Published on January 27, 2022
- As of January 27, 2022, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a Burmese human rights advocacy organization, reported that 1,498 individuals have been killed, 11,787 individuals arrested, and nearly 8,800 individuals are still detained by the Burmese military since the coup.
- Political Developments
- From January 27 to January 29, the NUCC is holding its first People’s Congress with representatives from the NUG, CRPH, EAOs, and ethnic groups. The goal for convening is to ratify the Federal Democracy Charter to build a federal union.
- During an interview with NUG’s Prime Minister, Mahn Win Khaing Than on January 22, he mentioned that anti-military forces including ethnic armed organizations have joined together in solidarity to fight back the military regime. After intensive efforts to persuade several armed groups such as the Karen National Union (KNU) to join the revolution last year, he stated that victory may be near. He mentioned that one hurdle they will find difficulty in overcoming is the military’s air force. In the interview, he also discussed Aung San Suu Kyi’s positions and reasonings for disregarding the Rohingya genocide.
- On January 21, the junta sentenced activist U Jimmy and former NLD lawmaker U Phyo Zeya Thaw to death. They were accused of engaging in terrorism. They were targeted by the junta since both men had previously been imprisoned by the junta. U Jimmy was a student leader in the 8888 Uprising and Phyo Zeya Thaw was influential in the 2007 Generation Wave movement.
- Two ministers from NUG said that their administration was collecting information on crimes committed by the junta in Chin State to submit to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Dr. Sasa, the Minister of International Cooperation, mentioned that NUG is working with the Independent Investigative Mechanism Myanmar (IIMM) to share their findings with the courts. U Aung Myo Min, the Minister of Human Rights, further said that these crimes will also be reported to the UN Security Council. This is to prepare for the ICJ’s hearing next month (Feb 21, 23, 25, 28) on the Rohingya genocide case brought against by the Gambia.
- T Khun Myat, an ethnic Kachin lawmaker, was recently reappointed to his former position as a lower house speaker by the junta after being ousted from the parliament during last year’s coup. He was first elected to parliament in 2010 as a member of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).
- On January 19, ousted Rakhine State chief minister U Nyi Pu and other NLD ministers were sentenced to nine years in prison by the junta. The junta accused them of corruption.
- The junta is charging more than 2,000 former government officials and poll workers with voter fraud. Individuals charged with voter fraud range from State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to NLD polling station representatives.
- Ahead of the “Silent Strike” and other protests planned for February 1st, the junta is threatening to act against those participating in these protests. On January 25, the junta announced that it will take legal actions and severe punishment including life imprisonment and confiscation of property against individuals and businesses participating in protests. Banging pots and pans can be charged with treason according to the junta’s announcement.
- The junta is seeking to tighten its grip on cyberspace by reintroducing draconian cyber laws. The proposed laws would outlaw the use of virtual private network (VPN) technology to access banned social media platforms. Additionally, the laws would penalize those whose social media post constitutes a personal attack or an attack on national harmony.
- Ground Situation
- In a leaked recording of a Magwe Region’s junta-appointed cabinet meeting, Colonel Kyaw Kyaw Lin, the region’s junta security minister, admitted that they have lost control of six of the 25 townships in the region due to attacks from the PDFs.
- It is reported that continuous fighting in Kayah State has displaced more than 170,000 people. The majority of the displaced people are seeking refuge within the state but some have crossed over to neighboring states and Thailand to seek a safe haven.
- Over 2,000 civilians in Shwebo Township of Sagaing Region fled as the junta forces torched their village on January 24.
- Last week, three journalists from Dawei Watch, an independent news outlet, were arrested by the junta on unknown charges. In Chin State, a Chin journalist was tortured and killed by the junta forces in the same week.
- Local media reported that four people in the Mandalay Region were killed in a junta interrogation center last week.
- International Responses
- On January 25, Cambodia’s Prime Minister and ASEAN Chair Hun Sen confirmed that he had invited Burma’s junta leader, Min Aung Hlaing, to an ASEAN Summit if the junta leader made progress on the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus. Other members of ASEAN remain split over whether or not a Burmese political representative should be present at the ASEAN Summit. Malaysia’s Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob told Hun Sen that Malaysia will not support the invitation of a Burmese political representative.
- Singapore and Indonesia stressed that the public safety and welfare of the people of Burma must be prioritized by all stakeholders involved.
- On January 26, the US government issued a business advisory for Burma informing individuals, businesses, and entities of the increased risks of conducting business that could benefit the junta’s regime.
- Since Myanmar’s military is increasing its efforts in airstrikes and attacks on People’s Defense Forces (PDF), the Karen National Union (KNU), the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), and the Chin National Front (CNF) urged the international community to declare a military no-fly zone on January 21.
- Last week, Turkey announced that it has banned armed sales to the Burma junta, becoming the 45th country to publicly state that it will no longer sell arms to the junta.
- Business and Economy
- On January 26, the World Bank’s Myanmar Economic Monitor projected a one percent growth for Burma’s economy in the year to September 2022. With the impacts of the coup and the pandemic affecting economic activities, the near-term and long-term growth potential for Burma remains limited.
- Last week, American company Chevron and French company TotalEnergies announced that they were exiting Burma due to the increased violence and human rights violation of the junta. On January 20, TotalEnergies said that it supports targeted sanctions on Burma’s natural gas revenues to prevent the junta from accessing these funds. On January 27, Australian gas company Woodside Petroleum announced that it will also exit Burma. To see a growing list of foreign companies exiting Burma since the coup, read here.
- The junta secretly approved a partnership between Lebanon’s M1 Group and Burma’s Shwe Pyain Phyu Group to take over Telenor’s telecommunication business and operations in Burma.
- Local media reported that the Chinese firms who were contracted to start operations on solar power production are stalling due to the increasing security risks of operating in Burma. These firms are nearly 16 months behind the agreed schedule to start operations.
For inquiry, email research@studentsforfreeburma.org.