Published on March 13, 2023
Political Development
- The NUG condemned the junta’s massacre of 17 people in the Sagaing Region and stated it is investigating the atrocity.
- The junta announced that they will be conducting a census from October 1-15, 2024 ahead of its now-delayed election. Junta-led elections are now expected to be held in 2025 with the possibility of the state of emergency being extended until then.
- Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), an ethnic armed group based in northern Shan State, has increasingly been supporting the resistance movement.
Situation on the Ground
- As of March 10, 2023, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) reported that 3,120 individuals have been killed. AAPP also said that 20,297 individuals have been arrested and 16,432 individuals are still detained by the Burmese military since the coup.
- The junta had killed over 480 women since the coup began in 2021. Many continue to encounter arbitrary arrest, torture, and sexual abuse by the junta and its allies.
- Clashes between the junta forces and the Karreni resistance groups have forced over 3,000 people to flee their homes in Kayah State.
- A junta task force deployed to conduct clearance operations in Sagaing Region has been accused of beheading, torturing, and raping civilians in their operations.
International Response
- On March 09, 2023, the EU Special Envoy for Burma met virtually with NUG Acting President Duwa Lashi La to discuss the expansion of humanitarian aid.
- On March 08, 2023, the US State Department announced around $26 million in additional humanitarian assistance for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and people in Burma affected by ongoing violence. The US has now provided nearly $2.1 billion for the Rohingya crisis since August 2017.
- On March 07, 2023, Chinese ambassador Chen Hai visited the junta’s election commission chairman Thein Soe to inquire about election preparations.
- On March 07, 2023, the Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia urged the Burmese junta to provide access to humanitarian aid, following the announcement of an additional $60 million in humanitarian assistance by the Japanese government.
Business and Economy
- ADB forecasted that Burma’s economy will grow by 2.6% in 2023 (lowest among ASEAN countries) and inflation will come down to 8.5% from 2022’s 16%.
- China and the junta signed an MOU to set up three wind power projects in Rakhine.