, farmers are drawn to poppy cultivation, and that unless viable alternative livelihoods are created, the cycle of poverty and dependence on illicit cultivation will only deepen.

European Union Says Military Junta Elections Lack Credibility and Legitimacy

On 10 December, International Human Rights Day, the European Union released a statement reiterating its steadfast support for the people of Myanmar in their aspiration to live in dignity, peace, and freedom.

The European Union condemned continuing grave human rights violations including torture, sexual and gender-based violence, as well as the persecution of civil society, human rights defenders, and journalists. The statement noted that these abuses persist alongside widespread restrictions on fundamental freedoms and a climate of fear.

The European Union stated that it is closely following developments surrounding the electoral process announced by the military junta. The statement noted that whilst the military junta presents these polls as a step in its political roadmap, the prevailing context makes clear that the essential conditions for free and fair elections, namely a credible, transparent, and inclusive process in line with international standards, are not in place, and that these elections are only pursuing legitimacy objectives for the military junta.

The statement highlighted that widespread violence, restrictions on fundamental freedoms, mass detentions, and the exclusion of key political actors severely undermine the credibility of the process. Large segments of the population and political spectrum, including persons belonging to many minorities and parties with significant popular support, are prevented from participating in the elections. Despite the recent amnesty, many thousands of citizens remain arbitrarily detained, whilst new laws criminalising any criticism of the electoral process further erode the possibility of free expression.

The European Union urged all stakeholders to prioritise an immediate ceasefire, an end to violence, an inclusive political dialogue, and unhindered humanitarian access. The statement emphasised that a sustainable political solution cannot be reached through a process that lacks legitimacy in the eyes of the population.

The European Union called for the full and effective implementation of ASEAN's Five-Point Consensus, which remains the adequate pathway to de-escalate the crisis and lay the groundwork for a peaceful and inclusive future for Myanmar.

ASEAN Chair Condemns Military Junta Airstrike on Mrauk-U Hospital

The ASEAN Chair has issued a statement expressing deep concern and strongly condemning the airstrike on Mrauk-U Hospital in Western Rakhine State on 10 December 2025, which resulted in the deaths of at least 31 civilians and injured at least 76 others.

In the statement released on 13 December 2025, the ASEAN Chair stated that attacks targeting civilians and medical facilities, in violation of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions of 1949, are unacceptable and inconsistent with the principles enshrined in the ASEAN Charter. The statement extended deepest sympathy and condolences to the bereaved families of the victims and the affected communities, and wished the injured a quick recovery.

The ASEAN Chair urged all parties in Myanmar to take concrete action to immediately halt indiscriminate violence, stop targeted attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, exercise utmost restraint and ensure the protection and safety of all civilians and civilian infrastructure.

The statement reiterated the call for the full implementation of an expanded and extended ceasefire throughout Myanmar as reaffirmed by the ASEAN Leaders' Statement on an Extended and Expanded Ceasefire in Myanmar issued on 26 May 2025.

The ASEAN Chair further reiterated that the Five-Point Consensus remains the main reference to address the political crisis in Myanmar, and urged for its full implementation to help the people of Myanmar achieve an inclusive and durable peaceful resolution towards the betterment of the people of Myanmar, hence contributing to peace, security and stability in the region.

Australian Government Expresses Grave Concern Over Myanmar Crisis Ahead of Military Junta Elections

On 10 December, the Australian Government released a statement expressing grave concerns about the ongoing political and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar. Australia condemned widespread human rights abuses and violations by the military junta and remains deeply concerned by its ongoing attacks against civilians including airstrikes.

Australia maintained that a genuine path to peace requires an end to violence, the release of all those unjustly detained, and inclusive dialogue among all Myanmar stakeholders. The statement expressed serious concern that elections held without these conditions will lead to greater instability and prevent a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis. The Australian Government noted that the current situation in Myanmar falls short of what is needed for free, fair, and inclusive elections.

Australia stated it will continue to urge a peaceful transition of power to a democratic civilian government that reflects the will of the people. The statement reiterated strong support for ASEAN's central role in resolving this crisis and called on the military junta to fulfil its commitments under the Five-Point Consensus and to engage meaningfully with ASEAN representatives including the ASEAN Chair's Special Envoy.

The Australian Government stated that it will continue to stand with the people of Myanmar, who have demonstrated great resilience and bravery in the face of adversity.

Canadian Parliamentarians Reject Military Junta Sham Elections

On 8 December, the Parliamentary Friends of a Democratic Burma, an Ottawa-based group of Canadian parliamentarians, announced that it has rejected the military junta's elections scheduled to begin on 28 December.

Kelly DeRidder, a Conservative Party Member of Parliament, stated that the military junta's planned sham election is neither free nor fair and must not be recognised by Canada or any other democratic nation.

The Canadian parliamentarians stated that any country accepting the results of the military junta elections would betray millions of people in Myanmar and legitimise the military, which seized power in the 2021 coup by ousting the democratically elected government led by State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint.

A group of 500 Burmese-Canadians sent a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney requesting that his government officially oppose the military junta elections and expand targeted sanctions. The Parliamentary Friends of a Democratic Burma called on Ottawa to provide humanitarian assistance and early warning systems to alert civilians when the military junta air force is attempting to attack.

ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights Condemns Military Junta Airstrike on Mrauk-U Hospital as War Crime

On 11 December, ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) released a statement strongly condemning the military junta's airstrike on Mrauk-U General Hospital in Rakhine State, calling it a war crime committed on International Human Rights Day.

The statement noted that at approximately 9:13 p.m., the military junta dropped two 500-pound bombs on the hospital, killing around 33 civilians and injuring nearly 100. Many victims were patients receiving treatment, including children, elderly people, and those with chronic illnesses. Healthcare workers were among the dead.

Hon. Mercy Chriesty Barends, Indonesian MP and Chairperson of APHR, stated that the attack was a deliberate mass killing of protected civilians and that committing such an atrocity on International Human Rights Day shows the military junta's absolute contempt for humanity.

APHR noted that the military junta has been systematically bombing civilian infrastructure including religious sites, schools, and hospitals across Rakhine State on a near-daily basis.

APHR urged ASEAN and the international community to recognise the attack as part of ongoing mass atrocities, reject the military junta's fraudulent electoral process, support targeted sanctions including an arms and jet fuel embargo, and ensure full humanitarian access. APHR called on ASEAN and the international community to act with urgency in response to this mass killing.

Special Advisory Council-Myanmar Calls on International Community to Act Against Military Junta Violence Ahead of Sham Elections

On 12 December, the Special Advisory Council-Myanmar released a statement calling out the military junta's escalating campaign of violence against civilians as it moves towards elections later this month. The group called on the international community, including ASEAN and its member states, to act swiftly to safeguard Myanmar civilians from the military junta's worsening assaults.

The statement noted that with polls slated to begin on 28 December, the military junta has accelerated its campaign of deadly aerial assaults on civilian homes, gatherings, and infrastructure across vast swathes of territory under resistance control. These acts of terror and collective punishment have killed and injured scores of civilians in the past week alone.

The Special Advisory Council-Myanmar highlighted that on 10 December, International Human Rights Day, a military junta fighter jet bombed a public hospital in Mrauk-U Township in Rakhine State, killing at least 31 people, including women and children, and wounding at least 68 others. Less than a week earlier, on 5 December, a military junta fighter jet bombed a teashop in Depayin Township in Sagaing Region, killing at least 18 civilians and wounding 20 others who had gathered to watch a football match.

The statement noted that in May, Depayin Township was the site of another military junta atrocity, an airstrike on a school that killed at least 22 students, some as young as seven, and two teachers.  Yanghee Lee, Special Advisory Council-Myanmar Member, stated that these airstrikes are a tool through which the military junta aims to shape and manipulate electoral turnout, and that by bombing areas outside its control, the military junta is sending a terrifying message to people within its direct reach, describing this as gerrymandering through atrocities.

The statement noted that at least 22,691 political prisoners remain arbitrarily detained by the military junta, including many of Myanmar's democratically elected leaders. The Special Advisory Council-Myanmar called on the UN Security Council, ASEAN, and individual states to block the military junta's access to weapons, jet fuel, and cash, demand the immediate release of all political prisoners, and hold Min Aung Hlaing and the military junta accountable for their crimes.

MSF Condemns Military Junta Airstrike on Mrauk-U Hospital as Deadliest Attack on Healthcare Facility Since 2021

Mizzima reported on 11 December 2025 that Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) condemned the deadly airstrike on Mrauk-U General Hospital in Rakhine State, calling it the deadliest attack on a healthcare facility in Myanmar since 2021.

MSF stated that the strike on 10 December killed at least 30 civilians and injured more than 70, including patients and health workers. The organisation warned that the destruction of one of the few remaining hospitals will further limit access to lifesaving healthcare for civilians.

Paul Brockmann, MSF operations manager for Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Malaysia, stated that it is difficult to convey how outraged MSF is by the attack on one of the few remaining functioning medical facilities in the area. Brockmann emphasised that the bombing of health facilities and patients being killed in their beds cannot be perceived as collateral damage in a conflict zone, and that hospitals must remain a safe place for patients to receive medical care.

Brockmann stated that MSF mourns the patients who lost their lives at the hospital it has supported over the years and stands in solidarity with colleagues with whom they worked side by side. He noted that the destruction of one of the last operational hospitals in Central Rakhine will further restrict access to healthcare, including lifesaving treatment, for civilians caught in the fighting.

MSF noted that access to healthcare in Rakhine State has already severely decreased in recent years due to the ongoing conflict. Numerous medical facilities have been damaged, and many health professionals have been forced to flee due to ongoing violence. The organisation stated that the same pattern has been recorded across many areas of Myanmar, noting that the country ranked fourth for attacks on healthcare in 2024.

Brockmann added that as an international, neutral medical humanitarian organisation, MSF urgently calls on all parties to the conflict to uphold the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, emphasising that civilians and medical facilities must be protected without exception amidst the escalating violence.

MSF started working in Rakhine State in 1994 and began supporting the hospital in Mrauk-U in 2021, with a focus on primary healthcare, sexual and reproductive care, mental healthcare, emergency referrals, and treatment for non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. MSF was compelled to suspend its presence across most of Rakhine State in 2024 due to extreme escalation of the conflict and currently has a limited presence primarily in Sittwe.

Progressive Voice Reports Military Junta Systematically Obstructing and Profiting from Humanitarian Aid

In a briefing released on 9 December, Progressive Voice stated that the military junta is systematically obstructing, manipulating, and profiting from humanitarian aid whilst escalating violence against the civilian population and aid workers.

The Myanmar civil society research group described a pattern of administrative control, physical blockades, and targeted violence that has transformed natural disasters and conflict-driven emergencies into unnecessary humanitarian catastrophes.

The briefing cited the 28 March 2025 7.7-magnitude earthquake in central Myanmar that killed at least 4,000 people as the most recent example. Progressive Voice noted that whilst calling for international assistance, the military junta simultaneously restricted access to quake-hit areas, denied travel authorisations, confiscated relief supplies, and imposed invasive registration requirements on humanitarian aid groups and survivors. The briefing recounted incidents wherein aid bearing the logo of ASEAN was diverted to military warehouses in Naypyitaw, and Australian doctors reported the theft of lifesaving medicines en route to hard-hit areas in Mandalay and Sagaing Regions.

According to the report, these tactics are part of the military junta's decades-old four cuts strategy designed to severe civilian support, including food, funds, intelligence, and recruits, to resistance forces. Progressive Voice documented at least 165 violent incidents targeting humanitarian groups since 2021, including killings, arrests, intimidation at checkpoints, and the destruction of humanitarian property.

The briefing warned that international aid routed through military junta-controlled systems is vulnerable to diversion, including through exchange-rate manipulation in which the military junta is able to capture up to half the value of incoming assistance. Progressive Voice argued that these funds help finance ongoing airstrikes and preparations for the military junta's sham December 2025 election.

Progressive Voice urged donors to halt engagement with the military junta and instead redirect humanitarian funding to local civil society and border-based networks with proven access and community trust. The organisation warned that channelling aid through military junta-linked entities guarantees manipulation, diversion, ineffectiveness, and harm to the people.

*****

Date: 15 December 2025

Permanent Mission of Myanmar, New York