The Solidarity Trade Unions Myanmar (STUM) claims Insein Prison prisoners are coerced into advance voting in the junta's election, the Ministry of Human Rights of the National Unity Government condemns the junta's airstrike on protestors, including children, in Chaung-U Township on Thadingyut Full Moon Day and the Women’s Organization of Political Prisoners expresses grave concern over the increasing re-arrests of released political prisoners across Myanmar.
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1. The Solidarity Trade Unions Myanmar (STUM) has alleged that prisoners and detainees in Insein Prison are being pressured and threatened to cast advance votes in the upcoming election organized by the military junta. According to STUM, its detained leader Daw Myo Myo Aye, who is currently being held at Insein Prison and facing charges under the Penal Code, the Unlawful Associations Act, and the Registration of Associations Law, was brought before the court on October 13. During the hearing, reports surfaced indicating that she and other inmates are being intimidated into advance voting. Prison authorities allegedly warned that refusal to participate would be recorded as objections, potentially leading to restrictions or disciplinary actions. STUM further reports that Daw Myo Myo Aye and other members facing legal proceedings appeared before the Shwepyithar Township Court on October 13, where prosecution witnesses were examined. According to STUM, a court hearing in the Association Registration Law case is scheduled for October 23 for continued examination of prosecution witnesses. The statement also noted the reported arrest of Daw Myo Myo Aye by military authorities on July 25, followed by the detention of ten other STUM staff members between July 26 and 28, the statement added.
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2. The National Unity Government (NUG) has alleged the military junta of escalating war crimes and coercing civilians nationwide ahead of its planned election. In the statement, the Ministry of Human Rights of the National Unity Government condemned the junta's airstrike on Chaung-U Township during the Thadingyut Full Moon Day, which killed numerous civilians, including children, who were peacefully protesting the junta's sham election. The statement detailed that the Northwestern Regional Military Command based in Monywa, used paramotors to drop two 120 mm bombs on the gathering as residents and children celebrated the Buddhist holiday by lighting candles. Later that night, around 11 p.m., junta forces allegedly launched a second attack, deploying two more paramotors to drop another two 120 mm bombs directly onto a local school where the injured were receiving treatment, according to the NUG. Airstrikes killed 19 civilians, including 3 children and 2 women, also 4 youth People’s strike committee members, and 14 men. A two-year-old child reportedly died from catastrophic injuries, according to the NUG. The attacks also injured at least 40 civilians, including 20 children and 7 women, and 13 men. The NUG warned that international and domestic organizations ignoring these atrocities or legitimizing the junta's election enable further violence. They cautioned that inaction will likely embolden the junta to escalate its terror against the population.
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3. The embassies of the United Kingdom, Australia, and Switzerland have each issued statements condemning the airstrike carried out by the military junta in Chaung-U Township, Sagaing Region, on the Full Moon night of Thadingyut. The British Embassy expressed deep shock and sadness over the civilian deaths, including children, during the sacred Buddhist festival, stating there was "no possible justification" for the attack. The Swiss Embassy also condemned the assault, stating that “indiscriminate air attacks against civilians constitute a violation of international humanitarian law.” It called for the protection of all civilians and for an end to violence. Similarly, the Australian Embassy called for an immediate end to violence, the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance, and the release of all arbitrarily political prisoners. The embassy reaffirmed that Australia stands in solidarity with the people of Myanmar and supports inclusive dialogue to achieve peace and democracy.
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4. The Women’s Organization of Political Prisoners has expressed grave concern over the increasing re-arrests of released political prisoners across Myanmar, saying such incidents have become more severe in recent months. According to the statement, the organization reports that military junta forces have been deliberately hindering the release of political prisoners by re-arresting them at prison gates or filing new charges under arbitrary or unrelated laws just before their scheduled release dates. The organization noted that these actions clearly violate Article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention. The Women’s Organization of Political Prisoners further stated that it will continue to cooperate with human rights defenders and relevant organizations to end arbitrary arrests, investigate and document such abuses, and advocate for the unconditional release of all remaining political prisoners still held in Myanmar’s prisons.
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5. The United Kingdom and the United States have jointly imposed sanctions on a multi-billion-pound global fraud network involved in financial scam operations that exploit and abuse trafficked workers, according to a statement released by the British Embassy in Myanmar. The network is reportedly linked to Cambodia-based Prince Group and is responsible for operating large-scale cyber fraud schemes across Myanmar, Cambodia, and other parts of Southeast Asia, the US Department of the Treasury announced. Authorities from both countries highlighted that financial scam operations in Southeast Asia have been systematically deceiving victims worldwide through sophisticated online fraud schemes. In 2023 alone, cyber scams originating from East and Southeast Asia caused an estimated US$3.7 billion in losses, contributing to even greater global financial damage. The UK and US governments stated that these are coordinated sanctions to combat the growing transnational threat posed by this network and uphold human rights. Officials added that these enforcement actions will help expose and block the operations of the fraudulent network and reduce financial risks and losses for citizens in the UK, Myanmar, and across Southeast Asia.
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