Political Development
- The NLD expelled four of its top officials including Phyo Min Thein, the former Chief Minister of the Yangon Region, from the party for aiding the junta.
- KNU began its Congress without a representative from Bridgade 5 of KNLA.
- The junta had sentenced over 4,500 people to prison since the coup began, In February 2023 alone, the junta sentenced nearly 2,400 people to prison.
- To bolster its recruitment and replenish its dwindling security forces, the junta is targeting impoverished family members of its existing armed forces with material incentives.
- As of February 28, 2023, 13 political parties have registered to participate in the upcoming election.
Situation on the Ground
- As of March 03, 2023, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) reported that 3,085 individuals have been killed. AAPP also said that 19,982 individuals have been arrested and 16,120 individuals are still detained by the Burmese military since the coup.
- Junta troops tortured and executed a PDF member and 20 civilians including two children who were beheaded in Sagaing Region.
- Pro-junta USDP is arming its members with sharpened bamboo sticks to fight against PDFs.
- Naypyidaw-based PDF bombed the home of Mya Nyein, a senior official of USDP.
- Junta continues to conduct its scorch-earth policy in its latest raid and arson of Kone Ywar Village in the Sagaing Region.
International Response
- On March 02, 2023, the United States added three organizations in Burma to its trade blocklist, including the Ministry of Transport and Communications along with surveillance firms, Fisca Security and Naung Yoe Technologies.
- On March 01, 2023, Amnesty International reported identifying more companies involved in aviation fuel transactions with the military late last year. One such shipment was aboard oil tanker Prime V which sailed from Sikka port on November 22 and involved India’s Reliance Industries and Japan’s P&I Club.
- On March 01, 2023, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim discussed the Burma crisis with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Marcos expressed the need to enforce ASEAN’s five-point consensus while Anwar said new methods should be pursued to persuade the junta in working with ASEAN.