Myanmar

A collection of 49 posts

Myanmar: Western Nations Condemn Junta-Planned Elections

The UK and Canada have joined the US in opposing plans by Myanmar's military junta to hold polls, claiming that a vote without political parties — which together won 89% of the seats in the 2020 election — risks aggravating unrest and violence....

Politics

At Least 23 Rohingya Dead After Boat Sinks Off Myanmar

The death toll of a Rohingya boat that capsized after reportedly being hit by a large wave near Myanmar's Rakhine state capital, Sittwe, has risen to at least 23 people — 13 women and 10 men — with 30 passengers still missing.

Social issues

Myanmar: Aung San Suu Kyi Pardoned on Some Charges

Myanmar's former leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been pardoned for five of her 19 charges by the state's military as part of an amnesty granted to over 7K prisoners to mark Buddhist Lent.

Politics

Report: Myanmar Accused of Political Extrajudicial Killings

A statement from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) — a group that monitors civilian deaths and arrests globally — has claimed that Myanmar has murdered dozens of political prisoners and has sometimes used the pretense of prison escape or transfer to explain their deaths.

Social issues

Report: Myanmar Military Has Imported $1B in Weapons Since Takeover

On Wednesday, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, released a report stating that Myanmar's military has imported arms worth at least $1B since assuming the country's leadership in February 2021.

World

Report: Rohingya Repatriation Plan Poses 'Grave Risks'

[Non-governmental organization] Human Rights Watch is criticizing a proposed plan to repatriate Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh back to Myanmar, stating that it poses 'grave risks' to life and freedom. A pilot project between the two nations is set to return 1.1K Rohingya to Myanmar in the comi...

World

Cyclone Mocha: 5 Dead, 700 Injured in Myanmar

At least five people have died in Myanmar after Cyclone Mocha ripped through the Myanmar-Bangladesh coasts on Sunday, destroying hundreds of makeshift Rohingya shelters at the world's largest refugee camp in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar.

Weather

Report: Myanmar Used Fuel-Air Explosive Against Civilians

Human Rights Watch on Tuesday alleged that Myanmar's military dropped a fuel-air explosive — also known as a thermobaric or vacuum bomb — in an airstrike that killed over 160 civilians last month, violating international humanitarian law and possibly amounting to a war crime.

World

Myanmar To Free Over 2K Political Dissidents

On Wednesday, local news agency Myanmar Now reported that the country's ruling military council announced that 2,153 people jailed for "incitement" would be released on "humanitarian grounds" to mark Wesak, a major Buddhist holiday.

Politics

Myanmar's Junta Pardons Over 3K Prisoners For Buddhist New Year

Myanmar's military on Monday announced that 3,113 prisoners, including 98 foreigners, were pardoned to celebrate the country's traditional Buddhist New Year. If they are found violating rules again, they would have to serve the remainder of their sentence with an additional penalty.

Politics

Myanmar: Military Airstrike Kills At Least 100

According to the shadow government of the ousted National Unity Government (NUG), over 100 people, including at least 30 children, were killed when Myanmar's military junta bombed a large gathering in rebel-held territory in the north-western Sagaing region on Tuesday....

Myanmar

Thousands Flee to Thailand Amid Renewed Myanmar Fighting

Thai officials on Thursday said thousands of people have fled into Thailand's province of Tak to escape fighting between the Myanmar military and rebels that recently broke out near Karen State's bordering town of Myawaddy....

Myanmar

Malaysian Parliament Moves to End Mandatory Death Penalty

Malaysia's House of Representatives on Monday approved a parliamentary bill abolishing the mandatory death penalty and lifelong imprisonment, after years of the government seeking to make such punishment optional in the country....

Singapore

Bangladesh: Journalist Arrested Over Report on Rising Food Prices

Bangladesh police on Wednesday detained the journalist Samsuzzaman Shams — employee at the leading local newspaper Prothom Alo — over allegations he promoted 'false news' that violated the controversial Digital Security Act (DSA)....

Bangladesh

Myanmar: Military Vows Decisive Action Against Armed Resistance

In a rare speech given during the annual Armed Forces Day parade, Myanmar's junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing on Monday pledged to crush armed resistance fighting against the military rule.

Military

Report: At Least 22 Killed in Alleged Massacre at Myanmar Monastery

According to a doctor's post-mortem report, at least 22 people, including three monks, were killed at a Buddhist monastery in Myanmar's southern Shan state on Saturday as local insurgent groups and Mynammar's junta accused each other of carrying out a massacre of civilians.

World

Myanmar Officials Visit Bangladesh Refugee Camp for Repatriation Project

A 22-member delegation from Myanmar arrived on Wednesday in Teknaf, Cox's Bazar to verify the information about Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh's camps that are enrolled for repatriation and willing to return to the Rakhine State....

Myanmar

Myanmar Jails 112 Rohingya

Myanmar's state media reported on Tuesday that a court in the southern city of Bogale sentenced 112 Rohingya to jail, including a dozen children, for traveling 'without any official documents.'...

Myanmar

Report: At Least 22 Killed in Alleged Massacre at Myanmar Monastery

According to a doctor's post-mortem report, at least 22 people, including three monks, were killed at a Buddhist monastery in Myanmar's southern Shan state on Saturday as local insurgent groups and Mynammar's junta accused each other of carrying out a massacre of civilians....

Myanmar

Report: Rohingya Refugee Camp Fire Was 'Planned Sabotage'

On Sunday, the seven-member probe committee into the March 5 fire at a Rohingya refugee camp in the Bangladesh district of Cox's Bazar presented its report, describing the blaze as a 'planned and purposeful act of sabotage.'...

Bangladesh

Bangladesh: Fire Destroys Rohingya Camp, Leaving 12K Homeless

On Sunday, a large fire ripped through a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, destroying at least 2K shelters and leaving as many as 12K refugees without housing. As of Sunday, the cause of the fire was unknown and no casualties were reported....

Bangladesh

Cambodia Opposition Leader Sentenced to 27 Years House Arrest

On Friday, Kem Sokha, formerly Cambodia's most prominent opposition leader of the now-dissolved Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP), was sentenced to 27 years under house arrest after being convicted of treason....

Freedom & human rights

World Food Program to Cut Aid to Rohingya Camps

On Friday, the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) announced that it would be cutting funding for food assistance to the Rohingya refugees living in Bangladeshi camps. If donations don't increase, additional cuts will be made beginning in April....

Bangladesh

Myanmar: Junta Extends State of Emergency

Myanmar's military leaders announced on Wednesday — two years after taking over the country — a six-month extension to a state of emergency, a move that would likely delay elections the government vowed to hold by August.

Politics

Myanmar: Junta Announces Strict Election Law Ahead of Polls

Myanmar's military junta published on Friday a tough new law on political parties that replaces a 2010 legislation and bars parties and candidates deemed unlawful or allegedly linked to those committing terrorist acts.

Politics