Myanmar Domestic News Updates – Jun 07, 2025 Evening
๐๐ 1. Military Council Conceals Deaths of 49 Political Prisoners in Obo Prison Following Earthquake
June 7
The Myanmar Political Prisoners Network (PPNM) has revealed that the military council concealed the deaths of 49 political prisoners who perished when buildings collapsed inside Obo Prison during a powerful earthquake that struck on March 28 of this year.
While over 70 deaths were officially reported as a result of the structural collapse within Obo Prison during the earthquake, the PPNM disclosed today, June 7, that at least 49 of the deceased were political prisoners—information the military regime deliberately suppressed.
According to the PPNM’s investigations and documentation, among the more than 70 individuals who died due to the prison’s structural failure, at least 49 were political detainees. This information was compiled from monitoring efforts and on-the-ground verification.
PPNM further stated that the junta did not include this information in any official announcements and had deliberately imposed a media blackout to obscure the true extent of the tragedy.
They added that if the public and the international community had been made aware of the large number of deaths that occurred in a single day, timely humanitarian support and rescue operations might have been mobilized. However, because political prisoners inside Mandalay’s Obo Prison were held in complete information blackout behind four walls, families and the public outside remained unaware of the incident and were not even able to conduct traditional mourning rituals such as midday almsgiving ceremonies.
PPNM also stated in its announcement that, as of now, prisoners—including political detainees—within Obo Prison are still in dire need of humanitarian support. The organization appealed to human rights and justice-oriented organizations to provide assistance.
Since PPNM is actively working to deliver aid to political prisoners, they also extended an invitation to members of the public who wish to support the cause to contribute through the official Facebook page of the Myanmar Political Prisoners Network (PPNM).
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๐๐ 2. Karen National Army Forms Political Leadership Committee with Seven Members Including Chairman
June 7
The Karen National Army (KNA) announced today, June 7, the formation of a Political Leadership Committee comprising seven members, including a chairman.
In its official release, the KNA stated that the Political Leadership Committee was formally established today, June 7, and provided a list of its members along with a political declaration.
Khun Bahan Htan, the son of prominent Karen leader Ngain Kayin Htan (a.k.a. U Shwe Aye), was appointed as Chairman of the newly formed Political Leadership Committee, according to the KNA.
The committee’s leadership includes Khun Bahan Htan as Chairman, Khun Saung Du as Vice-Chairman, Khun Myo Oo as Secretary, and Khun Yae Khawng, Khun Ngain Shwe Nan, Khun Thura Kyaw San, and Khun Maung Nyo as committee members.
Khun Bahan Htan had previously served as Deputy Minister for Human Rights in the National Unity Government (NUG) but stepped down from that position on March 7.
In its political statement, the Karen National Army asserted that the Karen people have a long history of resisting oppression across generations.
The statement also highlighted that, in the year 2000, Karen communities from four regions had reached a consensus to unify under a single ethnic identity: “Karen.”
Due to the continued fragmentation of the four Karen regions, the unification of these territories into a single state remains a core political aspiration of the Karen people, the KNA noted.
The KNA was formed after the military coup in 2021 with the objective of uniting various Karen revolutionary forces. Given the importance of coordinated political leadership, the Political Leadership Committee was subsequently established.
The KNA emphasized that fulfilling the political aspirations of the Karen people cannot be achieved by one group alone. It pledged to cooperate with any organization—regardless of whether it is from the lowlands or the highlands—in the struggle to eradicate military dictatorship.
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๐๐ 3. Protest in Front of Chinese Mission to the UN Condemning China’s Interference in Myanmar Affairs
June 7
Myanmar pro-democracy activists staged a protest in front of the Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations in New York City, denouncing China’s interference in Myanmar’s internal affairs.
According to reports, the protest was organized on the afternoon of June 6 (local time) by Myanmar pro-democracy activists in coordination with the New York City Burmese Community (NYCBC), urging China to cease its overt support for the military junta and to stop meddling in Myanmar’s political crisis.
Members of the Myanmar diaspora in New York gathered in front of the Chinese mission to demand that the Chinese government not endorse the sham elections planned by the military regime and to stop providing the junta with military weapons. Protesters also called on China to show empathy for the suffering of the Myanmar people, who continue to endure immense hardships under the junta’s rule.
This report was submitted by Radio NUG correspondent Ko Khant.
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