June 2022

According to a new report by the International Crisis Group (ICG), a full-scale conflict in Rakhine State between the junta troops and Arakan Army (AA) forces could escalate to be the worst violence the state has seen in years and put the lives of millions of ethnic minorities at risk. The Kachin Women’s Association of Thailand (KWAT) published a report on June 1 called “New Threats from the Air” which revealed that nearly 6,000 people have fled their homes and approximately 25 have been killed in Kachin and northern Shan states by junta forces between November 2021 and April 2022. Lwin Oo Publishing House managed by U Lwin Oo has been reportedly banned by the junta as it advertised the distribution of the Rohingya Genocide book on social media. The book in question is “Myanmar’s Rohingya Genocide” written by Ronan Lee and Lwin Oo Publishing House had planned to translate it into Burmese version and distribute it among Myanmar readers.

The junta court sentenced two resistance leaders Ko Jimmy, 88 Generation democracy activist, and Phyo Zeyar Thaw, former NLD lawmaker, with death penalty. The two were arrested separately last year, and were accused of planning armed attacks at the junta’s lackeys.

In its statement released after the consultative meeting for provision of humanitarian aid to Myanmar, ASEAN announced that aid provision will be implemented in collaboration with the junta-led “Myanmar Task Force”. A WHO staff member called Myo Min Htut was shot and killed on his way back from work in Mawlamyine City, Mon State. Mawlamyine’s People Defense Force (PDF) claimed responsibility for the attack and said the man was not only associating with the military and informing it of the actions of PDF in the region, but he was also a sex offender toward underage girls.

The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), the military proxy party, held a two-day convention in Naypyidaw on June 8-9 with tightened security where 400 executive committee members were present. News broke out the next day that the convention ended with a rift in the leadership. Junta’s Ministry of Telecommunications confirmed to Khit Thit media that it had meetings with mobile operators on May 11 and June 8 to implement the registration of IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) numbers. ATOM, formerly known as Telenor Myanmar, announced that the company is planning to invest US$330 million in the telecoms sector during the next three years and will enforce data privacy in line with domestic and international laws.

Democratic Party for New Society (DPNS) chairperson U Aung Moe Zaw boycotted the upcoming election prepared by the military regime, claiming that it is an attempt to slow down the momentum of the spring revolution, and to divide the democratic forces and unity among the people.

At a press conference, Arakan Army (AA)’s spokesperson Khaing Thukha confirmed that hundreds of soldiers defected into AA, and the group welcomed the defectors, helped them refuge in a safe area. In a 40-page report titled “Losing a Generation: How the military junta is attacking Myanmar’s children and stealing their future”, U.N special rapporteur Tom Andrews said that the international community must “reengage and refocus” on Myanmar to prevent a looming crisis which will result in a “lost generation” of children who were already suffering since the 2021 military coup.

The coup leader Min Aung Hlaing met with Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO)’s vice chairperson Khun Tun Tin. The pair exchanged views on multiparty democracy, federalism and nation- building. In response to the junta’s confirmation for the execution of four men including two prominent resistance leaders, several student and youth unions launched a campaign across Yangon declaring serious revenge is unavoidable if the execution was to be conducted.

The Ministry of Education of the NUG held an outstanding award ceremony and student fair in Sagaing Region. The NUG introduced NUGPay: its own payment system, mobile wallet with digital currency using blockchain technology. The NUGPay was created to bypass the regime’s banking system.

Tweeting to his 53,000 followers, AA’s chief Twan Mrat Naing blamed the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) for the abduction of two teachers in Maungdaw Township on June 16. ARSA responded that the group was falsely accused, and called on AA Chief that he was attempting to halt the Rohingya repatriation process.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was moved from house arrest to solitary confinement in a prison in Naypyidaw. According to Khit Thit media’s report, the coup leader Min Aung Hlaing ordered his lackeys to make sure that Aung San Suu Kyi will never reappear in the state’s political scene.

At the UN assembly, Myanmar Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun urged the international community to grant Responsibility to Protect (R2P), and raised the urgency to take the Myanmar military accountable for its crimes against civilians.

Dr. Tayzar San, one of the prominent protest leaders, received the Park Jong-Cheol Human Rights Award given by the Republic of Korea.

ASEAN Special Envoy and Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn began his second visit to Myanmar. His ministry claimed that the trip aimed to “contribute to building an environment conducive to an inclusive political dialogue through the meetings with all parties concerned”.