Published on March 27, 2023
Political Development
- On March 22, 2023, the junta held talks with three EAOs namely the United Wa State Army (UWSA), the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP), and the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), in Naypyitaw. They discussed regional development, the junta’s election, and plans for a “peace conference.”
- As of March 17, 2023, 27 political parties in Burma have applied to be re-registered in accordance with the junta’s new Political Parties Registration Act. The National League for Democracy (NLD) and other powerful ethnic parties such as the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) have refused to register.
- Junta Chief Min Aung Hlaing visited Sagaing on March 19 on his first visit since the declaration of martial law in the Sagaing Region. He met with troops and called for unity within the armed forces.
Situation on the Ground
- As of March 24, 2023, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) reported that 3,160 individuals have been killed. AAPP also said that 20,846 individuals have been arrested and 16,978 individuals are still detained by the Burmese military since the coup.
- The junta is redeploying several thousand of its troops from the China-Burma border to the inner Burma conflict zones in central and southeastern Burma after an alleged agreement between China and the junta.
- Defectors from the junta forces living in the border areas reported economic and other challenges citing scarce resources and support.
International Response
- UNHCR on March 19 stated that it was not involved in the bilateral project to repatriate Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh to Burma. A day later, the junta announced that it plans to repatriate 1,500 Rohingyas as early as April 2023.
- US State Department Counselor Derek Chollet discussed ASEAN’s role and ways to address the Burma crisis with senior officials from Indonesia and Thailand on his visit.
- The US sanctioned two individuals and six entities connected to the junta’s jet fuel supply chain and arms procurement.