Published on October 26, 2022
- Political Developments
- State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint were charged with five additional corruption cases on October 18, 2022.
- The junta court passed down two 3-year prison sentences to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on corruption charges on October 12, 2022. She has a total of 26-year prison term. The day before, Naypyitaw Mayor Dr. Myo Aung and his deputy U Ye Min Oo from the NLD government were also sentenced to three more years in prison on corruption charges.
- U Aung Naing Oo, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s chief of security, was sentenced to ten years in prison for violating the Official Secrets Act on October 13, 2022.
- On October 12, 2022, a junta court sentenced Toru Kubota, a Japanese journalist who was arrested for filming during an anti-coup protest, to three additional years in prison for breaking immigration rules.
- Lawyers of political prisoners reported that the junta is pressuring its courts to speed up the trials of political prisoners and complete the trials by the end of 2022.
- Ground Situation
- As of October 25, 2022, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a Burmese human rights advocacy organization, reported that 2,391 individuals have been killed. AAPP also reported that 15,955 individuals have been arrested and 12,754 individuals are still detained by the Burmese military since the coup.
- A junta airstrike on the festival celebrating the 62nd anniversary of the founding of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) killed at least 50 people and injured several hundred on October 23, 2022.
- Rights groups, NGOs, and anti-military groups have reported that more than 200,000 children have been displaced by the conflict in Kayin, Kayah, and Rakhine States since the coup. As of October 25, 2022, AAPP reported that 242 children have been killed since the coup.
- Five visitors and three prison staff at Insein Prison were killed in two bombings and shooting at Yangon’s Insein Prison on October 19, 2022. Several people were also injured during the incident. NUG condemned the bombing.
- The junta troops and pro-military militia executed a NUG school teacher in Magwe Region on October 17, 2022. The teacher was beheaded and his head and dismembered body were displayed in front of the NUG school to send a message to the population.
- International Responses
- ASEAN will host an emergency meeting on October 27 to discuss Burma and review progress on the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus ahead of its leaders’ summit in November.
- Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported that the junta used Japan-funded civilian ships for military use in their fight against the Arakan Army in Rakhine State in September 2022. It is reported that the junta used these vessels to transport more than 100 soldiers and supplies to Buthidaung.
- The US condemned the beheading of the NUG teacher by the junta forces and pro-military militia in the Magwe Region.
- Business and Economy
- The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommended that Burma be put on the FATF blacklist for increased risks of money laundering and terrorism financing. The designation calls for increased due diligence on the part of member states when transacting with Burma. It could potentially affect humanitarian financing and economic activities.
- The US$180-million-Chinese-backed power plant in Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Rakhine State opened on October 10, 2022.
- The Japanese automaker, Toyota Motor Corp, announced that its new plant in Burma had begun operations after being on hold since the military coup in 2021. The company also claimed that its business in the country is not directly related to military-affiliated companies in any of its assembly processes.
- On October 11, 2022, a British clothing company, Marks & Spencer, announced that they will be exiting the Burma market. Three other foreign clothing companies have also announced that they will not be sourcing from Burma.
- Others
- Local media reported that the junta air force had purchased several FTC-2000G midrange fighter jets from China. It is not clear when the purchase was made but several junta air force personnel traveled to China in June 2022 to possibly accept the delivery and train.