Published on June 15, 2022
- As of June 14, 2022, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a Burmese human rights advocacy organization, reported that 1,941 individuals have been killed, 14,110 individuals arrested, and 11,053 individuals are still detained by the Burmese military since the coup.
- Political Developments
- On June 11, 2022, the junta announced that civilians who are involved with the armed resistance will be able to return to their civilian lives and will be “welcomed” to society if they lay down their arms and surrender. PDFs across the country refused to lay down their arms.
- On June 10, 2022, the junta announced that they will proceed with the prosecution of the NLD government’s economic policy advisor, Dr. Sean Turnell, for violating the country’s Official Secrets Act. The Australian Government rejected the court’s decision and called for the release of the Australian advisor who had been detained since the coup.
- The two-day annual central committee gathering of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) on June 08 and 09 ended without resolving the party’s leadership issue. Party sources have stated initially that the meeting could lead to a potential leadership change. However, the dispute between the current party leadership and its members over the chairmanship term resulted in an unresolved leadership dispute.
- Ground Situation
- The Blood Comrades (Thway Thauk), a pro-junta militia group, recently threatened to kill journalists and their families over news coverage that is critical of the junta. Earlier this year, the group also threatened violence against members of the NLD and its supporters. They have claimed responsibility for killing at least eight NLD members or supporters.
- On June 09, 2022, three PDFs from Magwe and Sagaing Region attacked a junta checkpoint in Yesagyo Township in Magwe Region, killing 13 junta soldiers.
- On June 09, 2022, a junta-appointed ward administrator in southern Rakhine State was killed by unknown assailants. Local junta-appointed administrators have been targets of the anti-junta forces throughout the country. So far, no one has claimed responsibility for the killing.
- The Hpa-an Unversity Students’ Union reported that about 60 political prisoners in the Hpan-an Prison in Karen State have been tortured. It was reported that the prison authorities used rubber bullets and violence against the political prisoners.
- A report published by the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG) in early June called attention to the critical humanitarian crisis unfolding for people in Karen State. The report highlights the challenges of having access to lifesaving provisions and the serious lack of assistance and mobility in the midst of conflict.
- International Responses
- More international actors including the US and France have condemned the death sentences of Ko Jimmy and Ko Phyo Zeya Thaw.
- During the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue Asia Security Summit on June 11, 2022, the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General on Burma, Noeleen Heyzer, affirmed the need to work with all parties “towards the cessation of violence and urgent access for humanitarian aid” and called for a renewed momentum to ASEAN’s five-point consensus. U.S. State Department Counselor Derek Chollet stated how “it’s hard to see today how [the military] could realistically think they can win” and cast doubt on the junta’s proposed elections in August 2023.
- On June 10, 2022, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen sent a letter calling upon junta leader, Min Aung Hlaing, to reconsider the plans to execute members of opposition groups. He referred back to the Five-Point Consensus and how such executions could disrupt “a peaceful solution for the current state of affairs through inclusive dialogue”. The junta’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the appeal and responded with “legal explanations on why the death sentences have to be carried out” with details on the alleged crimes.
- On June 09, 2022, U.S. State Department Counselor Derek Chollet visited a Burmese refugee camp and met with civil society organizations in Mae Sot, a Thai town on the Burma-Thailand border. During his visit, he inquired about and discussed the humanitarian crisis inside Burma and the challenges in delivering cross-border aid.
- Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah said that Malaysia will raise the Burma issue at the Special ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on June 16 and 17. He plans to discuss how the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus can be implemented further and whether or not help is needed from ASEAN’s dialogue partners.
- On June 09, 2022, the UN issued a statement condemning the killing of a WHO worker in Mon State on June 08 and calling for accountability for the incident.
- On June 06 and 07, 2022, the junta police chief Major General Zin Min Htet met with his Thai counterpart in Bangkok to discuss armed groups at the Burma-Thai border. Even though the junta said taking action against armed groups was discussed, the Royal Thai Police press release said they only discussed “signing a memorandum of understanding on fighting cross-border crime.”
- Business and Economy
In the World Bank’s latest Global Economic Prospects Report, the World Bank has not issued a growth forecast for Burma beyond 2021 due to “a high degree of uncertainty.” Since the 18% economic contraction in 2021 after the coup, the Burmese economy continues to be plagued by disruptions in the key service sectors, restraints on trade and foreign exchange transactions, and instability.