Published on November 17, 2021
- As of November 17, 2021, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a Burmese human rights advocacy organization, reported that 1,270 individuals have been killed, 10,239 individuals arrested, and that over 7,300 individuals are still detained by the Burmese military since the coup.
- On November 16, Burma’s junta announced that they would prosecute several members of the NLD and previous election commission including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint, and 14 other individuals for election fraud. Exact charges are unknown at this time but legal complaints have been filed at respective courts across the country. Meanwhile, several members of the NLD leadership were sentenced to prison. On November 11, the ousted NLD Tanintharyi Region chief minister U Myint Maung was sentenced to 11 years in prison on charges of violation of COVID-19 regulations, incitement, and violation of financial regulations regarding the use of the region’s development funds. The ousted Karen State Chief Minister Daw Nan Khin Htwe Myint and former municipal minister U Than Naing were sentenced to 75 years in prison and to 90 years in prison respectively over corruption charges on November 9. These are part of a larger attempt to dismantle NLD’s top leadership by the military junta.
- In recent days, junta leader Min Aung Hlaing, and the junta’s governing body have been meeting with senior officials and diplomats from China, Japan, and Thailand.
- On November 15, the Special Envoy of Asian Affairs of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sun Guoxiang, arrived in Burma in his second visit to the country since the February 1st coup. Sun Guoxiang met with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, junta’s Minister for Foreign Affairs U Wunna Maung Lwin, and junta’s Minister for the Union Government Office Lt-Gen Yar Pyae. The Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson’s remarks focused on China’s support for the resolution of the crisis through dialogue and Burma’s implementation of the ASEAN five-point consensus. Political analysts have suggested that they would have discussed border security and COVID-19 issues as well. NUG’s Deputy Foreign Minister U Moe Zaw Oo urged that Sun Guoxiang should also engage with “concerning parties” including the NUG on his trip to Burma. NUG has also pushed for its representation at the China-ASEAN summit scheduled later this month
- On November 14, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Don Pramudwinai, and his team met with junta leader Min Aung Hlaing. While details of their discussion are unknown at this time, some reports have suggested that the donation of COVID-19 vaccines and the issue of anti-regime activists based in Thailand along the Thai-Burma border were discussed.
- On November 13, Yohei Sasakawa, Japan’s Special Envoy for National Reconciliation in Burma and President of Nippon Foundation, met with Min Aung Hlaing to discuss the current situation and the peace process in the country. After the meeting, Sasakawa visited internally displaced Rohingya camps in Sittwe, Rakhine State, on November 15. He is also scheduled to meet with representatives from ethnic parties during his visit to Rakhine where he had mediated a ceasefire between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army (AA) in the past. Japan’s Foreign Ministry stated that Sasakawa’s meeting with the junta was not in his capacity as a government representative but in his personal capacity. Sasakawa also discussed the conditions for Japan to donate COVID-19 vaccines and promised to donate US$3 million worth of COVID-19 vaccines to Burma.
- On November 15, American journalist Danny Fenster was freed from prison after having been sentenced to 11 years in prison three days prior. Prior to the release, he was set to stand trial for additional charges of sedition and terrorism on November 16. Bill Richardson, former US Ambassador to the UN, who was in Burma last week helped secure Fenster’s release after negotiations with the junta.
- Violence continues to proliferate around the country. As battles intensify around the country, junta forces are increasingly relying on their air power and conducting airstrikes to eliminate armed resistance forces. In Kachin State, junta conducted multiple airstrikes against KIA troops in Hpakant Township on November 15. In Sagaing Region, junta forces are using airstrikes to support their clearance operations of local People’s Defence Forces (PDFs). Thousands of civilians have been displaced due to these increased violence and clashes. Junta forces in Rakhine State last week also clashed with the Arakan Army (AA) for the first time in two years. In what was considered the first attack by forces under the direct command of the NUG, seven junta soldiers were killed and thirteen injured on November 12 in Yangon region.
- NUG recently addressed rumors about the existence of a NUG “hit list” for extrajudicial killings and assassinations of political enemies. Both Dr. Sasa, NUG’s Minister of International Cooperation, and Daw Zin Mar Aung, NUG’s Foreign Minister, denied these rumors and stated that NUG will not resort to these actions.
- The National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) held a press conference on November 16 and released a statement on its plans and responsibilities going forward.
- During a state visit to Indonesia last week, Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob expressed concerns over the ongoing political and humanitarian crisis in Burma. Both Malaysia and Indonesia have, many times over the past years, raised concerns about the exodus of Rohingya people from Burma. More than 200,000 Rohingya have resettled in Malaysia since 2017. The two countries have urged Burma to end the violence inside the country.
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