The court trying ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi, her economic adviser Prof. Sean Turnell, and three Union ministers who have been charged under the Official Secrets Act have been moved to another venue within the Nay Pyi Taw Council compound with a limited number of lawyers allowed to attend. Phyo Min Thein, the former NLD Yangon Region Chief Minister for the 2015-2020 term, appeared in court to testify as a witness for the ruling junta against Aung San Suu Kyi for the charges against her under the anti-corruption law.

Coup leader Min Aung Hlaing said that the junta is continuing on the path of democracy which the people desire. The 2008 Constitution cannot be abolished as it was adopted in a public referendum but they accept that sections that are no longer relevant need to be amended.

The National Unity Government (NUG) said that it was ready to partner with China to advance the bilateral relationship toward the achievement of a community of shared values in a statement of honor to the People’s Republic of China for their National Day.

An inspection team including officials of the Union Election Commission, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Planning and Finance, and the Union Auditor-General Office scrutinized political parties from 14 to 30 September according to the election laws.

ASEAN special envoy Erywan Yusof is unlikely to meet with ousted pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi as it would be difficult to allow meetings with those who are facing trial, a junta spokesman said.

Myanmar’s currency depreciated to a record low this week to the US dollar, rising to a record high of around 2,500 - 2,700 kyats per dollar in comparison to exchange rate of 1,300-1,400 kyats per USD before the coup. The value of gold on the domestic market reached a record high of more than 2.25 million kyats per tical compared to 1.32 million kyats per tical before military take over.

Military spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun said in a press conference that Myanmar's ongoing economic problems were caused by "outside factors" and two waves of COVID-19 infections, but the military takes full responsibility for economic woes.

According to a statement released by UN OCHA Myanmar, the humanitarian situation in several townships in Sagaing and Magway regions was deteriorating and Myanmar has seen over 60,000 internally displaced people in Sagaing Region, and over 10,000 each in Magway Region and Chin State from early September to the second week of the month. An estimated 142,000 people remain displaced, mostly in Kayah State, due to clashes & insecurity since February and around 34,000 people have fled across Shan State since the beginning of 2021; close to 13,380 remain displaced.

Burma News International (BNI) has issued a statement on the oppression against media personnel and seriously denouncing the actions of the military junta which massively impact the media freedom and journalists’ safety in Myanmar. Myanmar’s junta has defended its detention of an American journalist Danny Fenster helding for four months, without offering any details of the crimes it alleges with the accusation that he did more than just what a journalist does.

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 except Rakhine Region. The junta announced a unilateral, five-month cease-fire beginning Oct. 1 and lasting until the end of February 2022 amid the clashes with PDF and ethnic armed organizations.

According to the information compiled by ANFREL, at least 60 bomb blasts happened across Myanmar in the past week. It was reported that at least 32 people were injured and 12 died. 22 Mytel telecom masts were destroyed across the country.

As of 2 October, AAPP sources said 1,154 people have been killed by the junta. 7,045 people are currently under detention and 339 are sentenced. 65 have been sentenced to death and 1,989 are evading arrest warrants.

Download the full update here: "Myanmar Situation Update (27 September - 3 October 2021)"