Bi-weekly Update on the Current Situation in Myanmar (15-05-2025 to 31-05-2025)

Bi-weekly Update on the Current Situation in Myanmar

(15-05-2025 to 31-05-2025)

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

As of 31 May 2025, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), the military has ruthlessly killed 6,764 people and arrested another 29,209 people. 22,074 people remain in detention and 168 people have been sentenced to death, including 119 post-coup death row prisoners and 44 in absentia since 1 February 2021, when the military unleashed systematic and targeted attacks and violence against innocent civilians. Four democracy activists who were sentenced to death were executed by the military junta in July 2022.

Moreover, over 3.5 million people are being displaced. Over 20 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. Among them, over 10.4 million are women and girls, and over 6.3 million are children. 112,485 houses were burned down throughout Myanmar since the illegal coup until the end of December 2024, according to the report of 27 February 2025 by Data for Myanmar.

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

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

Crimes committed Across Myanmar by the Junta Troops and its affiliates

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

Myanmar Junta Killings Rise to 6,764 as Arrests Exceed 29,000

The junta has killed at least 6,764 people and arrested 29,209 individuals since the coup attempt, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) monthly data fact sheet which covering the period up to 31 May 2025. Among those killed, 1,644 were women and 824 were children, representing 24.3 per cent and 12.2 per cent of total fatalities respectively. An additional 2,073 people were killed whilst in detention, accounting for 30.6 per cent of all deaths.

Of the total arrested, 6,058 were women, comprising 20.7 per cent of all detainees, whilst 608 children were arrested, representing 2.1 per cent. Currently, 22,074 people remain in detention, including 4,218 women and 235 children. Yangon recorded the highest number of arrests with 6,461 people detained, followed by Mandalay with 5,095 arrests and Sagaing with 4,292 arrests. Sagaing also recorded the highest number of killings with 2,592 deaths.

The AAPP noted that around 3,500 additional killed persons require verification of identities and identifiable data. The organization defines killed in detainment as any person or resistance group member detained by junta troops, officials, or affiliates, and subsequently killed through force or neglect in prisons, interrogation centres, and detention facilities.

The systematic killing and arbitrary detention of civilians demonstrates the junta's continued violations of international human rights law and humanitarian law since the attempted coup on 1 February 2021.

According to the data collected by AAPP, from May 1 to 31, 2025, the junta killed (152) people in total; (86) women and (66) men, across the country, including (51) children under the age of 18.  The youngest recorded death was a 3-month-old girl. The identities of these victims have been verified. Among the deceased, (109) people were killed by the junta’s airstrikes, marking the highest cause of death, followed by (17), who were killed by the junta’s artillery strikes. Among the (152) deaths, Sagaing Region records the highest number of fatalities with (68), followed by (21) in both Bago and Magway Regions. During the stated period, the AAPP has also received information that the junta’s attacks resulted in the death of (100) civilians whose identities have yet to be confirmed. Moreover, during the stated period, (5) women and (4) men; (9) people in total, have been arrested by the junta in relation to the Spring Revolution across the country.

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

The military junta has continued its airstrikes on predominantly civilian targets including schools, hospitals and religious sites throughout Myanmar. According to the report of the Irrawaddy, around 58 airstrikes on civilian targets in resistance-held territory since 2 May to 19 May, despite the junta's earthquake truce, killing at least 86 people and injuring over 200 others.

Airstrikes were reported in Rakhine, Chin, Karen, Shan, Karenni and Mon states and Sagaing and Mandalay regions. On 12 May, a junta fighter jet from Meiktila airbase allegedly used widely banned cluster bombs to attack a school operated by the civilian National Unity Government at O Htain Twin village in Depayin Township, Sagaing Region. The attack occurred while over 100 children were studying in the school. The attack killed 22 children aged 7 to 16 and two volunteer teachers in their early twenties and injured 102 others, mostly children. France, Canada and Australia condemned the junta's airstrike on the school respectively.

On 12 May, two fighter jets from Tada-U airbase used three bombs and rockets to attack a school and homes in Mawlu town in resistance-held territory in Indaw Township, Sagaing Region. The airstrike killed two people and injured seven others, destroying houses and school buildings, according to the local media outlets. The junta on 13 May reportedly bombed Tun Ya Wai village in Rathedaung Township under the control of the Arakan Army in Rakhine State, which killed 13 people, including children, and injured at least 20 others.

The junta stepped up airstrikes on towns held by the Ta'ang National Liberation Army in northern Shan State in May after the peace talks failed in April. On 13 May, junta aircraft dropped two bombs on the Bangkok Refugee Camp in La Ei village, Pekon Township, southern Shan State, where displaced people sheltering. Junta bombed the camp also in September and November 2024, killing 10 displaced people, including children, and injuring over 20.

An airstrike on a displacement camp in Thabeikkyin Township, Mandalay Region, on 15 May killed two people and injured nine others, including a monk and four children, according to Pyin Oo Lwin People's Defence Force.

Military Junta Artillery Strikes Kill Civilian, Wound Monk in Sagaing Region

Military junta lunched artillery strikes on villages in Chaung U Township, Sagaing Region, on 29 and 30 May, killing one civilian and injuring two others, Mizzima reported. At around noon on 29 May, junta military personnel based in Nga Yan Village fired a 120 mm artillery shell into Than Min Kan Village, killing one local resident and injuring another. The following day, a shell fired by the junta exploded inside a monastery in Hmyan Cho Village, wounding a monk.

A local said the attacks are part of a broader pattern of indiscriminate violence and there are many casualties from the heavy weapons being fired in an everyday basis.  Than Min Kan and Hmyan Cho villages are located in the eastern and southern parts of Chaung U Township. According to the resident, collecting accurate casualty figures has been difficult due to the presence of a junta column operating near the affected areas.

Military Junta Burns 400 Homes, Kills Six Civilians in Magway Operation

Junta troops burned down more than 400 homes and killed six civilians during a 13-day military operation in Salin Township, Magway Region, Mizzima stated. The operation, which ran from 13 to 25 May, targeted several villages including Sanay Chaung, Gwey Kone, Ohthe, and Nga Than Khaung.

Elderly residents who were unable to flee were among those killed, local sources said. Gwey Kone was set on fire twice and almost the entire village was destroyed. Many houses in the other villages were also torched. The victims were mostly between 50 and 80 years old, who could not escape the advancing junta forces. The extensive destruction has left hundreds of households displaced amid heavy monsoon rains, creating an urgent need for emergency shelter and food assistance. The attacking force included troops from Light Infantry Division 101 based in Pakokku, LID 88 from Magway, and Infantry Battalions 253, 254, and 255.

On 13 May, two junta columns advanced south of Salin Creek, one from West Kanbaung Village and the other from Myay Ni Kone, eventually linking up and moving through Aung Hlaing, Peinhnepin, and Nga Lin Pan villages. Resistance forces positioned themselves on both banks of Salin Creek and engaged the junta in daily clashes that lasted until 20 May.

On 21 May, the junta launched five airstrikes before entering the northern villages of Nga Than Khaung, Gwey Kone, and Htanaung Kone. Gwey Kone was set ablaze that same day. Fighting escalated on 22 May when local resistance forces attacked junta positions in Gwey Kone and Htanaung Kone. The junta retaliated with seven airstrikes and again torched Gwey Kone.

By 23 May, junta forces regrouped and entered Sanay Chaung village, where further clashes occurred and the village was subsequently set on fire as a form of collective punishment. The following day, the troops split into two groups and moved on to Ohthe Village, where another intense battle broke out.

The systematic destruction of villages, targeting of elderly civilians and burning down the civilian residents represents a pattern of grave violations of international humanitarian law by the junta forces operating across Myanmar's regions.

Junta Artillery Attack Kills Two Civilians in Monywa Township

Mizzima reported that two civilians were killed and at least 12 others injured during an artillery attack by junta forces on Nagadwin Village in Sagaing Region's Monywa Township on 22 May. The shelling began around 7 pm when troops stationed at the Ma-U checkpoint near the entrance to Monywa fired six rounds of 120 mm artillery. Local residents confirmed there was no fighting in the area at the time, only indiscriminate shelling. A 45-year-old man and a woman were killed in the attack, and children were reported to be among the wounded.

A local resident told that two villagers were killed, and some of the injured sustained wounds to their legs and abdomen. Later that same night, junta forces reportedly fired additional 30 rounds of howitzer artillery into areas surrounding Monywa Township, where the Northwestern Military Command is based. Sources said the shelling coincided with a novitiation ceremony held for the child of a senior junta officer from the Northwestern Command.

Junta Airstrike Kills Four Civilians Including Two School Children in Sagaing Region

Four civilians, including two school-aged children, were killed and several others injured when the military junta carried out a deadly airstrike on Nwe Inn Village in Pale Township, Sagaing Region on 18 May, according to local media outlets. The attack occurred around 12:40 pm when two jet fighters dropped three bombs on the village. The bombs hit different sections of the village, one destroying a house near a dam in the east, another striking the village centre, and the third landing in the western part.

Among the dead were Hpone Min Thant, a sixth-grade student, and Ma Kyal Sin Oo, a twelfth-grade student. Two other adult civilians, Daw Mary and Ma Thin Myat Thu, also lost their lives. Six more villagers, including a two-year-old child, were wounded in the blast, with several in critical condition. A local stated that the two-year-old boy is in a very serious state, with his arm severed and his lower body sustaining grave injuries. In the days leading up to the bombing, junta reconnaissance planes, specifically Y-12 aircraft, were seen repeatedly flying over the area, seemingly identifying targets in what locals believe was a systematic operation against civilians.

Pale Township, now largely under the control of resistance forces, has seen no recent clashes. The junta retains control only over the township's urban areas and a few pro-junta villages such as Inn Ma Htee and Zee Gone, where Pyu Saw Htee militias are active.

In a separate incident on the same day, the junta launched another airstrike on Lake Kya village in Thabeikkyin Township, Mandalay Region, at around 7:09 pm. That attack injured two men and destroyed three homes.  Civilian casualties from aerial assaults have been escalating.  Despite international condemnations, the junta continues its indiscriminative attack against civilian areas, a strategy that has devastated countless communities whilst drawing criticism for its disregard of international humanitarian law.

Human Rights Abuses  

Junta Violates Fundamental Rights Through Misuse of Surveillance Technology

The military junta has intensified its systematic surveillance and persecution of civilians through digital technology, with pro-junta media reported on 27 May that police arrested 1,657 people nationwide between 7 March and 21 May with the aid of the Person Scrutinization and Monitoring System.

The sophisticated surveillance apparatus represents a grave violation of privacy rights and fundamental freedoms, as the junta deploys advanced technology to track and detain individuals across Myanmar. The software, installed on computers at checkpoints and hotels, alerts police if individuals listed in its database appear, according to the Mandalay Police Force.

Antonio Graceffo, an independent security analyst, told DVB that the system is powered by Huawei.

The junta's use of such invasive surveillance technology violates international human rights law, which protects the right to privacy and freedom of movement. The systematic monitoring of civilians through facial recognition represents a form of mass surveillance that contravenes Myanmar's obligations under international human rights treaties. Junta sources claim they can identify individuals using facial images alone, without requiring national registration card numbers. They added that former prisoners released under amnesties would be added to the system's database, expanding the scope of surveillance to include those previously granted clemency.

This digital dragnet demonstrates the junta's systematic approach to controlling and intimidating the population through technological means. The use of this surveillance technology highlights the international dimension of human rights violations, as foreign companies and governments enable the junta's oppressive apparatus.

The deployment of this surveillance system represents the misuse of dual-use technology for the suppression of civilians and violations that may constitute crimes against humanity. The systematic use of advanced surveillance technology to track, monitor and arrest civilians demonstrates how commercial technology can be weaponised against populations. The junta's comprehensive surveillance apparatus, enabled by foreign technology suppliers, violates international human rights law and represents a systematic effort to create a police state where civilian movements are constantly monitored and controlled, contributing to the broader pattern of crimes against humanity committed since the illegal coup attempt.

Junta Reduces Prisoner Food Rations in Violation of International Standards

The military junta has systematically reduced food rations for prisoners across the country over the past two months, constituting a violation of international standards for the treatment of prisoners and potentially amounting to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. The Political Prisoners Network Myanmar told that prison officials have reduced inmates' food intake over the last two months, citing budget constraints. Nearly 200 inmates, approximately 15 percent of the total prison population, at Myingyan Prison in Mandalay Region have suffered from weakened limbs due to malnutrition, PPNM has documented.

Thaik Tun Oo, the PPNM spokesperson said that the junta has removed meat entirely and replaced it with eggs. The Karenni Political Prisoners Association reported malnutrition among 20 political prisoners at Loikaw Prison in January. Prisoners nationwide, including in Loikaw, have reported the absence of meat, or poorly cooked meat, in their meals since March. The deliberate reduction of food rations violates the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, which require that prisoners receive food of nutritional value adequate for health and strength. The systematic nature of these reductions across multiple facilities suggests a coordinated policy that may constitute a form of collective punishment.

Prisoners at Mandalay's Meiktila and Obo prisons, as well as Patheingyi juvenile centre, Bago Region's Paungde and Daik-U prisons, and Ayeyarwady Region's Pathein Prison, have reported reduced food rations. The widespread implementation of reduced rations demonstrates the systematic nature of this violation of prisoner rights. The targeting of juvenile detainees at Patheingyi centre represents a particularly egregious violation of international law, as children in detention are entitled to enhanced protections under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners has documented there are 22,106 political prisoners in Myanmar. The reduction of food rations affecting such a large population of detainees, many of whom are held for their political beliefs, constitutes a violation of international human rights law and may amount to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment prohibited under international law.

Junta Systematically Prevents Political Prisoner Reintegration as Form of Repression

The military junta employs a deliberate strategy of preventing former political prisoners from reintegrating into society as a calculated form of ongoing repression, according to the submission of March 2025  by Human Rights Myanmar to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

In its submission to OHCHR, HRM outlines how the junta uses surveillance, legal ambiguity, and social ostracism to ensure that political prisoners remain isolated long after their release. The report asserts this is not a failure of policy but a deliberate strategy constituting systematic violations of international human rights law.

Since the February 2021 military coup, Myanmar has witnessed widespread arbitrary detentions targeting journalists, activists, and protestors in violation of international law. According to HRM, released political prisoners are subjected to severe restrictions, including forced agreements not to oppose the junta and ongoing surveillance that stifles basic freedoms. Many are threatened with rearrest if they violate the ambiguous conditions of release. The HRM makes clear that the junta not only refuses to support reintegration but actively dismantles any chance of it through coercive practices such as family intimidation, property seizures, and discriminatory denial of healthcare for former prisoners. Women, in particular, face devastating personal consequences, often losing custody of children or being abandoned by spouses.

These practices violate international standards on the treatment of former prisoners and constitute ongoing persecution based on political beliefs. The systematic nature of these restrictions demonstrates the junta's intent to extend punishment beyond the period of detention, violating fundamental principles of justice and human rights. HRM notes that former detainees are routinely excluded from formal employment and face widespread social stigma, with friends and relatives distancing themselves to avoid reprisal. As many as 17 percent of political prisoners have had their homes confiscated, forcing some into homelessness and constituting violations of the right to adequate housing.

The report concludes that the junta employs non-reintegration not as neglect but with clear political purpose as a calculated form of repression to silence voices and prevent future opposition. This systematic approach is the violations of the rights to freedom of expression, association, and participation in public life. HRM calls on the international community to recognize the junta's non-reintegration strategy as a human rights violation and to impose targeted sanctions, whilst supporting civil society initiatives that offer vocational training, legal aid, and psychological support for former detainees. The organization emphasizes that addressing these violations requires international recognition of the systematic nature of the junta's repression extending far beyond the prison walls.

Junta Seals Off Century-Old Mosque After Earthquake Damage

Myanmar Now reported that the junta has sealed off a century-old mosque in the city of Sagaing after it was damaged by the powerful earthquake that struck Myanmar on 28 March. The Gattan Mosque, located next to the city's main police station, was closed on 27 May after the township junta police chief ordered that it be demolished due to damage that it sustained in the 7.7-magnitude quake, a mosque official told Myanmar Now.

The mosque official stated that according to their religion, they are not allowed to destroy religious buildings with their own hands. Since they do not have the right to give, take, or transfer the mosque according to their will, they told the police to do as they please with it, so they have now closed it. At least 50 mosques were damaged or destroyed across central Myanmar by the earthquake, which coincided with the last Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. As a result, hundreds of Muslims gathered for prayers were killed.

The news about the Gattan Mosque has added to the grief felt by many Muslims in the wake of the disaster, according to one Sagaing resident who noted that during this time of suffering, Muslims now have another reason to mourn.

 Actions of Resistance Forces against the Junta

Arakan Army Captures Junta Outposts, Detains Officers in Strategic Kyaukphyu

The Arakan Army has detained several junta troops, including a high-ranking officer, after seizing a military outpost in Mintat Taung village in Kyaukphyu Township on 23 May, according to the local media outlets. A local said that the junta is in retreat in Kyaukphyu. Kyaukphyu serves as a strategic hub town for Foreign-funded infrastructure projects, including oil and gas pipelines, electrical power facilities, and transportation networks. Fighting between the AA and junta forces took place in Kyaukphyu's Pyaingseke Village, considered an entry gate to Police Battalion 32, on 23 May.  The AA captured the junta's Hnanpe Taung outpost in Kyaukphyu on 22 May, which served as a guard post for the Police Battalion 32. Pyaingseke, Mintat Taung and Hnanpe Taung are located one mile from Kyaukphyu's Police Battalion 32.

Snipers from the AA killed five junta troops in the town on 25 May, the source in Arakan added. Infantry Battalion 34, Light Infantry Battalions 542 and 543, the Danyawaddy Naval Base, and Police Battalion 32, are all under junta control in Kyaukphyu. Local media in Arakan reported that junta troops positioned themselves inside the OGT gas refinery in Gonchwain village-tract, located five miles west of Mintat Taung on 23 May.

The AA's advances in Kyaukphyu represent significant gains against junta forces in the strategically important port town, threatening the junta's control over key infrastructure and challenging its ability to maintain positions in Arakan State.

Kachin Independence Army Shoots Down Junta Helicopter in Southern Kachin State

The Kachin Independence Organization confirmed to DVB that its armed wing, the Kachin Independence Army, shot down one of three junta logistics helicopters en route to the Military Operations Command 21 headquarters in Bhamo Township of southern Kachin State on 21 May 2025.  Conel. Naw Bu, the KIO spokesperson, told that their fighters fired at the three helicopters and hit two. One crashed and exploded in the forest, whilst the other was forced to make an emergency landing in Shwegu Town. He did not disclose the total number of casualties.

The junta announced that its helicopter crashed due to a technical malfunction. The KIA reported they shot down a transport helicopter in Kachin's Waingmaw Township on 3 January 2024 and a fighter jet over northern Shan State on 16 January 2024 respectively.

Military analysts said that the junta has had to rely on air transport to reinforce its MOC 21 in Bhamo from its Northern Regional Military Command headquarters in Myitkyina after the KIA and the People's Defence Force seized Indaw Township in Sagaing Region, which borders Kachin, on 7 April. Bhamo is located 171 miles east of Indaw.

Karen Forces Capture Dozen Junta Bases in Coordinated Border Offensive

The Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU) and its allies have captured a dozen junta bases in a coordinated offensive along the Thai border, spanning Karen, Karenni (Kayah), and Mon states, as well as Tanintharyi Region.

On 23 May, KNLA and allied People's Defence Force (PDF) seized the junta's strategic Bayint Naung mountain outpost, the highest peak overlooking the border trade hub of Myawaddy in Karen State after junta troops fled into Thailand. The junta's Waw Lay outpost, located two hours further south in Myawaddy Township, reportedly fell the same day despite junta air and artillery support. Resistance fighters had also captured the nearby Bledo base on 30 May 2025.

On 21 May, the KNLA and Karen National Defence Organization (KNDO) and PDF seized a junta base at Kanel Lay in Kawkareik Township, Karen State. Two 120 mm rocket launchers were seized from the Kanel Lay base, as junta troops fled into Thailand during the fighting, which also displaced around 400 residents, according to The Irrawaddy.

The same day, fighters ambushed around 70 junta reinforcements heading to Thay Baw Boe camp, near Sone Si Myaing village, in border territory controlled by the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA). The ambush inflicted heavy casualties, and a dozen junta soldiers were captured along with a cache of weapons. Some soldiers escaped by fleeing into Thailand, according to local media reports. The allied Karen forces have renewed efforts to reclaim Thay Baw Boe camp, a former KNU base seized by the previous junta over 30 years ago. The KNU and allies retook the base in May 2022 but retreated after heavy junta airstrikes.

A military analyst noted that the resistance forces appear to be targeting all junta positions along the Thai border. Clashes are taking place in territories claimed by KNU Brigades 4, 5, 6, and 7 across multiple states and regions. Seven junta positions have fallen along the Thai-Myanmar border in Paingkyone Township, Hpa-an District, where KNU Brigade 7 is based, over the past three months. Two border crossings have been seized in Tanintharyi – KNU Brigade 4 territory – including the crucial trade hub of Htee Khee. KNU spokesman Padoh Saw Taw Nee previously stated that the KNU is coordinating with allied forces to liberate border areas where its brigades are active.

Activities of the Resistance Organizations and the National Unity Government

NUG Extends Support to Victims of Junta School Airstrike in Sagaing Region

The National Unity Government announced on 21 May that it had extended support and comfort to those affected by the junta's airstrike on a village school in Oe Htein Twin, Depayin Township, Sagaing Region.

The airstrike, carried out by junta forces on 12 May, targeted the village's school and resulted in the deaths of two female teachers and 22 students. Approximately 105 individuals, including teachers and students, sustained injuries. The attack on the educational facility represents a clear violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits the targeting of civilian infrastructure, particularly schools that serve vulnerable populations including children.

Efforts are underway to document the incident for future justice proceedings. Local public administration officials, in coordination with the NUG, have provided emotional support and counselling to affected families and children.

The deliberate targeting of educational facilities continues a pattern of systematic attacks by junta forces on civilian infrastructure across Myanmar, further demonstrating the junta's disregard for international legal obligations and the protection of civilians, particularly children.

NUG Appeals for Underground Hospitals as Junta Targets Medical Facilities

In response to the junta's intensifying airstrikes on medical facilities, Dr Zaw Wai Soe, Minister of Health and Education of the National Unity Government's (NUG), has appealed to citizens at home and abroad, along with international donors, to support the construction of bomb-resistant underground hospitals and clinics.

Dr Zaw Wai Soe stated that over the past weeks and months, hospitals and clinics whether on the frontline or in the rear, have been targeted. The strikes escalated in April and May, and it is clear that above-ground facilities are no longer safe. He emphasised the urgent need to build underground hospitals and clinics that can withstand 500-pound and even 1,000-pound bombs. His statement was made during the launch of the Safe Hospital, Safe Healthcare Fundraising Campaign, an initiative led by the Ministry of Health of the NUG to bolster medical infrastructure in resistance-held areas.

Historically, revolutionary forces have relied on makeshift hospitals and clinics nestled in forests and mountains to deliver medical care away from conflict zones. However, the growing frequency and intensity of junta airstrikes have rendered these locations increasingly vulnerable, prompting the urgent need for bomb-resistant underground alternatives.

The minister added that building these underground facilities is not just about survival, but about ensuring doctors and nurses can provide care safely and find rest amid the chaos. In a country like Myanmar, which ranks amongst the most dangerous in the world for healthcare workers, this has become a necessity.

The deliberate targeting of medical facilities constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law and represents war crimes under the Geneva Conventions. Such attacks demonstrate the junta's systematic disregard for the protection of healthcare infrastructure and medical personnel.

The Safe Hospital, Safe Healthcare Campaign aims to raise USD 400,000 between 24 May and 30 June to fund the construction of these fortified healthcare facilities. The NUG is calling on the global Myanmar community and supporters of democracy to contribute to this life-saving mission.

Myanmar's Human Rights Ministry Conducts Military Code of Conduct Training for Defense Forces

Officials from the Ministry of Human Rights Affairs, led by Union Minister U Aung Myo Min, delivered a Military Code of Conduct training session to members of the People's Defense Force from Strategic Military Column (1) under the Yangon Region Military Command of the Ministry of Defense on May 10 2025.

The training covered fundamental knowledge of human rights and military ethics, International Humanitarian Law, and the Geneva Convention. Based on these frameworks, participants received instruction on protecting and safeguarding civilian populations, identifying military targets, and other military conduct codes (COC) established by the National Unity Government.

Attending People's Defense Force members actively participated by asking questions about topics they wanted to understand better, leading to interactive discussions and clarifications throughout the session.

Myanmar UN Ambassador Condemns Military Junta at Security Council Session

Myanmar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun, delivered a statement at the UN Security Council Open Debate on the protection of civilians in conflict on 23 May 2025. The ambassador revealed that more than 6,700 civilians have been killed since the military's illegal coup in February 2021, with women, children, persons with disabilities, and elderly people bearing the worst impact of the junta's brutal atrocities.

Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun mentioned that the military junta has no willingness to cease hostilities and continuing to wage fierce warfare against civilian populations. He said the junta has been weaponizing humanitarian situations and deliberately blocking life-saving assistance from reaching those in need.

Ambassador also described the violence against civilians as widespread and systematic, calling it a deliberate military strategy. He urged the Security Council and member states to adopt decisive resolutions and demanded that countries providing weapons, ammunition, jet fuel, or legitimacy to the junta cease their support, arguing such assistance enables the killing of innocent people. He emphasized that resolving Myanmar's crisis requires eradicating the military dictatorship and terminating the illegal coup, which he identified as the root causes of the crisis of Myanmar.

Response of the International Community

UN Warns of Deadly Rohingya Boat Tragedies as 427 Perish at Sea

At a daily press briefing on 23 May 2025, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Farhan Haq said the UN refugee agency is gravely concerned about two boat tragedies off Myanmar's coast earlier this month, with estimates that 427 Rohingya perished at sea. This would be the deadliest tragedy at sea involving Rohingya refugees this year. The boats were travelling during the dangerous monsoon season, reflecting the desperation of those making such journeys.

Haq noted that nearly one in five people attempting perilous sea movements in this region have been reported as dead or missing this year, making the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal amongst the deadliest waters in the world. The ongoing persecution by junta forces against the Rohingya continues to drive desperate attempts to flee Myanmar, forcing this vulnerable community to undertake increasingly dangerous journeys.

UNHCR called on regional authorities to prevent future tragedies and urged international support for countries hosting Rohingya refugees. The agency requires USD 383 million this year but has received only 30 per cent of this amount.

UN Mechanism Seeks Evidence of School Bombing in Sagaing

The Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar is calling for witnesses to share evidence about an aerial attack of military junta on a school in Oe Htein Kwin village, Sagaing region. The attack on 12 May 2025 reportedly killed up to 20 students and wounded dozens more. The Mechanism stated that airstrikes targeting civilians may constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity, with attacks against children being particularly heinous.

This incident follows dozens of attacks on schools since the junta takeover in February 2021, including strikes in Ye-U District, Sagaing Region in September 2022; Matupi Township, Chin State in November 2023; Demoso Township, Kayah State in February 2024; Pekon Township in September 2024; and Ponnagyun Township, Rakhine State in December 2024. The systematic targeting of educational facilities demonstrates the junta's deliberate violations of international humanitarian law and represents a pattern of war crimes against civilian populations. The Mechanism seeks photographs or videos of injuries and damage, information about victims, details on aircraft and weapons used, and any information about pilots and orders given.

UNICEF Calls for Urgent Response as 6 million Need Aid After Myanmar Earthquake

UNICEF is calling for a more urgent response to the massive earthquake in Myanmar two months ago. Officials say more than 6 million people desperately need life-saving assistance. The figure includes 2 million children. The junta says the disaster killed more than 3,700 people and injured over 5,000. Many survivors in Sagaing near the epicentre are still living in tents and makeshift shelters.

Temples are caring for youngsters who lost their parents and homes. But stress is taking a severe mental toll. The UN children's agency is warning of depression and PTSD. UNICEF Regional Chief of Emergency Trevor Clark noted there are difficulties accessing high numbers of children in need of mental health support.

The earthquake struck during a period of ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, where junta forces have systematically attacked civilian infrastructure, further complicating relief efforts and exacerbating the suffering of vulnerable populations, particularly children.

Rohingya Sea Journeys Continue Decade After Crisis Brought Global Attention

Ten years ago this month, thousands of Rohingya refugees stranded on wooden fishing boats in the Andaman Sea brought global attention to a crisis spanning five countries. A decade on, the perilous journeys continue out of the public eye. From 2012 to 2015, about 170,000 Rohingya Muslims fled persecution in Myanmar and Bangladesh refugee camps on overcrowded smugglers' boats. In May 2015, pushbacks by Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia left an estimated 8,000 Rohingya adrift at sea.

Today, Rohingya seeking asylum are still being beaten, extorted, and left to die, whilst violence and repression pushing them from their homes has surged. Earlier this May, an estimated 427 Rohingya died when two boats sank during monsoon season. Nearly one in five people attempting perilous sea movements in this region have been reported as dead or missing in 2025, making the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal amongst the deadliest waters in the world, UNHCR reported.

The systematic persecution by junta forces against the Rohingya continues to drive these desperate journeys, as this vulnerable population faces ongoing crimes against humanity in Myanmar. Thousands of Rohingya embark on high-risk journeys each year to escape unending oppression in Rakhine State and growing desperation in Bangladesh's refugee camps, seeking work and relative freedoms in Malaysia or Indonesia.

UN Report Finds Myanmar People United Against Junta Rule

In the face of years of suffering and abuse, the vast majority of the people of Myanmar are united in their defiance of junta authoritarianism and violence, a report by the UN Human Rights Office finds, calling for renewed international resolve to end the junta's stranglehold on power and to support the democratic aspirations of the Myanmar people. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk stated that ever since the junta disrupted Myanmar's democratic path in 2021, the country has endured an increasingly catastrophic human rights crisis marked by unabated violence and atrocities that have affected every single aspect of life.

The High Commissioner said that over the past months, his office has consulted with Myanmar people across all ethnic communities, sectors and demographics, particularly listening to the voices of young people, on their vision for the future. He noted they have been united in one message that they do not want to be ruled by guns, but rather yearn for a peaceful, inclusive and democratic society.

Due to be presented to the Human Rights Council on 1 July 2025, the report underscores the importance of tackling the root causes of the crisis, including unchecked political and economic power concentrated in the junta's hands, generalised impunity, instrumentalisation of laws and institutions to serve junta interests, and an overall system of governance based on structural racial discrimination, exclusion and division.

The report identifies four key areas to the path forward: accountability, good governance, sustainable development and the actions of international and regional stakeholders. It also identifies the constituents for change, namely women, youth, civil society organisations and grassroots networks, pro-democracy actors and the media. The voices in the report call for dismantling junta-controlled institutions and economic structures, pointing in particular to the junta's domination and exploitation of the economy and natural resources for their own enrichment.

UN Briefing Highlights Myanmar People's United Defiance of Junta Rule

At a daily press briefing on 27 May 2025, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Stéphane Dujarric highlighted another horrific situation in Myanmar, referring to a new report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Dujarric said the report found that the vast majority of the people of Myanmar are united in their defiance of junta authoritarianism and violence, and calls for renewed international resolve to end the junta's stranglehold on power and to support the democratic aspirations of the Myanmar people.

The report will be presented to the Human Rights Council on 1 July and underscores the importance of tackling the root causes of the crisis, including unchecked political and economic power concentrated in the junta's hands, generalised impunity, instrumentalisation of laws and institutions to serve junta interests, and an overall system of governance based on structural racial discrimination, exclusion and division.

Denmark Launches Investigation into Aircraft Sales to Myanmar

On 27 May, the Danish National Contact Point (NCP Denmark) announced the launch of an investigation into a complaint filed by Justice For Myanmar against Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC) following a preliminary investigation. NCP Denmark stated it cannot dismiss that non-observance of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct has taken place.

Justice For Myanmar alleges that NAC failed to fulfil its obligations to carry out risk-based due diligence in relation to sale, leasing and financing of ATR-aircraft to buyers in Myanmar, including Air KBZ (now Air Mingalar). The complaint argues that aircraft sales have severe adverse impacts on human rights amid Myanmar's ongoing armed conflict.

The junta has systematically used aircraft for attacks on civilian targets, including schools, hospitals, and residential areas, constituting violations of international humanitarian law. NAC rejects the complaint and denies failing to carry out sufficient due diligence in its Myanmar operations. The company has since been acquired by Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), which declined mediation offered by NCP Denmark. The investigation will assess whether OECD Guidelines on General Policies and Human Rights have been observed.

Detained Myanmar Central Bank Deputy Governor Receives Humanitarian Award

The detained deputy governor of Myanmar's Central Bank, Dr Bo Bo Nge, has been awarded the 2025 Laszlo Z. Bito Award for Humanitarian Service by Bard College, where he earned his BA. The award honours individuals resisting injustice, violence, and authoritarian threats and recognizes U Bo Bo Nge's ongoing struggle as a political prisoner fighting for democracy and freedom in Myanmar.

Dr Bo Bo Nge served as deputy governor of the Central Bank under the National League for Democracy government but was arrested on 11 February 2021 following the junta coup. In 2022, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison under Section 55 of the Anti-Corruption Law on charges widely seen as politically motivated. The junta-appointed Anti-Corruption Commission alleged he was responsible for the loss of millions of kyats from the government budget and accused him of corruption in transactions with Open Society Myanmar, a non-profit founded by US billionaire George Soros.

Dr Bo Bo Nge had also been jailed by the previous junta for student activism during the 1988 pro-democracy uprising. After fleeing to the United States, he earned degrees from Bard College, Johns Hopkins University, and London University's School of Oriental and African Studies.

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Date: 31 May 2025

Permanent Mission of Myanmar to the United Nations, New York