Myanmar Situation Update (04 -10 July 2022)

The junta court sentenced U Hla Thein, the former chairman of the Union Election Commission (UEC) and two other members of UEC under Section 130 (a) of the criminal law for three years in prison. According to the junta-appointed UEC, 422 people, including the ousted state counselor  Aung San Suu Kyi had been arrested and charged with electoral fraud in relation to the 2020 Myanmar General Elections. Further, the junta court charged 546 people with electoral law breach in 1,077 election-related cases. Among the people charged, 342 have been prosecuted with 194 cases dismissed. There are still 10 cases pending as they await legal advice. On 1 February 2021, the Myanmar military staged a coup claiming widespread election fraud in the 2020 Myanmar Election. ANFREL and other election observers who  monitored the election have repeatedly said that the election reflected the people's true will in Myanmar.

Hundreds of members of the People’s Pioneer Party (PPP), including several senior leaders, reportedly left the party due to internal  disputes following the numerous scandals concerning the party which have been shared widely online. PPP was among the 34 political parties that attended the meeting with military chief Aung Min Hlaing ahead of the 2020 elections and joined the post coup state administration council. The party vice chair also told Myanmar Now that the party had plans to host training courses for administrative officers ahead of an election under the junta. 

Two weeks following the arrest of the National League for Democracy party member of parliament, Kyaw Myo Min’s body was found tied up and buried in Kayin state’s Hpa An township. He was arrested by the junta two weeks ago along with two other NLD members and a local while traveling at his hometown of Belin. It has been reported that he and the other two members of NLD were arrested and later killed by the junta.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in his official visit to the Kingdom of Thailand vowed to continue pressuring the military junta in Myanmar to withdraw its aggression against the people and return to the democratic path. Blinken also called on ASEAN to hold the junta accountable for its action and seek China's support for Myanmar's return to normalcy and democracy.

The junta conducted a 5-day military exercise with warships, submarines, and helicopters in the Bay of Bengal, about 2,080 km from the coast of Rakhine state. This show of military strength posed the concern and fear of the junta preparing for a major battle with the Arakan Army. The military exercise was overseen by the junta leader Min Aung Hlaing along with many senior-level members of the army.

Manipur state of India has closed their border with Myanmar temporarily after the pro-military militiamen killed two Indian nationals. It was reported that the two Indian nationals were stopped by the pro-military militiamen when they were visiting their friends at an unofficial checkpoint in Tamu and later shot dead in the area as they suspected the Indian nationals as spies.

NGOs accused the junta government as guilty of war crimes for their alleged criminal action of laying landmines in civilian populated areas where there has been a report that civilians including children were killed. Since the coup, there have been at least 115 children killed due to landmine or unexploded ordnance (UXO) according to UNICEF Myanmar .

As of 8 July 2022, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) recorded that the junta has killed 2,074 people since the coup. There are 11,451 people currently under detention. There are 115 people who have been sentenced to death.

Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) 

11 July 2022, 11:30 a.m. (Bangkok time)

Myanmar-Situation-Update-04-10-July-2022

Share:

Get Updates

Loading

Members

[logoshowcase]