At least 110 people, including rock singer Ito, NLD members and anti-regime protesters, have been rearrested across the country by the junta immediately after being released, while the junta said that more than 5,600 people in custody or wanted for anti-junta activism would be released or have their arrest warrants canceled¹.

The junta issued a press release that “Head of State or Government of Myanmar” is entitled to participate in the ASEAN Summit in accordance with Article 5 of the ASEAN Charter. The junta sent a letter to the special envoy of the ASEAN, not to deal with the country's parallel National Unity Government.

The UK said that Myanmar’s junta will not be invited to attend the upcoming G7-ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in person that it will be serving as the G7’s host nation this year. Burma Campaign UK welcomed the UK’s statement on not inviting the junta but expressed concern that this still leaves open the possibility that the junta could attend via video call². The Malaysian Foreign Minister called on the ASEAN to rethink its decades-long policy of non-interference in the affairs of member states, for the human rights crisis in Myanmar.

Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister met with international organizations and civil society groups working on both sides of the border on providing humanitarian assistance for Myanmar following the meeting with US State Department Counselor Derek Chollet. Chollet said that Singapore has the ability to wield its significant financial leverage over Myanmar's junta to pressure them to return to a path of democracy amid a deteriorating humanitarian and economic crisis

Myanmar Ambassador to the United Nations, U Kyaw Moe Tun, has been awarded the John McCain Freedom Award 2021 by the International Republican Institute (IRI) in Washington, D.C.

The junta abolished the publisher’s license of Delta News Agency, according to the responsible person from the media³. According to Myanmar Press Freedom In-Depth (MPFI-D), 17 journalists were released in an amnesty made by the junta on 18th of October and 35 are still in detention⁴.

Protests continued in different parts of Myanmar despite the crackdown by the junta over the week. The clashes between the junta forces and the civil resistance fighters or Ethnic Armed Organizations also emerged in all states and regions.

According to the information compiled by ANFREL, at least 71 bomb blasts happened across Myanmar in the past week. It was reported that at least 23 people were injured and 20 died⁵. 8 Mytel telecom masts were destroyed across the country⁶.

As of 23 October, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) recorded that 1,196 people have been killed by the junta. 7,016 people are currently under detention and 304 are sentenced. 65 have been sentenced to death and 1,955 are evading arrest warrants⁷.

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[1] https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-amnesty-ends-in-tears-as-regime-rearrests-political-prisoners.html
[2] https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/uk-says-myanmar-junta-not-invited-to-g7-asean-ministerial-meeting.html
[3] https://www.facebook.com/MizzimaDaily/posts/4899303756771157
[4] https://www.facebook.com/mpressfreei/posts/115864924202535
[5] Annexure I
[6] Annexure II
[7] https://aappb.org/?p=18355

Download the full update here: "Myanmar Situation Update (18-24 October 2021)"