Published on January 13, 2022
- As of January 13, 2022, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a Burmese human rights advocacy organization, reported that 1,466 individuals have been killed, 11,540 individuals arrested, and that over 8,500 individuals are still detained by the Burmese military since the coup.
- Political Developments and Persecutions
- On January 10, 2022, Myanmar’s ousted leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, was sentenced to 4 more years in prison by the junta. This adds up to a total of six years imprisonment for the ousted leader on charges including the possession of walkie-talkies and breaching COVID-19 laws. The international community including the Norwegian Nobel Committee, the U.S. State Department, and Amnesty International have condemned this sentencing.
- Junta leader is reshuffling members of his senior leadership team. Local media reported that the junta leader replaced Maung Maung Kyaw, the chief of the air force, on January 10. Maung Maung Kyaw was replaced by the air force’s chief of staff, Htun Aung. Maung Maung Kyaw and his family are known for supplying the junta forces with arms through their family businesses. Lieutenant General Aung Lin Dwe, the junta’s judge advocate general, was also replaced and transferred to reserve forces. However, he retains his post as the Secretary of the State Administrative Council (SAC).
- On January 4, 2022, NUG’s Acting President, Duwa Lashi La, addressed the nation on Burma’s 74th Independence Day. In his Independence Day address, the Acting President called for the unity of all political forces including the ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) to end the military dictatorship that had plagued that country throughout Burma’s modern history. He added that in this struggle for the “Second Independence”, the only choice people have is to take part in the “Defensive War” to end the dictatorship.
- On January 3, 2022, the junta court in Mandalay rejected an appeal from Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, the ousted NLD Chief Minister for Mandalay Region and NLD’s Vice Chair. Dr. Zaw Myint Maung was sentenced to four years in prison in December last year on charges of alleged sedition and violations of COVID-19 regulations.
- As of January 3, 2022, more than three-quarters of the National League for Democracy (NLD) members who were arrested by the junta were still detained. Many of them face various charges by the junta’s courts and are being sentenced. You can read more about the recent sentencing here. In the meantime, the junta leader, Min Aung Hlaing, said that there are plans to hold multi-party general elections in August 2023.
- On January 3, 2022, the junta’s chief justice, Tun Tun Oo, ordered all members of the judiciary to not accept any notifications from international courts seeking to prosecute junta leaders.
- Zayar Times journalists were hit with 2-year prison sentences.
- Families and relatives of pro-democracy activists, NLD members, and resistance fighters are arrested and detained when the junta couldn’t find the individuals they are looking for. For instance, Ko Aung Nay Myo, a host of NUG’s People’s Voice TV show, told the media that the junta had arrested his parents, sisters, and niece last month since the junta couldn’t find him.
- Ground Situation
- Attacks from the air by helicopters and jet planes are common offensive tactics the junta uses to cause several casualties and displacement. On January 10, Ohn Hnauk village in Pale Township, Sagaing Region was attacked by three military helicopters. Hundreds of troops were also deployed in the village. However, the casualties from this attack have not yet been accurately reported. On the same day, junta forces attacked villages in Karen State’s Kawkareik Township using artillery and helicopters.
- On January 8 and 9, junta forces launched airstrikes on Loikaw, the capital of Kayah State which forced thousands of locals to flee. Humanitarian groups on the ground such as the Red Cross society have helped evacuate around 2,000 people. It is reported that residents of at least three of the thirteen wards in Loikaw have fled. Those remaining have closed off their businesses and many humanitarian groups on the ground have helped evacuate them to local churches.
- Junta continues to use civilians and non-combatants as human shields during their military operations against PDFs. On January 9, junta soldiers abducted villagers from Shar Kwe and Thit Saint and forced them to act as human shields during their raid against a local PDF base.
- According to the Thai authorities, over 4,200 Burmese civilians have sought shelter in Thailand between December 16 and December 23 last year after fleeing the battles between junta forces and ethnic armed groups.
- Forensic examination of the remains of the 35 people massacred by the junta forces on Christmas Eve last year in Kayah State’s Hpruso Township revealed that the victims were tortured before being burned. The examination was conducted by a local Karrenni health officer.
- The bodies of at least 20 civilians have been found in Natchaung village located in Kalay Township, Sagaing Region. Junta forces have stationed themselves in the community since the third week of December last year. Clashes with the local resistance groups began on December 22 last year.
- International Responses
- On January 7 and 8, Hun Sen, Cambodia’s Prime Minister and Chair of ASEAN, visited Burma and met with Min Aung Hlaing, the junta leader. This was the first visit by a foreign head of government since the February 1 coup. The visit drew mixed reactions from various different countries and groups. The Burmese people, civil society organizations, and various countries including several members of ASEAN were critical of Hun Sen’s visit while countries like Japan supported Hun Sen’s direct engagement with the junta.
- On December 22 and 23 last year, India’s Foreign Secretary Shri Harsh Vardhan Shringla visited Burma. He met with junta leader, Min Aung Hlaing, and the State Administrative Council (SAC). He also held meetings with members of civil society and political parties including the National League for Democracy (NLD). During these engagements, the Foreign Secretary stressed the need for a resolution of the crisis through dialogue and cessation of violence in the country. His delegation also delivered one million doses of “Made in India” COVID-19 vaccines.
- Business and Economy
- According to a report by Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), more than half of (70 percent) of Japanese companies investing in Burma will either maintain or expand their operations in the country despite the coup and the pandemic.
- Trade data compiled by Justice for Myanmar (JFM) suggests the sanctioned Burmese teak is still being imported by American businesses. After the coup, the US imposed sanctions on the state-owned Myanmar Timber Enterprise (MTE). MTE is responsible for the sale and export of timber. JFM reported that nearly 1,600 tonnes of Burmese teak have circumvented the sanctions and were being imported by American businesses between February and November last year.
For inquiry, email research@studentsforfreeburma.org.