Bi-weekly Update on the Current Situation in Myanmar (16-06-2025 to 30-06-2025)

Bi-weekly Update on the Current Situation in Myanmar

(16-06-2025 to 30-06-2025)

Over (53) 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 30 June 2025, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), the military has ruthlessly killed 6,807 people and arrested another 29,347 people. 22,188 people remain in detention and 168 people have been sentenced to death, including 119 post-coup death row prisoners and 44 in absentia since 1 February 2021, when the military unleashed systematic and targeted attacks and violence against innocent civilians. Four democracy activists who were sentenced to death were executed by the military junta in July 2022.

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

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

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

Crimes committed Across Myanmar by the Junta Troops and its affiliates

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

Military Junta Human Rights Violations Surge in June as Airstrikes Kill 90 Civilians across Myanmar

The junta committed 532 human rights violations across Myanmar in June 2025, killing at least 90 civilians through indiscriminate, widespread and systemic airstrikes and attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, according to data released by the Ministry of Human Rights of the National Unity Government.

The data, covering 1 to 30 June, reveals that extrajudicial killings remained the highest form of violation with 114 documented cases, followed by property destruction with 110 cases. The junta also committed 53 cases of forced labour, 40 arbitrary arrests, 27 forced displacements, and 21 cases of torture during the month.

Mandalay Region recorded the highest number of human rights violations in June with 116 cases, followed by Sagaing Region with 86 cases and Magway Region with 73 cases. The data shows that May had the highest number of extrajudicial killings, significantly more than property destruction which was the second.

Junta conducted 3,004 aerial attacks between 1 January 2023 and 30 June 2025, killing 3,242 people across the country. Sagaing Region suffered the most casualties with 674 deaths from 498 airstrikes, whilst Mandalay Region recorded 445 deaths from 290 airstrikes. The data shows that 36 people above 18 years old and seven children under 18 were killed in June alone, with 47 fatalities remaining unidentified. Junta airstrikes resulted in 296 injuries in June, with 47 children under 18, 70 adults above 18, and 179 people of unidentified age wounded. Sagaing Region recorded the highest number of injuries with 42 cases, followed by Mandalay Region with 36 injuries.

The junta's targeting of civilian infrastructure continued with the destruction of 21 religious buildings in June, including 15 Buddhist religious buildings and six Christian religious buildings. Mandalay and Shan states each recorded four destroyed religious buildings, whilst Chin State saw three Christian religious buildings destroyed. Educational and residential infrastructure also faced systematic destruction, with 12 schools and 158 houses destroyed by junta airstrikes in June. Kachin State recorded the highest number of destroyed houses with 50, followed by Mandalay Region with 35 houses. Sagaing Region had the most destroyed schools with four facilities targeted.

Seven massacre incidents occurred in June, resulting in 55 total fatalities across Kachin, Karen, Sagaing, Bago, and Karenni regions. The data shows 26 male victims, nine female victims, and 20 unidentified casualties from these targeted attacks on civilian populations.

The junta's forced conscription has affected 1,527 cases involving 26,164 people across Myanmar. Mandalay Region recorded the highest number of conscripted individuals with 4,880 people, followed by Rakhine State with 3,991 people and Ayeyarwady Region with 3,619 people. The data shows conscription peaked in April 2024 and has remained consistently high, with 23 cases recorded in June 2025.

The abovementioned comprehensive data collected from reliable sources by the Ministry of Human Rights may underrepresent the actual situation on the ground due to communication restrictions and security concerns in conflict-affected areas.

The escalating violations occur as the junta faces continued resistance from revolutionary forces and ethnic armed groups across multiple fronts, with the junta increasingly targeting civilian populations in retaliation for territorial losses.

The systematic nature of these violations demonstrates the junta's continued disregard for international humanitarian law and human rights law. The targeting of civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, religious buildings, and residential areas, constitutes violations of the Geneva Conventions and fundamental principles of international humanitarian law.

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

Junta Airstrikes Kill Five Civilians in TNLA-Controlled Areas Despite Ceasefire

The junta has launched continuous airstrikes on towns controlled by the Ta'ang National Liberation Army in northern Shan State, killing five civilians, including four women, within the three days in last week of June, according to a TNLA statement. On the night of 26 June, a junta jet fighter dropped two bombs on Kyaukme town, killing Daw Moe Su Naung, 49, and injuring Ko Zaw Htoo Lin, 17, and Ko Phyo Than Kyaw, 19. The airstrike also destroyed two homes, the TNLA said.

Kyaukme was also targeted on 24 June by two airstrikes that killed three women and two men, injured 14 civilians including two children and damaged 49 houses and two schools. The TNLA released a statement detailing the destruction on 25 June. On 25 June, the junta also carried out an airstrike on Ohn Kine Village in Mogok Township, Mandalay Region, an area under TNLA control, injuring two civilians, including a child, and damaging five homes and a monastery.

The airstrikes come despite the junta's previously announced ceasefire, which was intended to support earthquake relief operations through the end of June. The TNLA condemned the ongoing attacks, warning civilians in its territories to remain vigilant and follow air defence protocols to avoid harm.

Junta Airstrike on Lead Mine Kills Six Workers in Karenni (Kayah) State

A lead mine operated by resistance forces in Taung Paw Village, Mawchi Township, Karenni (Kayah) State, was bombed by the junta around 11am on 25 June, killing at least six people and injuring over 20, according to Mizzima.  The airstrike directly targeted the mine beneath Taung Paw Village, despite no reported clashes in Mawchi Township at the time. Fighting had been ongoing in nearby Hpa Saung Township, but the targeted area itself remained quiet.

A local resident stated that the strike hit people returning from Hpa Saung. The resident said six or seven were killed instantly at one spot, the mine is now blocked, and they are trying to rescue those still trapped inside. Local reports indicated that more than 20 workers, mostly men with some women, were working at the mine when the attack occurred. The death toll may rise as rescue operations continue. Relief organization Job for Kayah reported that at least 21 people were injured in the bombing.

Junta Forces Kill 1,099 Chin Civilians since 2021 Coup, Report Finds

Junta forces have killed 1,099 Chin civilians and injured more than 135 others since the 2021 coup, according to a report released by the Institute of Chin Affairs on 18 June 2025. The report covers the period from 1 February 2021 to 31 May 2025 and details the causes behind the Chin casualties. Of the total deaths, 328 were killed in airstrikes, 361 were revolutionary fighters, and 202 were civilians struck by indiscriminate gunfire. The death toll also includes 83 victims of landmines, 63 people allegedly raped and killed during arrests, 24 who died from lack of medical access, 17 religious leaders, 11 used as human shields, and 10 killed whilst protesting.

ICA's Information and Communications Officer Salai Van Swee San told Mizzima that the growing threat of landmines is especially concerning in areas now controlled by resistance forces. Though we've liberated town after town in Chin State, many people still cannot return to their farms because of landmines. We're urging residents to stay cautious, he said. He added that Chin resistance forces typically use electrically triggered homemade landmines, whilst the junta relies on conventional landmines.

Landmines have been heavily deployed along the junta's former movement routes and mountain passes, leaving many agricultural communities, particularly in upland areas, cut off from their livelihoods. People are afraid to go into the mountains, a resident from Matupi told ICA. In Mindat Township, which is now under Chin Brotherhood control, demining operations are ongoing. As of 17 April, the Mindat Township People's Administration announced that more than 2,000 landmines laid by junta forces had been cleared. In Matupi Township, also now free of the junta presence, most areas have been cleared, but areas surrounding former camps still require attention.

The ICA emphasized that all parties, including resistance forces, must take responsibility for clearing mines to ensure civilian safety. Salai Van Swee San called for the use of modern equipment in mine removal and urged the public to remain vigilant whilst travelling or working in the fields. Myanmar has the highest number of landmine casualties in the world, surpassing countries like Syria, Afghanistan, and Ukraine, according to a report by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines published in November 2024.

Human Rights Abuses

Junta Arrests TV Employee for Participating in Flower Strike for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's Birthday

Junta controlled Myanmar Radio and Television employee has been arrested by the junta itself for wearing a flower to commemorate detained leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's 80th birthday, sparking fierce criticism on social media.

Hnin Yin Phyu, also known as Hnaung Hnaung, was detained on 21 June at around 8pm from MRTV staff housing in Naypyitaw's Tatkon Township. The arrest came two days after she participated in the flower strike marking Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's birthday on 19 June. According to MRTV staff sources and official announcements, Hnin Yin Phyu had posted birthday wishes for the detained Nobel laureate on social media, writing Happy Birthday Amay (Mother) Suu, may you live long and healthy.

A Facebook user wrote: To some of the so-called leaders of the junta, your mindset is extremely narrow. If they had pretended not to notice people making birthday wishes for Amay Suu, they would at least avoid being hated by the people. Now that you're arresting people like this, have you solved the current problems?

Another user mocked the junta's fears, posting: The fascist dictators are even afraid of flowers. How funny. How much do you fear Mother Suu that you're even scared of flowers, which are part of Mother Suu's characteristics?

A third commenter highlighted the junta's paranoia: Extreme jealousy is very frightening and only exists amongst the most despicable people. The flower camping has become a popular form of peaceful resistance in Myanmar, with citizens sharing images of flowers on social media to show solidarity with the detained leader and opposition to junta rule.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been in detention since the February 2021 coup and was sentenced to prison under multiple charges that rights groups consider politically motivated.

Former NLD MP and Mandalay Region Speaker Dies in Prison after Heart Attack

Aung Kyaw Oo, Speaker of the Mandalay Region Hluttaw and a former National League for Democracy MP, died in Mandalay's Obo Prison on the morning of 27 June after suffering a heart attack, according to the Political Prisoners Network, Myanmar.

He suffered a sudden heart attack and died shortly afterward. He wasn't taken to an outside hospital in time, even though it was an emergency. Security in Mandalay is very tight, and due to concerns about junta chief Min Aung Hlaing's visit to the area, he was not allowed to be taken out, said Ko Thaik Htun Oo, a PPNM official.

Aung Kyaw Oo was 69 years old at the time of his death. His body has not yet been returned to his family, according to a family member and a close friend. We learned that the junta has not yet returned his body. We are going to his family's house now, a prison source said. He was arrested during the junta coup in February 2021 and sentenced to a total of five years in prison under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code and Section 25 of the Disaster Management Law. Aung Kyaw Oo was elected to parliament in both the 2015 and 2020 general elections, representing Patheingyi Township (Constituency No. 1). He served as the Speaker of the Mandalay Region Hluttaw prior to the coup.

Many locals were stress the important role of the ICRC in promoting condition of prisons and prisoners and wished that the ICRC can play an effective and caring role for distressed political prisoners in Myanmar.

Human Rights Watch Reports Surge in Junta Child Soldier Recruitment since Coup

Human Rights Watch issued a press release on 20 June calling attention to the recruitment and training of children as part of the junta's drive to recoup losses, with many already sent to the frontlines of the ongoing conflict.

The junta's recruitment and use of child soldiers has surged since the 2021 coup, including a significant number of forced conscription since February 2024. On 19 June 2025, the United Nations Secretary-General reported that the UN had verified 2,138 grave violations against children in armed conflict in Myanmar in 2024, including recruitment of children, with about 1,200 additional violations pending verification.

Since the coup, the UN has verified over 1,800 cases of recruitment of children as young as 12 by junta and affiliated forces, though noting that cases are likely significantly underreported due to monitoring challenges and the fear of retaliation. Local civil society groups and opposition activists told Human Rights Watch that child soldiers have been found amongst captured combatants and defectors. Recruiters have abducted or opportunistically recruited children when unaccompanied, displaced, or working, and then concealed or failed to verify their ages. The junta has sent children to the front lines and used them as guides, porters, and at times as human shields.

The junta has a long and appalling history of using children as porters, guides, and in combat roles. The junta should immediately stop using child soldiers and cooperate with UN officials to release all child recruits from their forces, said Shayna Bauchner, Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch.

The junta is the sole state actor listed by the UN Secretary-General for five grave violations against children in armed conflict: recruiting and using child soldiers, killing and maiming, sexual violence, attacks on schools and hospitals, and abduction. This annual listing is commonly known as the list of shame.

I'm shocked at the level of violence endured by the children of Myanmar and by the sharp increase in grave violations committed by all parties to the conflict, in particular by the junta forces, said Virginia Gamba, the UN special representative of the secretary-general for children and armed conflict, in April.

The junta has reportedly conducted forced conscription of 14 batches since April 2024, totalling an estimated 70,000 based on its plans for 5,000 per batch. The Myanmar Defence and Security Institute, an independent research group run by defectors, reported that underage recruitment has increased since the seventh batch, along with abusive conscription tactics such as abducting young men and boys and detaining family members of missing conscripts as hostages.

Two recent defectors told Human Rights Watch that children have been recruited in growing numbers due to rising pressure from senior leaders to meet conscription quotas, as well as a lack of clear instructions and oversight across the chain of command. Recruiters have deliberately falsified or ignored children's ages. A 17-year-old boy told local media that he was abducted late at night in September 2024 on his way home from work in Yangon. He was taken to an immigration office where officials issued him a National Registration Card stating that he was 19, despite his insistence on his correct age and date of birth.

The recruitment methods have disproportionately targeted the urban poor, displaced people, people without documentation, and ethnic and religious minorities, including Rohingya Muslims. The junta has unlawfully recruited thousands of stateless Rohingya, who cannot be conscripted under Myanmar law because they are denied citizenship. Since the coup, the junta has recruited children across all 14 states and regions, compared with only 4 previously. The International Labour Organization reported in September 2024 that families in Myanmar increasingly resort to child labour to keep their children from being recruited.

International Report Exposes Junta's Systematic Crackdown on Journalists since Coup

A new report from the International Centre for Not-for-Profit Law exposes the junta's extensive and systematic crackdown on journalists since its February 2021 coup, documenting arbitrary detentions, torture, and draconian prison sentences.

According to ICNL's four-year study, at least 221 journalists were detained between February 2021 and February 2025, with 51 still imprisoned as of this February. Of those detained, 88 were convicted, receiving a total of 497 years in prison, including extreme sentences of up to 27 years.

The junta primarily used charges under nine laws. The most commonly used is for false news and incitement. Convictions are brought through sham trials lacking due process. The report found that nearly 70 per cent of journalists were detained specifically for their work, with arbitrary arrests and torture widespread. Three journalists have been tortured to death. Women journalists, though a minority of detainees, faced higher conviction rates and experienced gender-based discrimination, the report noted.

ICNL also found that 99 media outlets were affected by detentions, including both pro-opposition and pro-junta publications. Outlets suffered reduced capacity, morale, and rising risks, even as many continued to operate underground or in exile. Despite the repression, Myanmar's media continues to resist. Journalists remain bravely committed to building a robust information ecosystem for a public desperately seeking the truth, the report states.

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

Actions of Resistance Forces against the Junta

Revolutionary Forces Recapture Strategic Htee Kapale Camp after 28 Years of Junta Control

Joint revolutionary forces led by the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) captured the junta's Htee Kapale camp, also called Ma Sote Tan or No Retreat camp, on the Myanmar-Thai border at 9 am on 22 June, according to a statement released by the Karen National Union (KNU). It is the first time the strategic outpost has been in Karen hands since February 1997, when the junta seized it less than two years after the KNU established the camp as its temporary headquarters in May 1995 following the fall of its Manerplaw headquarters.

The assault was carried out jointly by the KNLA, the Karen National Defence Organization and local People's Defence Force units, the statement said. It did not disclose casualties or detail any weapons and ammunition taken during the battle. With Htee Kapale lost, the junta now holds only three remaining positions in Myawaddy township along the border: the Walley strategic hill camp, the Ukrit Hta camp and the Tee Thaele camp. The KNU hailed the victory as a symbolic reversal of the junta's 28-year occupation of the site.

Analysts note that the recapture of Htee Kapale gives the KNLA and its allies a clearer route to project force toward Myawaddy town, a key trading gateway, whilst offering a morale boost to resistance forces fighting on multiple fronts across the country.

Chin Forces Unite to Block Junta Convoy Advancing into Northern Chin State

The Chin Brotherhood and the Chinland Council announced they are joining forces to block a junta convoy advancing into northern Chin State from the town of Kalay in Sagaing Region, Myanmar Now reported.

The move was announced during an online press conference on 18 June, where it was revealed that the convoy, consisting of 15 vehicles and carrying more than 200 ground troops, left Kalay on 20 May. The Chin Brotherhood's spokesperson, Salai Yaw Mang, told reporters that the convoy had entered the state through Khaikam, a town in Tedim Township some seven miles west of Kalay.

Salai Yaw Mang stated that the convoy moved through Khaikam and is currently positioned at Mualpi, where fighting has been ongoing since late May. He added that resistance forces aim to prevent the convoy from reaching the village of Taingen, from which it would be able to advance to the town of Tedim or Falam, currently under Chin Brotherhood control.

The spokesperson also reported that another, larger convoy consisting of 100 vehicles is advancing towards southern Chin State from Magway Region, currently situated in Kamma Town where it is being monitored by resistance forces. The junta has been deploying paramotors to drop bombs ahead of the convoy's advance, he stated.

Activities of the Resistance Organizations and the National Unity Government

National Unity Government Supports UN Human Rights Council Dialogue, Calls for International Criminal Court Referral

The National Unity Government of Myanmar welcomed the enhanced interactive dialogue on the High Commissioner's report and oral update of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar at the 59th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on 30 June 2025.

The National Unity Government praised the High Commissioner's latest report on Myanmar as a ground-breaking production. Based on consultations with people from all ethnic communities, across all ages and walks of life in Myanmar, the report affirms a united message that the junta must play no role in public life. People yearn for a peaceful, inclusive and democratic society, grounded in accountability and human rights.

Myanmar expressed support for four pathways set out by the High Commissioner including pursuing accountability and justice through a Security Council referral of the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court; good governance and civic space; an economy that serves the people; and sustained engagement at regional and international levels through the National Unity Government, ethnic armed groups, and the democracy movement including women's groups, youth and civil society.

The National Unity Government expressed gratitude to Mr. Tom Andrews, Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar. Mr Andrews's update highlighted priority concerns, including the junta's cynical denial of aid and escalating airstrikes following the catastrophic Sagaing earthquake and the illegitimacy of the junta's planned sham election. The statement also highlighted the devastating impact of funding cuts on health services and food distribution for displaced Myanmar communities including the Rohingya, with the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis Joint Response Plan currently only 22 per cent funded.

The National Unity Government welcomed the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's tabled draft resolution on the situation of human rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar, particularly its new references to accountability. Myanmar extended its full support to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and to Mr. Andrews and his mandate, according to the Ministry of Human Rights of the National Unity Government.

Parliamentary Committees Express Grave Concern State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s Health Conditions

The parliamentary representative committees of the State and Federal Unit Hluttaws issued a joint statement on 29 June expressing serious concern over the deteriorating health conditions and lack of adequate medical care for political prisoners, including detained State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

The statement condemned the life-threatening conditions in prisons under the junta, citing deaths resulting from violence, torture, and the denial of healthcare and proper nutrition. The committees pledged to collaborate with both domestic and international organizations to seek justice and accountability.

We will pursue justice through political means. Additionally, we have agreed to continue working with international embassies, diplomats, and all possible avenues, said U Myint Htwe, Chairman of the Sagaing Federal Unit Hluttaw. He added that their efforts will remain aligned with parliamentary principles and legal frameworks, and they will continue to keep the public informed.

According to the statement, the National League for Democracy still has 145 parliamentary representatives in prisons, five of whom died due to junta airstrikes, prison conditions, and lack of access to proper healthcare. The statement was jointly released by 13 organizations, including the Sagaing Federal Unit Hluttaw, Tanintharyi Region Parliament, Magway Federal Unit Hluttaw, and Yangon Region Hluttaw.

Notably, in 2024, NLD Vice-Chairman and former Mandalay Region Chief Minister Dr Zaw Myint Maung and former Electricity and Energy Minister U Win Khaing passed away. More recently, Mandalay Region Parliament Chairman U Aung Kyaw Oo died in prison on 27 June due to inadequate medical care.

In a related report released on 27 June, Myanmar Prison Witness revealed that 56 political prisoners have died in Mandalay's Obo Prison over the past six years, largely due to a lack of proper medical treatment and restrictions on being transferred to outside hospitals.

Since the 2021 coup, a total of 29,338 people have been arrested, with 22,180 still in detention and 10,881 sentenced, according to data from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners as of 27 June.

Karenni Administration Appeals for Urgent International Aid amid Junta Offensive

The Department of Humanitarian and Rehabilitation under the Karenni Interim Executive Council released a statement on 16 June appealing to the international community for urgent humanitarian relief and resettlement support.

Since early June 2025, the junta has launched a major offensive in southern Shan State, heading towards Loikaw and Demoso towns in Karenni State through Moebye and Loipaw village tracts from the eastern side of Pekhon township. On this offensive, the airstrikes and artillery fire have resulted in civilian casualties, deaths, repeated human rights violations by the junta forces, and have led to repeated forced displacement of civilians.

Under the Karenni Interim Executive Council, the Department of Humanitarian and Rehabilitation and the Sub-Emergency Response Department of Home Affairs, in cooperation with civil society organizations and township administrations, are providing initial humanitarian response and relief support to civilians displaced by the conflict.

Even though the responses are carried out on time, the humanitarian assistance needs remain extremely high. On the other hand, the junta has obstructed and controlled the delivery of humanitarian aid to the people, using conflict as a reason.

The Department of Humanitarian and Rehabilitation sincerely urged the international community to recognise and empathise with the challenges faced by war-affected civilians and to extend further humanitarian support in ensuring the safety and food security of the people who are now in urgent need.

Since early June 2025, an estimated 40,000 people, comprising 7,000 households in five village tracts, have been facing armed conflict due to the offensive conducted by the junta in Moebye and the Eastern side of Pekhon Township, southern Shan State.

The department outlined urgent needs including one month's food items for 40,000 displaced families affected by the war costing 454,545 US dollars; tarpaulins for temporary shelter construction costing 331,439 US dollars; and personal hygiene items such as soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, and feminine hygiene items for 40,000 people costing 248,091 US dollars.  

Myanmar Ambassador Calls for International Action as HIV Crisis Worsens in Myanmar

Myanmar's UN Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun told the General Assembly on 16 June that deeper challenges in HIV programme implementation have prevailed since the unlawful coup attempt in February 2021.

Myanmar saw hope to ending HIV/AIDS under the elected civilian government, with plans laid out strategically and holistically, and coordination managed at all levels. However, it is regrettable to witness the current downward trend.

The junta's indiscriminate attacks have heavily destroyed the healthcare sector, leaving people with HIV struggling for access to medication. Over 3.5 million people have been displaced, with over 20 million needing humanitarian assistance. Good governance and a government that serves the interest of its people are key requirements to an effective public health sector, the ambassador stated.

Ambassador called on the international community to stop the flow of weapons and jet fuel to the junta and meaningfully engage with right partners. The National Unity Government's Ministry of Health continues working with ethnic resistance organisations to eliminate HIV/AIDS.

Myanmar Ambassador Highlights Junta's Sexual Violence against Women

Myanmar's UN Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun addressed the UN-Women Executive Board on 17 June, exposing the junta's systematic attacks on women and girls. The ambassador told the assembly that the plight of women and girls in Myanmar has been immense due to the unlawful military coup and the military junta's egregious atrocities.

He stated that the military has been well-known for using rape as a weapon of war, perpetrating sexual violence against women and girls throughout the illegal coup.

Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun reported that over the last four years, the illegal coup and junta's atrocities created the country's political, security, economic, humanitarian and human rights situation dire, and the rule of law has been destroyed. The prevailing conditions have heightened risk of human trafficking for women and girls.

To bring justice, peace and safe environment and bright future to women and girls, it is essential to address the root cause effectively. Ending the military dictatorship and the unlawful military coup as well as its culture of impunity is not an option but an end, the ambassador stated. He urged the international community to act with a coherent and decisive manner in this endeavour to guarantee peace, security and equality for all women and girls in Myanmar.

Myanmar Ambassador Details Junta's Sexual Violence at UN Event

Myanmar's UN Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun highlighted the deteriorating situation of sexual violence under junta rule during the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict on 19 June. The ambassador told the event that Conflict-Related Sexual Violence has dramatically worsened throughout the unlawful military coup in Myanmar.

He detailed that violence takes many forms, including forced nudity, sexual humiliation, and torture in detention facilities. Rape and gang rape have become established tactics and weapons of war for the perpetrators. Other grave violations, including arbitrary arrests, torture, extrajudicial killings, and the destruction of homes and villages through intensification of indiscriminate aerial bombings on civilians and civilian infrastructure continue to prevail across the country on a daily basis, causing immense human suffering.

Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun informed that people inside and outside the country are celebrating Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's 80th birthday today by praying and demanding for her immediate and unconditional release as well as all political prisoners. The elimination of CRSV in Myanmar will not be possible unless we unite to ending the military dictatorship, its unlawful military coup and decades long impunity, the ambassador concluded.

Myanmar Ambassador Reports Poverty Surge to the UN Security Council

Myanmar's UN Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun highlighted the impact of the illegal military coup on poverty levels during a Security Council debate on 19 June. The ambassador told the Security Council that the economic collapse, displacement and inadequate services are pushing more families into poverty every day in Myanmar.

According to UNDP, poverty in Myanmar has increased from 24.8 per cent in 2017 to 49.7 per cent in 2023, whilst urban poverty in Yangon surged from 10 per cent to 43 per cent. He criticised regional rhetoric claiming there is no military solution to the conflict, stating this rhetoric is undermined by their own continued extension of support for the junta militarily, politically, diplomatically and financially.

The ambassador said the sales, transfer and export of lethal weapons, fighter jets and dual-use items to the junta are equivalent to reinforcing more military attacks and unabated violence. We know we are helpless but we are not asking for much from the international community. Stop enabling the junta to perpetuate endless atrocities against the civilian population, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun told the Council.

The ambassador mentioned that today is the 80th birthday of State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, with people celebrating by praying and demanding her immediate and unconditional release.

Myanmar Ambassador Appeals for International Action on Responsibility to Protect at UN

Myanmar's UN Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun addressed the General Assembly's 20th anniversary meeting on Responsibility to Protect on 25 June, calling for decisive international action.

The ambassador told the assembly that we are failing in our global commitment to the norm of R2P, the principles of international law and humanity, with the case of Myanmar standing as a bleak example.

The ambassador stated that the junta destroyed the rule of law. The ongoing violence and systemic oppression are a stark testament to the junta's utter disregard for human life and international law. Myanmar welcomes the application by ICC Prosecutor in November 2024 for a warrant of arrest against Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing. Therefore, he urged the Chamber to make a timely decision for issuance of ICC's arrest warrant.

To ensure protection of civilians in Myanmar, we need to address the root cause of the issue. The junta must be held accountable. The military dictatorship, its unlawful coup and the culture of impunity must end. A federal democratic union must be established, the ambassador stated.

Myanmar Ambassador Calls for Urgent Action to Protect Children at UN Security Council

Myanmar's UN Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun addressed the Security Council on 26 June, highlighting violations against children since the junta coup. The ambassador stated that grave violations against children have heightened significantly since the unlawful military coup. The primary perpetrator affecting children in Myanmar is unequivocally the military junta.

He said children are disproportionately bearing the brunt of the junta's atrocities, in addition to suffering the deprivation of their right to education and health. Following the March earthquake, the junta conducted over 982 attacks, killing over 608 civilians including children. The ambassador cited the 12 May school attack in Sagaing Region, killing 22 children and two teachers.

The ambassador urged that the UN Security Council must act without delay to prevent more children from losing their lives. The Ambassador appealed that please do not fail again the people of Myanmar especially our children. Please act decisively now.

Myanmar Ambassador Reports Human Trafficking Rise in Myanmar

Myanmar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations highlighted the worsening human trafficking situation since the illegal military coup during an informal hearing on combating trafficking in persons on 30 June.

Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun told the hearing that civilians particularly women and girls, children and youths bear the brunt of the junta's atrocities. Myanmar has become a significant hub in Southeast Asia for large-scale online scam operations and transnational organised crimes, both closely linked to human trafficking. The economic collapse, displacement and inadequate services are pushing more families into poverty every day.

The ambassador reported that since the unlawful coup in February 2021, over 6,800 people were killed, over 110,000 homes were destroyed, over 3.5 million people are displaced, and more than 20 million people are in dire need of humanitarian assistance. Over half of the population is living under the national poverty line, with many people fleeing the country and becoming more vulnerable to human trafficking.   

Response of the International Community

UN Official Calls for End to Violence During Myanmar Earthquake Recovery Visit

UN Under-Secretary-General and UNOPS Executive Director Jorge Moreira da Silva completed a visit to Myanmar to assess earthquake recovery efforts, calling for sustained access and an end to violence.

The official reported that the March earthquakes, Myanmar's strongest in a century, killed an estimated 3,800 people and injured 5,100, with women and girls comprising the majority of casualties. The disaster added another layer of suffering to an already struggling population, with even before the quake, more than 3.5 million displaced by conflict.

In the most affected areas, more than 6.3 million people remain in urgent need of assistance and protection two months after the earthquakes. UNOPS mobilised 25 million US dollars and scaled up response to reach half a million people with life-saving assistance, working with UN partners to provide emergency shelters, clean water access, and infrastructure specialists for damage assessments.

The World Bank estimates 10.97 billion US dollars in damages, with full reconstruction likely costing 2-3 times more. Over 2.5 million tonnes of debris must be cleared to pave the way for recovery. As efforts shift from immediate relief to early recovery, Moreira da Silva stated that colleagues and partners need safe, sustained access to prevent further suffering.

The UN official echoed calls from across the UN system for an end to violence, stating that recovery and reconstruction efforts should support Myanmar's journey to peace and reconciliation, with protection of civilians as a priority.

UN Expert Denounces Military Junta's Planned Elections as 'Fraud'

A UN expert has denounced elections being planned by the military junta as a ploy to feign legitimacy and called on the international community to reject them as a fraud. Tom Andrews, the United Nations' special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, stated on 25 June that the suggestion that truly democratic elections could be held in a junta-controlled Myanmar was laughable.

The junta has said it is planning to hold a free and fair multi-party democracy general election around the end of this year or in early 2026.

Andrews told journalists in Geneva that the junta wants to find an exit ramp to international pressure. Since the 2021 coup, trade sanctions have isolated Myanmar, making it increasingly dependent on China and Russia for economic and military support.

The UN expert stated that the junta was trying to create a mirage of an election exercise that will create a legitimate civilian government. However, he emphasized that you cannot have an election when you imprison and torture and execute your opponents, when it is illegal to report the truth as a journalist, and when it is illegal to speak out and criticize the junta.

Andrews highlighted that more than 6,800 people had been killed in Myanmar since the military coup, whilst some 22,000 political prisoners are languishing behind bars, most of whom are guilty only of exercising their fundamental rights.

He noted that a Myanmar woman was recently arrested by the junta for spreading propaganda over a Facebook post celebrating Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's 80th birthday. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who won the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize, has been incarcerated since the coup and is serving a 27-year sentence on charges rights groups dismiss as fabricated.

Andrews called it really important that countries reject this idea of an election and not allow the military junta to attempt to get away with this fraud.

UN Official Warns Myanmar's Resilience Reaching Breaking Point

The outgoing UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Myanmar has warned that the resilience of Myanmar's people is nearing collapse as the humanitarian crisis deepens amid escalating conflict and inadequate international funding.

Mr Marcoluigi Corsi, concluding his 1.5-year tenure on 20 June 2025, stated that whilst Myanmar's communities have shown extraordinary strength, their capacity to endure is not infinite. He cautioned that without immediate action, families increasingly forced into survival mode will reach breaking point.

The humanitarian chief highlighted the devastating impact of conflict that has expanded relentlessly since the military junta's takeover in February 2021, with civilians bearing the highest cost. Mr Corsi reported receiving almost daily accounts of civilians killed, injured or displaced by violence.

He expressed deep concern over rising civilian casualties, largely resulting from failures to distinguish between combatants and non-combatants. The UN official called on all parties to respect International Humanitarian Law and protect civilians.

Mr. Corsi emphasized that safe humanitarian access is a fundamental human right, noting persistent barriers preventing aid from reaching those in greatest need. He called for unrestricted humanitarian access without conditions or delays.

Mr. Corsi identified dangerously low funding as the greatest challenge. Of 275 million US dollars requested for earthquake response, only 100 million dollars has been disbursed. More concerning, the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan is just under 12 per cent funded, with only 134 million dollars of 1.1 billion dollars requested received. The coordinator warned that without urgent funding, millions will be left without desperately needed aid as the monsoon season increases risks of flooding, disease and displacement. Mr. Corsi concluded that resilience alone cannot restore what has been lost, emphasizing that Myanmar's people need decisive and urgent action from the international community for their survival.

Suu Foundation Renews Calls for Aung San Suu Kyi's Release Following Earthquake Injury

The Suu Foundation has renewed calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who turned 80 on 19 June, amid growing concern for her health and safety following a reported injury sustained during a powerful earthquake.

According to a statement issued by the foundation, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's left arm was injured during the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck the prison where she is being held on 28 March. She has reportedly not been allowed to meet with either her family or legal team since her detention began in 2021.

We are deeply concerned about Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's health. The United Nations has made a special appeal for her release, said Jean Todt, President of the Suu Foundation, and Dr Michael Marett-Crosby, the organization’s CEO.

The foundation emphasized that her continued detention, especially at her advanced age and under reportedly harsh conditions, poses a serious threat to her life. Her lawyers, François Zimeray and Catalina De La Sota, warned: There is real fear that she may die in prison whilst the world looks the other way. Given her age and the secrecy surrounding her detention since 2021, we are extremely worried about her well-being and the reported injury.

On 25 May 2022, the law firm Zimeray & Finelle submitted her case to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, citing serious concerns over her illegal arrest and continued isolation. The Suu Foundation's statement also condemned the junta's actions since the 2021 coup, including the arrests of President U Win Myint, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, thousands of National League for Democracy members, civil servants, and journalists. The statement pointed to the junta's increasing violence, mass arrests, and disregard for democratic norms as evidence of the dismantling of Myanmar's democratic path.

In addition to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's case, the foundation and her legal team highlighted that over 100 civilians have been sentenced to death since the coup. They urged the international community to intensify pressure on the junta to uphold fundamental human rights and restore civilian rule.

The Suu Foundation marked her 80th birthday by framing her release as a vital step toward peace, justice, and national reconciliation in Myanmar.

Airbus Divests from Chinese Company Accused of Supplying Military Junta Aircraft

Justice for Myanmar and Info Birmanie welcomed on 19 June a decision by Airbus to divest from AviChina Industry & Technology Company Limited, following a broad-based campaign pressuring the aerospace giant to end its investment in the Chinese firm accused of supplying aircraft to Myanmar's military junta.

Airbus was the single largest international shareholder at 5.03% with its investment valued at 140 million US dollars on 30 June 2024. The company completed its divestment from AviChina on 1 April 2025, according to financial information published for the three-month period ending 31 March.

AviChina has been accused by rights groups of supplying the Military junta and abetting its campaign of airstrikes against civilian targets across Myanmar since the February 2021 coup. The company's products include the K-8 trainer/light attack aircraft and the Y-12 multi-purpose aircraft, both of which continue to be used by the junta Air Force for indiscriminate airstrikes across the country.

Justice for Myanmar noted that the junta Air Force can wage its aerial campaign of terror only through continued supply of aircraft and associated weapons from foreign partners. By investing in AviChina, Airbus was financially supporting and profiting from AviChina's continued development and marketing of military aircraft and their export to the Military junta, the rights groups stated.

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Date: 30 June 2025

Permanent Mission of Myanmar to the United Nations, New York