Embassy event in UK cancelled after call for boycott

Burma Campaign UK welcomed news on Thursday that a planned “open dialogue” event for diplomats hosted by the Burma Embassy in London, England, had been cancelled. The Myanmar Accountability Project (MAP), a U.K.-based organization bringing cases under universal jurisdiction against the military regime in Naypyidaw, called for a boycott by sending letters to various country’s ambassadors asking them not to attend.

MAP works with Burma Campaign UK to raise awareness about the need for international justice in Burma since the 2021 coup. “This is a humiliation for the military-controlled embassy in London,” Minn Tent Bo, advocacy officer at Burma Campaign UK, said in a press release. “It was ridiculous that they ever thought they could get away with holding an open dialogue event when open dialogue is banned in Burma,” he added. 

Chris Gunness, the MAP director, called for targeted sanctions and accountability measures against the regime in Naypyidaw, warning that engagement with it, via embassy events, risked emboldening further human rights abuses in Burma. The May 14 press release stated that a protest to denounce the regime’s “propaganda offensive” was scheduled to take place outside the Burma Embassy in London on Thursday.

Food and water still ‘expensive’ while fuel price falls

Residents of Yangon Region told DVB that prices for basic commodities such as rice and drinking water have not fallen despite fuel prices declining for three consecutive weeks. The price of a 20-liter bottle of purified water rose from 1,000-2,500 MMK ($0.23-0.59 USD) since April due to fuel supply disruptions linked to the war in Iran, which began on Feb. 28, with no sign of a price drop.

“Our family has to be frugal even with water,” a Yangon resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity. One 50 kg bag of premium rice increased 160,000-190,000 MMK ($38-45 USD) and lower-grade rice varieties 60,000-90,000 MMK ($14-21 USD) since the third week of March, according to residents. Other basic food items, including cooking oil, meat and vegetables, show no sign of a significant price drop, residents added.

One litre of 92-octane gasoline slightly decreased 4,668-4,500 MMK ($1.11-1.07 USD) with 95-octane gasoline falling 4,909-4,650 MMK ($1.16-1.10 USD). Diesel prices went down 5,752-5,050 MMK ($1.36-1.20 USD) per liter for regular and 7,012-6,070 MMK ($1.66-1.44 USD) for premium from April 29 to May 14, according to the regime Petroleum Products Regulatory Department.

Sean Turnell, an Australian economist, former political prisoner, and economic policy advisor to Myanmar’s ousted democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi, spoke to DVB on May 5. (Credit: DVB)

Don’t Let the World Forget Myanmar

Former National League for Democracy (NLD) party economic policy advisor and political prisoner Sean Turnell has lent his voice to international calls demanding “proof of life” since jailed State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi’s reported transfer to house arrest, while condemning the regime in Naypyidaw for driving the country’s economy into a state of “monetary disaster” since the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021.

Turnell, who spent 650 days in prison following the 2021 coup and documented in his book An Unlikely Prisoner, told DVB about his final meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi in Naypyidaw Prison four years ago. He described her as physically well, despite having lost a significant amount of weight. She made an urgent plea to Turnell: “Sean, tell the story. Get the story out. Don’t let the rest of the world forget Myanmar.”

Turnell expressed deep concern over the Min Aung Hlaing regime’s refusal to provide tangible proof of life amid Aung San Suu Kyi’s reported isolation over the last four years since he saw her last and the secretive transfer to house arrest. Watch our Newsroom interview with Sean Turnell on DVB English News YouTube or Spotify. Listen on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, Audible, Amazon Music, or wherever you get podcasts. Read more.

News by Region

ARAKAN—Naing Oo, the regime’s Chief Minister, inspected dam construction in Kyaukphyu Township’s Maday Island on May 9. It stores water for the deep-sea port located in the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone, regime media reported. Kyaukphyu is located 317 miles (510 km) south of the state capital Sittwe.

The visit was to reassure China that its projects are “safe” from attack by the Arakan Army (AA), which attacked a naval base located around seven miles (11 km) south of Maday Island, on May 9. The AA has seized control of 14 of 17 townships since it launched an offensive in 2023. The regime controls Sittwe, Kyaukphyu and Manaung.

AYEYARWADY—Authorities told DVB that 31 Rohingya have been charged under the Immigration Law since April after they were arrested in Hai Gyi Island, Thabaung, Ngayote Kaung, Yekyi, Kyangin, Lemyethna and Ngapudaw towns, which are 28-124 miles (45-199 km) north and west of the region’s capital Pathein.

The 31 Rohingya, who fled their homes in neighbouring Arakan State due to the fighting between the military and the Arakan Army (AA), arrived in Yangon Region via Ayeyarwady, according to police. Residents of Yangon’s Dawbon Township told DVB that 50 Rohingya were detained for “illegal entry” on May 2.

SHAN—A total of 90 China nationals were arrested in Matman Township May 12-13, the regime’s Ministry of Information reported. Matman is located in the Wa Self-Administered Division, which is under the control of the United Wa State Army (UWSA), 210 miles (337 km) east of the regional capital Lashio. 

Regime authorities stated that they had recovered computers, Starlink routers, electricity generators, and other electronic devices used in alleged cyber scam operations. The 90 Chinese are now under investigation by police. The UWSA has not released any official statement regarding the arrests.

YANGON—The Shwe Pyi Thar Township Garment Union told DVB that 103 workers were laid off from the Nay Shwe Win garment factory, located in Shwepyitha Township’s Wataya Industrial Zone on Tuesday for protesting against the firing of 19 workers, including key union members and leaders, on May 9. 

Garment factory workers at Nay Shwe Win told DVB on the condition of anonymity that management said the 19 were fired due to a “shortage of raw materials and decline in apparel orders.” The Solidarity Trade Union of Myanmar (STUM) called it a deliberate campaign of “union busting.” Read more

(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,150 MMK) 

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