Bi-weekly Update on the Current Situation in Myanmar (16-12-2025 to 31-12-2025)

Bi-weekly Update on the Current Situation in Myanmar

(16-12-2025 to 31-12-2025)

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

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

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

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

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

From 1 January to 31 December 2025, a total of 269 individuals were arrested for political reasons, and 1,514 pro-democracy activists and civilians lost their lives, according to documentation by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), which are verified identities. Among the deaths, (975) were killed by the junta’s airstrikes, marking the highest cause of death. (212) were killed by the junta’s artillery strikes. (236) were killed in various ways after being detained by the junta.

According to the data collected by AAPP, from 1 to 30 December 2025, (115) people in total; (46) women and (69) men, were killed by the junta across the country, including (6) children under the age of 18.  The identities of these victims have been verified. Among these deaths, Sagaing Region recorded the highest number of fatalities, totalling (48). Meanwhile, (98) people were killed by the junta’s airstrikes marking the highest cause of death. During the stated period, the AAPP has also received information regarding the death of (120) civilians, as a result of junta attacks, whose identities have yet to be confirmed.

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

2025 Annual Human Rights Report Documenting Violations by the Military Junta in Myanmar

Throughout 2025, the military junta continued its systematic campaign of violence against civilians across Myanmar, committing widespread human rights violations that constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity under international law. Data collected by the Ministry of Human Rights of the National Unity Government reveals a devastating pattern of aerial bombardments targeting civilian infrastructure, forced conscription, massacres, and numerous other violations affecting communities in every region of the country.

The year 2025 recorded 7,518 documented human rights violation cases, 159 massacre incidents resulting in 1,543 deaths, 5,608 aerial attacks killing 2,181 civilians, and 574 forced conscription cases affecting 8,780 individuals. These figures represent only verified cases and the actual toll is likely significantly higher due to access restrictions and communication blackouts in conflict-affected areas.

Aerial Attacks on Civilian Populations

The military junta's air force conducted 5,608 aerial attacks across 2,734 documented cases during 2025, resulting in the deaths of 2,181 civilians and injuring 4,310 others. These attacks deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure including schools, medical facilities, and religious buildings, in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.

Among the 2,181 deaths, 362 victims were children under the age of 18, representing a grave violation of children's rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Additionally, 1,472 adults above 18 years of age were killed, while 347 victims' ages remain unverified. The injured toll included 640 children under 2,319 adults, and 2,319 individuals of unknown age.

The military junta employed various aerial platforms to conduct attacks on civilian areas. Fighter jet airstrikes accounted for 3,952 attacks, representing the most destructive category. There were also 613 drone attacks, 753 paramotor attacks, and 290 gyrocopter attacks. Sagaing Region recorded the highest number of attacks with 1,429, followed by Mandalay Region with 1,052 and Magway Region with 1,011.

The deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure constitutes a war crime under the Rome Statute and customary international law. During 2025, the military junta's aerial attacks destroyed 334 religious buildings including monasteries, churches, and mosques, 215 schools depriving thousands of children of their right to education, and 68 medical facilities severely impacting access to essential health services.

Human Rights Violations

The Documentation and Research Department recorded a total of 7,518 human rights violation cases across Myanmar during 2025. These violations encompass a wide range of abuses including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, torture, forced labour, property destruction, and attacks on civilian infrastructure.

Property destruction emerged as the most frequently documented violation with 1,568 cases, reflecting the military junta's scorched-earth tactics against civilian communities. Extrajudicial killings numbered 1,537 cases, demonstrating the systematic nature of unlawful killings. Forced labour affected 914 individuals, arbitrary arrests accounted for 492 cases, and forced displacement numbered 330 cases.

Other documented violations included freedom of movement restrictions with 197 cases, destruction of religious buildings with 176 cases, torture with 159 cases, arbitrary detention with 157 cases, freedom of expression violations with 75 cases, attacks on medical centres with 46 cases, unfair trials with 41 cases, sexual violence with 32 cases, enforced disappearance with 31 cases, attacks on humanitarian assistance with 18 cases, recruitment of child soldiers with 18 cases, and freedom of religion and belief violations with 17 cases.

Forced Conscription

The military junta's enforcement of the forced conscription law resulted in the forced conscription of 8,780 individuals across 574 documented cases throughout 2025. This practice constitutes a grave violation of international human rights law, including the prohibition against forced labour and arbitrary detention.

Mandalay Region recorded the highest number of forced conscription cases with 5,601 persons, followed by Magway Region with 1,005 persons, Bago Region with 533 persons, Ayeyarwady Region with 413 persons, Mon State with 330 persons, and Sagaing Region with 309 persons. Other affected areas included Kachin State with 245 persons, Karen State with 200 persons, Rakhine State with 104 persons, Tanintharyi Region with 23 persons, Yangon Region with 13 persons, Nay Pyi Taw with 2 persons, and Chin State with 2 persons.

The data reveals that the military junta's conscription efforts are concentrated in areas where resistance to its rule remains strong. The conscription of females, individuals under legal age, and persons of unknown status demonstrates the indiscriminate nature of these violations.

Massacres

The military junta perpetrated 159 massacre incidents throughout 2025, resulting in the deaths of 1,543 civilians. A massacre is defined as an incident resulting in the death of at least five persons in a single case. These mass killings constitute crimes against humanity under customary international law and represent the most severe manifestation of the military junta's campaign of terror against the civilian population.

Analysis of massacre victims by age reveals that 598 victims were adults above 18 years of age, while 263 victims were children under 18 years old. The age of 682 victims remains unverified due to challenges in identification and documentation. By gender, 690 victims were male, 428 were female, and the gender of 425 victims could not be determined. The killing of 263 children in massacre incidents represents a particularly egregious violation of children's rights under international law and existing domestics law of Myanmar, Child Rights Law 2019.

Sagaing Region recorded the highest number of massacre incidents, with 48 cases, reflecting the use of collective punishment by the junta in an area that is a stronghold of resistance. Mandalay Region documented 33 massacre cases, followed by Bago Region with 16 cases, Rakhine State with 14 cases, Kachin State with 11 cases, Magway Region with 10 cases, and Karenni State with 7 cases. Other affected areas included Mon State, Karen State, Chin State, Tanintharyi Region, and Yangon Region.

The data presented in this report demonstrates that the military junta continued to commit systematic and widespread human rights violations throughout 2025. The scale and nature of these violations, including aerial bombardment of civilian infrastructure, mass killings, forced conscription, and numerous other abuses, constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity under international law.

The international community must take urgent and decisive action to hold the military junta accountable for these crimes. This includes imposing comprehensive sanctions on the military junta and its affiliated entities, enforcing arms embargoes to prevent the continued supply of weapons and aviation fuel, supporting the International Criminal Court and other accountability mechanisms, providing humanitarian assistance to affected populations, and recognising and engaging with legitimate democratic stakeholders including the National Unity Government and Ethnic Resistance Organisations.

NUG Ministry of Human Rights Documents 556 Human Rights Violations by Military Junta in December 2025

The National Unity Government Ministry of Human Rights has documented 556 human rights violations committed by the military junta during December 2025.

The report indicated that property destruction was the most frequent violation with 145 incidents, followed by extrajudicial killings with 109 incidents and forced labour with 45 incidents. Other violations included arbitrary arrest with 28 incidents, forced displacement with 17 incidents, destruction of religious buildings with 14 incidents, and torture with 12 incidents.

Regarding airstrikes, the military junta killed 198 civilians and injured 375 others across Myanmar during December 2025. Among the fatalities, 15 were children under the age of 18, 117 were adults, and 66 remained unidentified. Rakhine State recorded the highest number of airstrike fatalities with 47, followed by Mandalay Region with 41 and Sagaing Region with 28. The military junta also damaged four medical centres through airstrikes in Sagaing, Mandalay, and Rakhine.

The Ministry documented 17 massacre incidents resulting in 142 fatalities during December 2025. Among the victims, 12 were children under the age of 18, 72 were adults, and 58 remained unidentified. By gender, 69 victims were male, 44 were female, and 29 were unidentified. Rakhine State recorded the highest number of massacre fatalities with 37, followed by Sagaing Region with 31.

These serious violations constitute systematic attacks against civilian populations in breach of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

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

Military Junta Launches Airstrike on Mindat on Christmas Day, Targeting Christian Community

The military junta carried out an airstrike on the town of Mindat in Chin State at approximately 5:20 pm on 25 December, targeting the predominantly Christian community on one of its most sacred religious holidays. While the bombing caused significant damage to residential properties, no civilian casualties were reported as most of the town's population had already fled due to the ongoing conflict.

The Chin Defence Force–Mindat (CDF–Mindat) released photographs showing the aftermath of the strike, which damaged several homes. Salai Yaw Man, an official from the Mindat Township People's Administration, condemned the attack, describing it as a wicked act by wicked people. He noted that the military junta has shown a total disregard for religious sanctity by repeatedly bombing churches, monasteries and wedding ceremonies. According to the 2024 census, Christians make up 54.5 per cent of Mindat's population.

The airstrike occurred despite proactive safety measures taken by local administrative bodies. On 19 December, the Mindat Township People's Administration had issued a formal ban on mass gatherings and public celebrations for the Christmas and New Year period to protect civilians from expected aerial assaults. Across the country, the military junta's approach to Christmas has been marked by both violence and coercion. In several states, including Kachin and Chin, churches were reportedly ordered to hold Christmas services before 20 December to avoid interfering with election preparations.

Additionally, Christian groups reported the recent forcible conscription of religious leaders, including Reverend Pau Muan Lian in Yangon, despite legal exemptions for clergy. Administrative officials report that Mindat Township has been hit by more than 30 airstrikes throughout 2025.

The latest strike on Christmas Day is seen by local resistance forces as a deliberate tactic to demoralise the population and maintain terror ahead of the military junta's sham elections, which are scheduled to begin in parts of Chin State on 28 December.

The deliberate targeting of a Christian community on Christmas Day constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law, which protects civilians and civilian objects, including places of worship, from attack. The systematic pattern of airstrikes on Mindat Township throughout 2025, coupled with the coerced rescheduling of religious services and forcible conscription of clergy in violation of legal exemptions, demonstrates the military junta's continued disregard for fundamental human rights and religious freedom.

Farmer Dies in Military Junta Custody Following Arrest at Checkpoint during Sham Elections

Mizzima reported that a 43-year-old farmer from Myo Hla village in Kalay, Sagaing Region, died in military junta custody overnight after being arrested at a checkpoint during the first phase of the military-organised sham elections. The victim was arrested in the early evening of 28 December and died the following morning on 29 December. Two individuals were arrested and restrained at the checkpoint that night.

Mizzima reported that a family relative stated the two individuals were arrested and tied up at the checkpoint that night. The relative added that junta soldiers later claimed the victim was shot while trying to escape. However, the victim did not die immediately but was left without medical treatment and died from excessive bleeding the following morning.

A family member close to Ko Maung Gyi stated that he had sustained not only gunshot wounds but also facial injuries believed to have been caused by being struck with a gun butt. The condition of another local man arrested alongside him remains unknown.

The body was retrieved only after significant difficulty, as villagers who requested its return were initially refused by junta soldiers. The body was finally recovered on 29 December at Myo Hla Gate after his mother, who lives in Aung Zeya Ward in Kalay Myo, contacted the Regional Operations Command (ROC) to seek assistance. Ko Maung Gyi's body was cremated by his family on 30 December. Local residents reported that since 26 December, junta soldiers have been patrolling Kalay in heavily armed vehicles and subjecting pedestrians to strict interrogations.

This incident constitutes yet another violation of international human rights law and international humanitarian law by the military junta, which has systematically targeted civilians and political opponents since its illegal seizure of power in February 2021. The denial of medical treatment to a detained individual resulting in death may amount to extrajudicial killing, a serious violation under international law.

Military Junta Airstrikes Kill Thirteen Civilians in Khin-U Township

At least thirteen people, including five women, have been killed following a series of jet fighter attacks launched by the military junta air force on two separate locations in Khin-U Township, Sagaing Region. According to locals, the aerial campaign targeted a river crossing and a commercial junction on 17 and 18 December, leaving dozens more injured and local infrastructure in ruins, Myanmar Now reported.

The first wave of attacks occurred on 17 December at an Ayeyarwady River crossing port in eastern Khin-U. Residents reported that five jet fighters opened fire approximately 30 times, killing eight internally displaced persons (IDPs) who were attempting to navigate the waterway.

The violence continued the following day on 18 December when a military junta aircraft bombed a petrol station at the Myay Ni Shoo junction. That strike killed five additional people and resulted in a significant number of casualties due to the direct hit on the facility. In total, at least 30 people are estimated to have been injured across both incidents.

The escalating air campaign has created a humanitarian crisis in the region, where hundreds of thousands of IDPs from Singu, Tantse, and Kanbalu townships are currently stranded. Local sources report that over 300 vehicles are trapped on the Shwebo-Myitkyina road due to junta-enforced checkpoints and road blockades. Displaced civilians are reportedly living in a constant state of fear, forced to flee into hiding whenever aircraft are sighted.

These daily airstrikes come as the military junta prepares for its sham elections scheduled for 28 December, despite the fact that large portions of Sagaing Region remain under the control of resistance forces and outside the junta's administrative reach.

The deliberate targeting of civilians constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law, which mandates the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure during armed conflict. The systematic use of airstrikes against internally displaced persons and civilian commercial facilities demonstrates the military junta's continued perpetration of war crimes and crimes against humanity in its desperate attempt to suppress resistance to its illegitimate rule.

Military Junta Airstrikes Kill Nine Civilians Including Child in Wetlet Township

At least nine local residents, including a four-year-old child, were killed in Wetlet Township, Sagaing Region, following two separate military junta airstrikes conducted within a five-day span. According to the local reports, the attacks targeted civilian areas and displacement camps despite the absence of active ground fighting.

The most recent fatal attack occurred at 8:31 pm on 17 December, when the military junta air force dropped two 250-pound bombs on Si Taw village in eastern Wetlet Township. The bombs killed four people at the scene, namely 70-year-old U Nyunt Wai, his 70-year-old wife Daw Myint Kyi, 25-year-old Zeyar Htun, and an unidentified middle-aged woman. Five other residents sustained injuries, and the explosion caused fires that destroyed three houses and a vehicle.

This followed an earlier strike on 13 December, where two bombs were dropped near the Thangonetawtike area, south of Htone Bo Village. That attack initially killed four people, including Ma Tuzar Nwe (34), Tutpi (26), U Khin Maung Lwin (70), and four-year-old Aye Myat Thuzar. One of the ten injured victims later died from their wounds, bringing the total death toll from the 13 December strike to five. The victims were internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Kalama village in Shwebo Township who had fled to Wetlet to escape previous conflict.

Ko Naga Lay, head of the Wetlet Informational Network, told Mizzima that there was no ground fighting at all and that the bombs were dropped on villages where civilians were living without any reason.

The attacks continued into the morning of 18 December, with reports of a drone strike on Thit Seint Village at 10:30 am. Ko Naga Lay stated that the Light Infantry Battalion 12 deployed two suicide drones, injuring a Buddhist monk and a child.

Human Rights Abuses   

Over 290 People Arrested Under Military Junta's So-called Election Protection Law in Severe Human Rights Violations

Over 290 people have been unjustly arrested and charged by the military junta under the so-called Election Protection Law, leading to severe violations of human rights including freedom of expression, according to the Myanmar Prison Witness (MPW) assessment. On 29 July 2025, the military junta illegally enacted the Election Protection Law without the consent of its people. Arrests commenced from August 2025. From the beginning of August 2025 up to 16 December 2025, a total of 229 individuals were arrested and charged under this so-called law, as reported by military-controlled newspapers.

The confirmed number by name of males is 87, and that of females is 17, totalling 104 individuals. However, at least 194 individuals are still undergoing verification.

As observed by Myanmar Prison Witness (MPW), one civil society organisation and five media organisations were charged under the election laws in addition to 138 individuals from Ethnic Revolutionary Organisations (EROs) and People's Defence Forces (PDFs) across Ayeyarwady Region, Yangon Region, Sagaing Region, Magway Region, Bago Region, Tanintharyi Region, Mandalay Region, Mon State, Kachin State and Karen State. Moreover, there were 7 arrested in Ayeyarwady Region, 48 in Yangon Region, 8 in Bago Region, 2 in Magway Region, 9 in Mandalay Region, 4 in Tanintharyi Region, 2 in Sagaing Region, 1 in Naypyitaw, 18 in Chin State, 7 in Kachin State, 20 in Karen State, 5 in Karenni State, 7 in Mon State, 1 in Rakhine State, 9 in Shan State, and 9 under verification, totalling 154 individuals.

The number of arrests by age was as follows: under 18 years old – 6 boys; 19 to 35 years old – 6 women, 18 men, and 1 unverified gender, total 25; 36 to 65 years – 2 women and 29 men, total 31; and 236 individuals whose ages remain under verification. In the Election Protection Law, the military junta enacted Section 23(A), 24(A), 24(B), 25(A), 25(B), 26(A), 26(B), and 27 for punishment. To date, the majority of individuals arrested under this law have been charged under Section 23(A), 23(B), 24(A), and 24(B), resulting in maximum sentences ranging from three to forty-nine years of imprisonment.

Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) clearly state that each and every human being has the right to freedom of opinion and expression. Nonetheless, the military junta, which has announced to implement democracy, arbitrarily enacted the Election Protection Law without the consent of its citizens, leading to serious violations of human rights and democratic standards.

Myanmar Prison Witness stated that this report was compiled through systematic cross-verification of accurate and reliable information obtained from independent and credible media, including Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), Mizzima, Myanmar Now, BBC, Network Media Group, Towards, People's Spring, and Khit Thit Media, a total of eight media organisations, in addition to information collected through Myanmar Prison Witness (MPW)'s own sources.

Political Prisoners at Daik-U Prison Subjected to Beatings and Torture for Complaining About Inadequate Medical Care

Mizzima reported that on 23 December that political prisoners at Daik-U Prison in Bago Region who raised complaints about inadequate medical care were subjected to beatings and torture.

In a statement, PPNM said that political prisoners who complain about inadequate medical care are placed on a list and subjected to severe punishment, including being forced to crawl on all fours, beaten, tortured, and sent to solitary confinement. The group described the practices as systematic abuses carried out under the military junta's command structure. The statement added that prison staff conducted searches and confiscated medicines and books, including items sent by families to compensate for the lack of adequate medical care inside the prison.

The group also reported that items purchased at inflated prices from the prison market have been confiscated, while food sent by families is frequently searched at the prison entrance, with some items seized or not fully delivered to prisoners.

However, a family member of a political prisoner told Mizzima that medicines sent to Daik-U Prison are often withheld and only released after long delays, while the right to send books has been banned for about four months. The family member said that while books were initially allowed, they have been banned for about four months, and although medicines were permitted, they were not delivered promptly, often taking 20 days to a month to reach political prisoners.

PPNM said prison staff are committing ongoing human rights violations and injustices against political prisoners at Daik-U Prison, alleging that the actions are being led by the current deputy warden, Hein Zin Aung, who was transferred from the military junta. The group said the incidents constitute serious violations of the political prisoners' basic human rights and pose grave risks to their lives and health.

The systematic torture and ill-treatment of detainees, denial of adequate medical care, and punitive measures against those who raise complaints constitute grave violations of international human rights law, including the United Nations Convention against Torture and the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. These practices demonstrate the military junta's continued perpetration of crimes against humanity within its detention facilities.

Prominent Activist Htet Myat Aung at Risk of Death Following Severe Beatings in Military Junta Custody

Prominent activist Htet Myat Aung, leader of the Mandalay City People's Strike Movement, has been arrested by the military junta and is reportedly at risk of dying following severe beatings during his detention.

In a joint statement released on 17 December, the General Strike Coordination Body (GSCB), the Anti-Dictatorship People's Coordination Committee (Mandalay) (AFCC-MDY), and the Yadanarbon University Students' Union expressed grave concerns for the 24-year-old's safety, stating that the military junta's use of violence has placed his life in imminent danger.

Htet Myat Aung, a former president of the Yadanarbon University Students' Union and a wanted figure with a bounty on his head, was reportedly taken into custody on 14 December. His arrest follows a high-profile anti-military strike on 3 December near Mandalay's central market, where he joined other leading activists in calling for an election boycott and a nationwide silent strike.

On 10 December, the military junta announced that Htet Myat Aung and nine others, including Dr Tay Zar San and Ko Nan Lin, had been charged under Section 23(b) of the so-called new Election Protection Law, a charge that can carry a sentence of up to 10 years in prison or even the death penalty. The joint statement emphasised that Htet Myat Aung was in good health prior to his arrest and was known for his commitment to peaceful expression against the dictatorship.

The strike forces declared that the military junta would bear full responsibility and be held accountable if any harm comes to his life or health while in their custody. While state media has listed the charges against him, the military junta has yet to release any official details regarding his current condition or location.

The reported severe beating of a detained activist constitutes torture under international human rights law and violates the United Nations Convention against Torture, to which Myanmar is a signatory. The arbitrary detention and physical abuse of individuals exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly demonstrate the military junta's systematic persecution of political opponents and its continued perpetration of crimes against humanity.

Airstrikes, Artillery Fire and Explosions Reported Across Myanmar as Military Junta Presses Ahead with Sham Elections

As the military junta pressed ahead with the first phase of its sham election on 28 December, airstrikes, artillery fire and explosions were reported across multiple parts of the country, underscoring the violent conditions under which the vote is taking place, local medias reported.

In Sagaing Region, residents said junta forces continued air and artillery attacks even as polling stations opened, while separate attacks linked to resistance groups were reported in Mandalay and Myawaddy in the hours before and during the sham election day.

In Monywa Township, home to the Northwestern Regional Military Command, residents reported airstrikes and heavy artillery fire targeting neighbouring Budalin Township from early Sunday morning. According to local residents, attacks began at around 7 am and involved a Y-12 aircraft and paramotors. A Budalin resident said both the paramotors and the Y-12 were dropping bombs, adding that two paramotors dropped bombs four times and the Y-12 carried out seven strikes. In nearby Khin-U Township, at least nine people were killed and more than 10 others injured on 29 December after two military junta aircraft bombed and strafed a row of roadside restaurants.

In Mandalay, two people were injured after rockets were fired into the city just hours before polling stations opened. An anti-junta resistance group, Brave Warriors for Myanmar, claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it deliberately targeted river islets to avoid civilian casualties. Following the attack, security was tightened across Mandalay, with roads blocked and armed junta soldiers deployed around polling stations.

In Myawaddy Township in Karen State, a woman was killed and around 10 people were injured on 29 December after five drone bombs exploded across several locations. Despite the overnight attack, voting reportedly went ahead in parts of Myawaddy, with a local resident saying those who failed to go could be forcibly taken. The military junta's conduct of elections amidst ongoing airstrikes against civilian populations and the use of coercion to compel voter participation demonstrate that the electoral process lacks any semblance of legitimacy.

Military-controlled civil servants in Naypyitaw Pressured to Vote and Submit Proof of Participation in Military Junta's Sham Election

Military-controlled civil servants in Myanmar's administrative capital Naypyitaw have been pressured to cast ballots in the junta-run sham election being held on 28 December and to submit proof that they voted, according Myanmar Now.

Staff from several ministries said they had been instructed by their respective departments to provide evidence of their participation in the vote. A senior officer who requested anonymity for security reasons said they have to send proof that they voted, including photos showing ink on their fingers or pictures of them standing in line, to officials in their department.

Employees of the Department of Rural Development, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture, the General Administration Department, the Ministry of Labour, and the Ministry of Education all reported facing pressure from their supervisors. One family member of an employee at the Ministry of Education said voting was unavoidable, adding that they did not dare not to vote.

In Naypyitaw's Zabuthiri Township, where large numbers of government employees reside, hundreds of civil servants were seen lining up at polling stations. Some ministries also arranged transportation, using office vehicles to ferry staff to and from polling stations.

Residents reported that polling stations in townships with large populations of civil servants and military families, such as Zabuthiri, Pobbathiri and Zeyathiri, were far more crowded than those in Pyinmana, Tatkone and Lewe, where voter turnout appeared significantly lower.

Resistance forces throughout the country have urged the public not to participate in the junta-organised sham elections, declaring an election boycott during the weeks of preparation and campaigning between 28 October and 31 December.

The coercion of people to vote and provide evidence of their participation constitutes a flagrant violation of the right to free and secret ballot enshrined in international human rights instruments.

The resistance of the people of Myanmar   

Revolutionary Forces Enter Katha Town as Clashes Continue Following Military Junta's Sham Election

Revolutionary forces have moved into Katha Town in Sagaing Region, following attacks initiated during the military junta's sham election period. Clashes were still ongoing until the end of December, according to various medias report. The Revolutionary Joint Force launched attacks on Katha on 28 December during the elections and has reportedly gained access to parts of the town.

A Katha People's Defence Force (KPDF) soldier stationed in Katha said a revolutionary force has entered the town, adding that reports of a Katha prison breakout are just rumours but their presence in the town is real and the situation is ongoing. The soldier confirmed that fighting continued beyond the end of 2025.

A KPDF soldier involved in the Katha fighting said that his unit had seized the Katha Town Entrance Junction Road and Katha Education College. Although Katha Town hosts only the military junta base of Infantry Battalion 309, the military junta has stationed troops not only there but also at Police Stations No. 1 and No. 2, the prison, and several high-rise buildings. The main clashes are currently concentrated in these areas, with the junta's forces unable to deploy ground forces, giving the revolutionary forces the upper hand.

A KPDF soldier stationed in Katha said on the ground, the revolutionary forces have fully blocked the area, adding that any reinforcements can only arrive by air. The soldier said supplies can only be dropped by plane, while airstrikes are hitting freely, and only a few people remain trapped in the town. Most residents of Katha fled the town after fighting erupted on 30 December.

A sham election was held in Katha on 28 December, prompting revolutionary forces to attack areas on the town's outskirts. By 31 December, they had managed to enter parts of the town itself. On the sham election day, local media reported that only a small number of Katha residents managed to cast their votes amid the ongoing fighting.

Kachin Independence Army Seizes Two Major Military Junta Installations in Bhamo

According to the Mizzima’s report, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has seized two major military junta installations in Bhamo, Kachin State, as it intensifies its long-running offensive to take control of the strategic southern hub. On 27 December that they received reports that morning that Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 47 and Ordnance Depot 641 fell to resistance forces on the evening of 26 December.

The capture of Ordnance Depot 641 followed reports that its battalion commander was killed during heavy clashes on Christmas Day. While the KIA has not yet issued an official confirmation, spokesperson Colonel Naw Bu acknowledged that intense fighting had occurred around LIB 47 and the surrounding 3-mile and 4-mile areas leading up to the reported seizure. He noted that updated field reports from the front lines were still being processed as of the morning of 27 December.

The offensive on Bhamo, which began in late 2024, saw a significant surge in activity on 25 December. The fall of these bases marks a major setback for the military junta, which has already lost control of Bhamo airport, Artillery Unit 366, and Armoured Battalion 7006 earlier this year. Military analysts suggest that the loss of the ordnance depot and LIB 47 further isolates the military junta's remaining stronghold at Military Operations Command (MOC-21).

Despite the reports of KIA territorial gains, pro-junta channels claimed that skirmishes were still ongoing in the vicinity of the bases as of late Friday. The military junta has increasingly relied on air transport and river convoys from Mandalay to resupply its embattled troops in Bhamo, as ground routes remain heavily contested. Fighting continues at several other key positions in the township, including Military Engineering Battalion 914 and Supply and Transport Battalion 933.

Myanmar Citizens in Thailand Express No Interest in Voting in Military Junta's Sham Elections

Myanmar citizens living in Thailand express no interest in voting in the military junta's sham elections starting on 28 December, according to a report titled Respect Myanmar by the Burma Affairs and Conflict Study (BACS) group released on 22 December in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Kristen, the BACS director, said the majority of their people are forced to leave the country, with millions now in Thailand. She added that they believe their voices reflect the true situation inside Myanmar, and furthermore, they can speak more freely about political issues in Thailand without the immediate fear for their security that they would face back home. She stated that this research captures their political perspectives loudly and clearly. BACS researchers visited 14 major cities across Thailand, conducting interviews and group discussions with 209 Myanmar migrant workers.

Lwan Wai, a BACS field researcher, said there are threats from the Myanmar Embassy stating that if people do not cast an advance vote, their passport will not be renewed. She added that some of their own people have experienced this firsthand, and because of these situations, there is a lot of anxiety. She noted that while there is a firm desire not to vote, there are also pressures, current hardships, and fears about how much worse things might get.

The Respect Myanmar report also highlights a growing fear that the international community, including neighbouring Thailand, might recognise the military junta's elections deemed a sham by most western countries. BACS intends to continue sharing these findings to ensure that the international community and the Thai government understand the true stance of the Myanmar people when it comes to the military junta's sham election. There are currently over 5.2 million Myanmar migrants living in Thailand, according to 2025 data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Activities of the National Unity Government

NUG Declares Military Junta State Administration Council Members as Terrorists

The National Unity Government has officially declared the members of the military junta's State Administration Council as terrorists.

The announcement, issued by the National Unity Government, identified 11 members of the military junta's State Administration Council as terrorists. The declaration was published on 21 December through the NUG's official communication channels.

The individuals declared as terrorists include senior figures within the military junta's illegal administration who have been responsible for orchestrating widespread human rights violations, war crimes, and crimes against humanity against the people of Myanmar since the attempted coup on 1 February 2021.

This declaration reinforces the NUG's position that the military junta constitutes an illegitimate terrorist organisation that has systematically violated international humanitarian law through extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, torture, sexual violence, and indiscriminate attacks on civilian populations across Myanmar.

The NUG's designation mirrors previous international calls for accountability and aligns with the ongoing documentation of atrocities committed by the military junta against innocent civilians, including the targeting of schools, hospitals, and residential areas through airstrikes and artillery attacks.

NUG Appoints U Moe Zaw Oo as Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The National Unity Government has announced the appointment of U Moe Zaw Oo as Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The announcement stated that the appointment of U Moe Zaw Oo as Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was made in accordance with the provisions of the National Unity Government. The appointment was announced on 17 December.

U Moe Zaw Oo previously served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. In his new role as Advisor, he will continue to contribute to the NUG's diplomatic efforts and foreign relations activities.

The National Unity Government stated that the various activities undertaken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been successful, and in order to further strengthen diplomatic relations and unity efforts, the appointment of an experienced advisor to the Ministry has been made. The role will involve providing expert guidance on foreign policy matters as the NUG continues to seek international recognition and support for the democratic movement in Myanmar.

Sagaing Federal Unit Hluttaw Approves Deputy Prime Minister and 11 Cabinet Ministers for Interim Government

The 7th Sagaing Hluttaw, convened on 23 December, approved the appointment of a deputy prime minister and 11 ministers to serve in the Sagaing Federal Unit Interim Government. The deputy prime minister and cabinet ministers of the Sagaing Federal Unit Interim Government were nominated by Unit Chief Minister U Soe Oo and unanimously approved by the Hluttaw without objection.

The Sagaing Federal Unit Interim Government has appointed Dr Aung Ne Win as Deputy Prime Minister, with U Ko Ko Aung named Minister of Defence, U Moe Min Win as Minister of Home Affairs, U Khant Wai Phyo as Minister of Planning and Finance, Dr Tin Aung Moe as Minister of Education, and Dr Myint Aung as Minister of Health. U Toe Wai Aung was appointed Minister of Humanitarian Assistance, Rehabilitation and Emergency Management, while U Than Hlaing was named Minister of Electricity, Energy and Construction, U Zin Min Tun as Minister of Forestry and Natural Resources, U Bwe Hoke Than as Minister of Ethnic Affairs, Daw Rati Ohn as Minister of City Development, and U Aung Chit Nyo, also known as Newton, as Attorney General.

Among the 11 ministries in the Sagaing Federal Unit Interim Government, Daw Rati Ohn, Minister of City Development, is the sole female cabinet member. At the sixth session of the Sagaing Federal Unit Hluttaw on 17 November, U Soe Oo was appointed Chief Minister, U Myint Htwe was named Speaker, and Daw Phyu Phyu Win was chosen as Deputy Speaker, with the interim government ministers formally confirmed and assigned their portfolios at the seventh session held on 23 December. The seventh session of the Sagaing Federal Unit Hluttaw convened with 44 of its 72 members in attendance, more than half of the assembly, prompting Speaker U Myint Htwe to formally declare a quorum.

Following this, Hluttaw Speaker U Myint Htwe, Acting President Duwa Lashi La, CRPH Chairman U Aung Kyi Nyunt, NUG Prime Minister Mahn Win Khaing Than, National League for Democracy Central Executive Committee Member Dr May Win Myint, and National Unity Consultative Council member Daw Hnin Hnin Hmwe delivered speeches.

Myanmar Ambassador Condemns Military Junta's Systematic Violations of Information Rights at UN High-Level Meeting

Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, Permanent Representative of Myanmar to the United Nations, addressed the High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Overall Review of the Implementation of the Outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society, condemning the military junta's ongoing violations of fundamental rights since the illegal coup.

The Ambassador stated that the military junta has violated citizens' right to access information by shutting down the internet, restricting the use of Virtual Private Networks, and blocking internet websites including popular social media platforms. He reported that the military junta has suppressed independent reporting and unlawfully arrested 225 journalists. Nine journalists and media workers have lost their lives at the hands of the military junta and its affiliated groups.

The Ambassador emphasised that these attacks on the principles of media freedom and freedom of information serve the dual purpose of suppressing independent voices while promoting military junta propaganda. He noted that efforts to disseminate misinformation and disinformation include military junta-controlled media, Telegram groups, influencer channels, military junta-aligned subservient diplomats and their offices.

He warned that the military junta has intensified mass surveillance of the population since the coup by activating the Personal Scrutinisation and Monitoring System. The public is living under constant fear due to growing concerns over surveillance. The Ambassador stated that in this context, the sham election planned by the military junta will be neither free nor fair, and will only intensify and expand violence across the country.

Response of the International Community

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Warns Military Junta's Sham Election Unfolding Amid Violence and Repression

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned that the military junta-controlled ballot is unfolding amid intensified violence, intimidation and arbitrary arrests, leaving no space for free or meaningful participation. In a news release, Mr Türk said these elections are clearly taking place in an environment of violence and repression, adding that there are no conditions for the exercise of the rights of freedom of expression, association or peaceful assembly.

The first phase of the vote, scheduled for 28 December, is being organised by the military junta more than four years after it seized power in the 2021 illegal coup, dissolved major political parties and jailed thousands of opponents. Key figures, including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, remain imprisoned.

According to the UN human rights office, OHCHR, dozens of people have recently been detained under a new election protection law for expressing dissent. Some have received extremely harsh sentences, including three young people in Yangon's Hlaingthaya Township who were jailed for between 42 and 49 years for hanging anti-election posters.

Prominent cultural figures have also been targeted. Film director Mike Tee, actor Kyaw Win Htut and comedian Ohn Daing were each sentenced to seven years in prison for undermining public trust after criticising a pro-election propaganda film. The UN rights office has received reports from internally displaced people in areas including Mandalay Region who said they were warned that their homes would be seized or that airstrikes would continue if they did not return to vote. Mr Türk said forcing displaced people to undertake unsafe and involuntary returns is a human rights violation.

The UN has also raised concerns over the introduction of electronic-only voting combined with expanded surveillance, including artificial intelligence and biometric tracking, warning that such measures could further erode trust in the process and enable repression.

UN officials have repeatedly cautioned that the vote risks entrenching instability rather than restoring democracy.

France and UK Face Calls to Strengthen Action Against Myanmar Military Junta

The French National Assembly unanimously passed a law on 16 December authorising approval of an international judicial cooperation agreement between France and the UN Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), according to a statement issued on 17 December.

The agreement, signed in Geneva on 12 June 2024, provides a legal framework for cooperation in the collection and sharing of evidence related to serious international crimes committed in Myanmar. During the debate, the rapporteur Mr Laurent Mazaury said the text aims to balance support for civilians with measures condemning the military junta, including sanctions and an arms embargo.

Meanwhile, Burma Campaign UK has called for a revision of the British government's approach to Myanmar, warning that the UK has slipped from leaders to laggards on human rights. The call comes as the military junta moves ahead with its sham elections beginning 28 December.

The appeal was issued alongside a new briefing paper outlining steps London should take to increase pressure on the military junta. The briefing urges the UK government to reject the upcoming vote and the junta's anticipated post-election reform process, which Burma Campaign UK argues will only entrench military rule.

Key recommendations in the paper include resuming targeted sanctions on the military junta's revenue streams, including state-owned banks facilitating weapons purchases, the partly military-owned Mytel telecommunications company, and sources of jet fuel. The paper also calls for a reversal of recent aid cuts, expanding refugee support, and advancing new strategies to raise Myanmar at the UN Security Council. Burma Campaign UK also called for the expulsion of Myanmar's military attaché from the UK. The release follows a warning from UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews, who urged renewed UK leadership amid intensifying attacks on civilians.

Mark Farmaner, Burma Campaign UK's director, said that when British government ministers have the political will, the UK can be very effective at mobilising international action to assist the people of Myanmar in their struggle for freedom. He added that while the military junta implements new sham elections as part of their plan for eternal rule, the British government needs to be proactively cutting off their supply of money and arms.

South Korean Lawmakers Urge Military Junta to End Violence and Initiate Inclusive Political Dialogue

Lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties of the Republic of Korea issued a formal statement on 17 December urging the military junta to take three key steps to resolve the national crisis, including an end to violence through an immediate ceasefire, guarantees for freedom of expression, and the initiation of inclusive political dialogues.

The lawmakers included these demands in a statement denouncing the military junta's human rights violations and its attempt to hold what they characterised as an illegal election. They specifically urged the military junta to establish an inclusive election commission without excluding any political forces in order to ensure the credibility of the electoral process.

Additionally, the demands included ensuring that everyone in Myanmar, including ethnic minorities, has unimpeded access to humanitarian aid. The South Korean lawmakers stated they vehemently oppose any effort to justify violence and human rights violations in any form, expressing their firm belief that the only way to determine Myanmar's future is through free and fair elections, inclusive political dialogues, and the restoration of people-centred democracy.

Regarding the military junta's planned sham election, the statement added that it is an attempt to legitimise military rule and consolidate power by the junta, meaning the international community cannot recognise it as legitimate in any way. The statement also noted that the South Korean National Assembly is deeply saddened by the military junta's continued atrocities and violations of human rights, despite having already passed a resolution strongly denouncing the illegal military coup in Myanmar and demanding the restoration of democracy and the release of detainees.

The lawmakers used the military junta's 10 December airstrike on a hospital in Mrauk-U, Rakhine State, which killed 33 civilians, as an illustration of this barbarism and conveyed their deepest sympathies to the citizens who perished.

Justice for Myanmar Calls on Governments Worldwide to Reject Military Junta's Sham Election

Justice for Myanmar issued a press release on 27 December calling on governments around the world to reject the illegal sham election being run by the military junta. In response to the military junta's sham election, Justice for Myanmar spokesperson Yadanar Maung said the military junta is staging a sham election to manufacture legitimacy while it slaughters civilians with total impunity.

Yadanar Maung stated that this sham election attempts to legitimise the military junta's illegal coup attempt that the people of Myanmar have courageously resisted for almost five years, adding that the people reject the sham election and the illegal junta. She emphasised that it is crucial that governments do not buy into the facade, stand with the Myanmar people and reject the sham election and its results.

The spokesperson noted that the countries supporting this sham election and sending fake observers, notably China, Russia, Belarus and Vietnam, are profiting from the military junta through business interests and arms sales. She added that by backing this fake election, these governments are keeping the money flowing, sustaining the military junta's campaign of terror and aiding and abetting its international crimes.

Yadanar Maung stated that this sham election is orchestrated by an election commission comprised of sanctioned individuals handpicked by war criminals that is undermining democracy and the rule of law.

She noted that in the lead up to the sham election, the military junta has rebranded itself as the so-called State Security and Peace Commission. She described this as a cynical attempt to evade sanctions and launder its crimes, stating that despite the name change, it is led by the same military figures, performs the same functions and is waging the same terror campaign against civilians, under the command of junta leader and war criminal Min Aung Hlaing.

Yadanar Maung urged governments to urgently sanction the SSPC and its enablers, and act decisively to end the atrocities. She concluded that amid the unspeakable horror, the courage of the people of Myanmar remains unbroken, and they will continue working to dismantle the military junta cartel.

Asian Network for Free Elections Warns Military Junta's Elections Cannot Be Considered Democratic or Credible

The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) released a statement on 27 December warning that the military junta's planned elections, scheduled to begin on 28 December, cannot be considered democratic or credible, citing widespread violence, human rights violations, and the exclusion of large parts of the population as conditions that fundamentally undermine any genuine electoral process.

ANFREL stated it is gravely alarmed by intensified violence against civilians nationwide, including airstrikes, shelling, arbitrary arrests, and village raids that disproportionately affect women, children, and ethnic minority communities. The organisation said such a situation makes it impossible to guarantee voter safety or conduct electoral activities freely or fairly, adding that elections held amid ongoing armed conflict and systematic human rights violations cannot reflect the will of the people.

Large areas of the country are expected to be excluded from the polls due to conflict, resistance control, and administrative collapse, particularly in ethnic and resistance-held areas. ANFREL stated that the systematic exclusion of significant segments of the population raises serious concerns about the representativeness and inclusiveness of the process and fails to meet basic democratic standards.

In addition, ANFREL raised serious doubts about the credibility of voter turnout figures and election results to be announced by the junta-controlled Union Election Commission. The organisation stated that in the absence of independent observation, transparent procedures, free media, and trusted electoral institutions, any declared results will lack legitimacy.

ANFREL concluded that taken together, these conditions demonstrate that the military junta's planned elections lack legitimacy, inclusiveness, and integrity. The organisation warned that elections conducted under military rule, amid widespread conflict and repression, cannot contribute to democratic transition or political stability and risk further entrenching illegitimate rule and violence.

Australian Streaming Platform Kick Removes Military Junta Propaganda Channels within Hours of Launch

An Australian live-streaming platform, Kick, has removed multiple propaganda channels linked to Myanmar's military junta within hours of their launch, refusing to host the accounts for even 24 hours. According to Justice for Myanmar, the military junta began using Kick after its propaganda accounts were removed from Amazon-owned Twitch. Shortly after the military junta started livestreaming on Kick, the platform took down the accounts. The removed channels included MRTV HD, MITV, MRTV News, MRTV Farmers, MRTV Sports, MRTV NRC and MRTV Entertainment.

The military junta had intended to use Kick to livestream content through MRTV websites and mobile applications. Following the takedown, MRTV websites and apps displayed an error message from Kick stating that the connection appeared to be unavailable. Kick is a Melbourne-based company owned by Australian billionaire Ed Craven and his business partner Bijan Tehrani. Like Twitch, Kick is primarily used for livestreaming gaming.

Justice for Myanmar continues to call on all technology companies to take down the military junta's propaganda accounts and ban the military junta from using their platforms. In a further development, YouTube has also removed the military junta's Myanmar International TV channel. YouTube had previously taken down the military junta's Ministry of Information channel, and MITV had already been removed by Twitch and Facebook.

MITV has been used by the military junta as a propaganda tool aimed at international viewers, as part of efforts to legitimise the illegal coup of 1 February 2021 and the planned sham election. Justice For Myanmar called on Alphabet, YouTube's parent company, to remove all remaining military junta propaganda accounts and to block the military junta from using its products and services.

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Date: 31 December 2025

Permanent Mission of Myanmar, New York