The Myanmar crisis and implementation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ peace plan for the country’s post-coup conflict is set to dominate the ASEAN foreign ministers’ retreat on Wednesday. One notable absentee will be junta foreign minister Than Swe, who has not been invited despite Myanmar’s membership in the regional bloc. The junta leadership […]Read More

Given the Myanmar regime’s warm relations with China, it is somewhat puzzling that junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has yet to make a trip to the country’s huge northern neighbour since his 2021 coup, despite having made three trips to Russia, his other main ally. The answer is that Min Aung Hlaing has been trying […]Read More

The Myanmar military’s budget has increased every year since Min Aung Hlaing became its chief in 2011. The budget of the air force in particular has jumped significantly, as new aircraft have been purchased and the military regime has become increasingly reliant on air attacks to combat the resistance movement. For the 2023-24 fiscal year, […]Read More

Members of the Assam Rifles, an Indian border security force, have entered Paletwa Township twice so far this year, causing concern among ethnic Chin residents and resistance groups in Myanmar’s Chin State. About 15 troops from the Assam Rifles entered Shwe Lai Wa Village in Paletwa Township on March 13 and fired their guns in […]Read More

Myanmar’s top defense and security body has said it discussed the “extraordinary situation” that continues to exist in Myanmar, prompting speculation that it will exercise its power to extend the period of military rule, which technically expired on Tuesday. A statement said the military-dominated National Defense and Security Council (NDSC) meeting was held on Tuesday […]Read More

Myanmar military regime chief Min Aung Hlaing is likely to hand over power to his puppet, acting president U Myint Swe, at the head of a “civilian government” while remaining the power behind the throne when two years of emergency military rule expire at the end of this month. The scenario, sources and analysts said, […]Read More

Parties meet to help Min Aung Hlaing realize presidency dream The military’s proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) met with 37 other political parties that attended the junta-organized Independence Day parade in Naypyitaw on Wednesday. The informal meeting followed junta chief Min Aung Hlaing’s announcement that his regime is determined to hold a so-called […]Read More

Indonesia, the incoming chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), says other countries including India must get behind the bloc’s peace effort for Myanmar, which has been engulfed by violence since a coup last year. Retno Marsudi, Indonesia’s foreign minister, urged other regional powers to support ASEAN’s “five-point consensus” for peace, which includes […]Read More

India’s foreign secretary paid a call on Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing earlier this week in Naypyitaw and discussed the potential for comprehensive bilateral cooperation, even as many foreign governments continue to impose sanctions against the regime. Vinay Mohan Kwatra’s November 21 visit was the first to Myanmar by a high-ranking Indian government official […]Read More

Newly released Australian economist Sean Turnell has said it was a tragedy for Myanmar’s people to be ruled by the military junta, whom he called “knaves and fools”. Turnell, who was released in the regime’s mass amnesty on Thursday along with four other foreigners, had been locked up since the coup in February last year, […]Read More

A Chinese-backed power plant that forms an important part of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) scheme in Myanmar’s western Rakhine State opened this week, signaling that Beijing is moving forward with its projects in post-coup, conflict-torn Myanmar. The US $180-million, gas-fired 135-MW power plant in the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone (SEZ) was opened by Chinese […]Read More

Myanmar will likely see more civilian deaths as Russia will soon deliver new Sukhoi SU-30SM jet fighters to the military regime that is employing deadly airstrikes against civilians and resistance forces. Junta spokesperson Major General Zaw Min Tun said coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing personally inspected the production and testing of the planes […]Read More

The Myanmar military regime and Russian state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom have signed a roadmap for further atomic energy cooperation including the possible implementation of a modular reactor project in Myanmar. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF-2022) in Vladivostok, Russia, where regime chief Min Aung Hlaing has been since […]Read More

The junta-appointed electoral body chief has further confirmed the regime’s plan to switch to the proportional representation (PR) electoral system, saying the closed-list PR system will be applied in future elections in Myanmar. Speaking at the conclusion of a training session for staff of the Union Election Commission (UEC), junta-appointed UEC chairman U Thein Soe […]Read More

Amid serious fuel shortages and price hikes across Myanmar, businesses say they will soon halt operations unless availability improves. Thanks to the regime’s foreign currency controls and the restricted supply of fuel, it is becoming increasingly difficult to buy gasoline and diesel with prices exceeding 2,000 kyats per litre. A garment factory owner from Hlaing […]Read More

Myanmar’s military junta has executed four dissidents, including former National League for Democracy lawmaker Ko Phyo Zeya Thaw and veteran democracy activist Ko Jimmy over the weekend for their anti-regime activities. The regime announced on Monday that the punishment had been conducted according to procedures at Yangon’s Insein Prison. Ko Phyo Zeya Thaw, Ko Jimmy, […]Read More

It must be embarrassing for Myanmar regime chief Min Aung Hlaing when the top diplomat from the foreign country he relies upon most declines to pay him a visit—particularly if the diplomat is already in Myanmar. But that’s exactly what happened over the weekend and early this week, as visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi […]Read More